Unit TwoUnit Two

““Human Population”Human Population”

Human Population GrowthHuman Population Growth

Human population has doubled since Human population has doubled since 19641964

The human population is growing by The human population is growing by approximately 78 million individuals approximately 78 million individuals annuallyannually

A population paradox is occurring: A population paradox is occurring: contraction in post industrial contraction in post industrial countries, growth in pre countries, growth in pre industrial/industrial countries industrial/industrial countries

Human Global Population Growth Human Global Population Growth RatesRates

Human Population Growth cont’dHuman Population Growth cont’d

Reasons for population growth are: Reasons for population growth are: • 1. medical advances1. medical advances• 2. improved sanitation2. improved sanitation• 3. better medical care3. better medical care• 4. increased agricultural output4. increased agricultural output

Human Population Growth cont’dHuman Population Growth cont’d

Can the Earth support increases in Can the Earth support increases in the global human population the global human population indefinitely?indefinitely?

Recall limiting factors versus carrying Recall limiting factors versus carrying capacitycapacity

Even if the Earth could support Even if the Earth could support unlimited human growth, how would unlimited human growth, how would that affect quality of life?that affect quality of life?

DemographyDemography

Demography – application of population Demography – application of population ecology principles to study of change in ecology principles to study of change in human populations human populations

Population size - < 6.9 billionPopulation size - < 6.9 billion• China: 1.3 billionChina: 1.3 billion• India: 1.1 billionIndia: 1.1 billion• USA:USA: 310 million310 million• Various Island Nations:Various Island Nations: 100,000 or less100,000 or less

Demography cont’dDemography cont’d

Population density varies greatly Population density varies greatly from region to regionfrom region to region• 1. resources1. resources• 2. stage of demographic transition2. stage of demographic transition

Human distribution tends to be Human distribution tends to be clumped spatially; Why?clumped spatially; Why?

Humans clump together because of Humans clump together because of environmental factors, namely environmental factors, namely temperature and water availability temperature and water availability

Demography cont’dDemography cont’d

Countries with the majority of individuals being of Countries with the majority of individuals being of young age have higher growth rates than young age have higher growth rates than countries with a fairly even age distributioncountries with a fairly even age distribution

Demography cont’dDemography cont’d

Population growth for humans Population growth for humans depends on the same factors that depends on the same factors that determine population growth for determine population growth for other species:other species:• 1. Birth Rate1. Birth Rate• 2. Death Rate2. Death Rate • 3. Immigration3. Immigration• 4. Emigration4. Emigration• Formula: (br + ir) – (dr + er) = growthFormula: (br + ir) – (dr + er) = growth

Demography cont’dDemography cont’d

Fertility rate influences population growth rateFertility rate influences population growth rate TFR is the average number of children born TFR is the average number of children born

per female member of a population during her per female member of a population during her lifetimelifetime

TFR is very similar to an ecological term TFR is very similar to an ecological term known as Fitness, which measures the total known as Fitness, which measures the total reproductive success of an individual during reproductive success of an individual during its lifetimeits lifetime

Fitness = lifetime x annual reproductive Fitness = lifetime x annual reproductive successsuccess

Demography cont’dDemography cont’d

Life Expectancy – number of years an Life Expectancy – number of years an individual is likely to liveindividual is likely to live

Life expectancy has increased in Life expectancy has increased in industrialized nationsindustrialized nations

Stages within Demographic Transition:Stages within Demographic Transition:• 1. Pre-Industrial Stage – birth and death rates 1. Pre-Industrial Stage – birth and death rates

are highare high• 2. Transitional Stage – declining death rates2. Transitional Stage – declining death rates• 3. Industrial Stage – lower death and birth rates3. Industrial Stage – lower death and birth rates• 4. Post-Industrial Stage – low, stable death and 4. Post-Industrial Stage – low, stable death and

birth rates birth rates

Population and SocietyPopulation and Society

Factors influence population trendsFactors influence population trends• 1. country’s demographic stage1. country’s demographic stage• 2. national population policies2. national population policies• 3. poverty3. poverty• 4. women’s liberation4. women’s liberation• 5. diseases like HIV/AIDS5. diseases like HIV/AIDS• 6. famine due to drought/flooding6. famine due to drought/flooding• 7. political instability7. political instability

Population and Society cont’dPopulation and Society cont’d

Will quality of life improve or decline Will quality of life improve or decline globally in the future? Is quality of life globally in the future? Is quality of life directly linked to size of human directly linked to size of human population?population?

