Hello researchers, I ask a question to all. What can be the root cause of all the problems that we have in our society nowadays? We talk of education, is it so? We talk of social stability by means of development at the cost of environmental instability.
Is it not the sole factor, that is over-population due to negligence in family planning that has evolved to be as the root cause of all the major problems. 21st century is said to be the century where challenges will come in the food & water security. Don't you think that it is the right time to implement family planning strategies at the third world or even developing countries so that at least food scarcity, water shortage problems are minimized. Nations should take initiative so that its people do not face the ever-increasing problems of food, education. Even you see unemployment generated by lack of jobs is the result of over-population. Over-population demands greater land areas which demand industrialization which adversely affects our environment as we are uncontrollably depleting our natural resources. Will the story continue? What can be the single solution to be thought of before we take big steps towards our sustainable development? I expect answers from those readers who feel that a small thinking today would make a reality in future...
The theory (or paradigm) you describe is known as Malthusianism (demography drives economy) and debated for two centuries. A recent influential Malthusian text is the Limits-to-Growth (Meadows 1972); the Tragedy-of-the-Commons is another offshoot. In the latter case, where I looked within a concrete historical-geographic context, there was no Malthusian tragedy neither in the resource base nor investment capital (Gils et al. 2014). Elsewhere, in a more agrarian, pre-industrial setting indicators of a demographic time bomb (another Malthusian book title) have been observed (Gils & Baig 1992).
Yes Sir it is like managing an ongoing problem with a new solution under the mask of a new problem. But we should be very careful though to deal with the problems. In India particularly in Delhi, what miserable condition it is! I talk of my country which is industrialising at a peak rate, but what about the problems inflicted on us? Then should we stop forming industries no, rather we should be using some stringent rules of gas/liquid emission. Its very high time to think of this. But lastly I think that if the future population does not increase at a forecasted value and we manage our needs with least misuse & most efficient way, obviously there is a ray of hope.
"21st century is said to be the century where challenges will come in the food & water security" - Yes, it seems to be true.
Overpopulation will play a major role in the depletion of natural resources, degradation of environment, conflicts and wars, rise in unemployment, and in increasing cost of living.
The overpopulation can only be controlled by extending better education and making people aware of family planning. The governments, particularly in the third world, have to be more cautious in mitigating the problem of overpopulation.
"...it is counter-productive for people to be so frightened by "global warming/climate change" that they lose sight of what's important...." - Significant remark of Dr. Kenneth.
Providing potable water and food to people (particularly in some underdeveloped and developing countries) are more important than the investments on 'climate control' based on model predictions. It is very risky, time consuming and costly.
Regards
"There's enough for everyman's NEED, but not for everyman's GREED" Gandhi.
The earth can no longer afford the wealthy. Will all greedy please exit the planet immediately. We thank you in advance....
The answers provided so far, all relate to proximate causes. Which is fine, anyway; but, if you seek for the route cause: the answer is simple: lack of equity, and too much greed in society; the over-profit drive in particular.
I think over-population is the sole factor behind our every problems. Combined with ignorance & lack of unity between nations has lead to a universal problem. Controlling population with the help of proper education or strategy will relieve of food, water health sectors. These three sectors define the livelihood of people before any other definition of development.
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