Rate of population growth has decreased Rate of population growth has decreased almost everywhere, and some countries almost everywhere, and some countries are seeing population declines (European are seeing population declines (European countries)countries)

Human population will not continue to Human population will not continue to increase forever due to the Earth’s increase forever due to the Earth’s Carrying Capacity!Carrying Capacity!

Population, Evolution, and Population, Evolution, and EugenicsEugenics

At times, pure scientific research can be distorted At times, pure scientific research can be distorted to fit a specific social and political agendato fit a specific social and political agenda

Darwin and his theory of evolution is one such Darwin and his theory of evolution is one such exampleexample

Since the publication of his research various Since the publication of his research various groups have used Darwin’s assertions to support groups have used Darwin’s assertions to support the elimination of the intellectually and/or the elimination of the intellectually and/or physically weak within the human population.physically weak within the human population.

http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/02/beyond-darwin-eugenics-social-darwinism-and-the-social-theory-of-the-natural-selection-of-humans/

Population, Evolution, and Population, Evolution, and EugenicsEugenics

"...human weeds,' 'reckless breeders,' 'spawning... human beings who never should have been born." Margaret Sanger, Pivot of Civilization, referring to immigrants and the poor

"The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it." Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race (Eugenics Publ. Co., 1920, 1923)

Margaret Sanger is the Founder of Planned Parenthood, which for the last three decades has performed over 300,000 abortions annually and received $363 million dollars in U.S. federal funds in 2009

Population, Evolution, and Eugenics

Women could be forced to abort their pregnancies, whether they wanted to or not; • The population at large could be sterilized by infertility drugs intentionally put into the nation's drinking water or in food; • Single mothers and teen mothers should have their babies seized from them against their will and given away to other couples to raise; • People who "contribute to social deterioration" (i.e. undesirables) "can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility" -- in other words, be compelled to have abortions or be sterilized. • A transnational "Planetary Regime" should assume control of the global economy and also dictate the most intimate details of Americans' lives -- using an armed international police force.

Population, Evolution, and Eugenics

The previous excerpts were from a 1977 book entitled “Ecoscience: Population, Resources, Environment”

Book was coauthored by current “Science Czar” of the Obama Administration, John Holdren

What is government’s role in managing population?

Japan

Japan is beginning to suffer the effects of a national decline in birth rates

Japanese Health Minister called women “Birth giving machines”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6306685.stm

Russia Russia is also beginning to feel the effects

of a declining birth rate http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6624865 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/

worldnews/vladimir-putin/9078672/Vladimir-Putin-vows-to-reverse-Russian-population-decline.html

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100200911/vladimir-putin-hires-boyz-ii-men-to-boost-the-russian-birth-rate-authoritarians-know-how-to-have-fun/

ChinaChina China implemented a government program to China implemented a government program to

combat the environmental toll they experienced combat the environmental toll they experienced due to high growth ratedue to high growth rate

““One Child Policy” began in early 1970’sOne Child Policy” began in early 1970’s Widespread social implications due to program: Widespread social implications due to program:

• large number of abortions (many late term)large number of abortions (many late term)• many children died of starvation in orphanagesmany children died of starvation in orphanages• couples “encouraged” to have only one childcouples “encouraged” to have only one child

Population growth did decline in intensity….. But Population growth did decline in intensity….. But at what societal cost?at what societal cost?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4OWJlyaHt0

India

Country is grappling with a booming population; many women are aborting female babies and still others are forcing girls as young as 1 to go through sex change operations

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2008623/Girls-young-ONE-forced-sex-change-operations-India.html

Birth Control

Co-creator of the birth control pill laments the development of the pill as it has caused a great decline in the populations of many European nations

http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue4672.html

Unintended Consequences

We as a society must be careful of how we address the myriad of concerns that face us as some well-meaning solutions can have devastating long term effects: Japan, Russia, India, China etc.