People, people, everywhere—are there are too many people on the Earth? It’s been said that the Earth could handle one billion people riding bicycles; but in 2016 there will likely be eight billion people and too many cars and trucks.
In 2013, Adrian Raferty, statistician for the UN, said the world population has ties both to climate issues and poverty issues. The UN says the world population should peak before 2040 and then start falling due to global decrease in growth rate. Yes, the human birth rate is decreasing; but we could help it reach sustainable levels more quickly. In the last 50 years (1960 – 2010), the global birth rate has dropped from 5 per woman to 2.5 per woman; and the birth rate is expected to continue going down. If a farmer in a region of India has more than 2 children, he gets no water for irrigation. Asia has had the quickest decline in birth rate (China and Bangladesh, etc.) In Bangladesh, the common saying is, “No more than 2 children, but 1 is even better.” In 1970, their birth rate was 7 per woman; in 2010, it has dropped to 2.5. Few Europeans and Americans know this recent history; they’re not stupid but just have preconceptions. In Bangladesh, school
children are now taught that big families will have families going hungry; and small families will have fewer difficulties. (My friend from India says the large families helped assure the elderly would be taken care of in a country without social services like Medicaid and Medicare.) As far as other U.S. social services go, why shouldn’t all adults between the ages of 18 - 62 who need money, go to work and not be eligible for food stamps unless they are disabled or on temporary unemployment? Of course, minimum wage would have to be enough to cover living expenses (food, clothing, shelter, utilities, and health insurance.) Yes, it’s hard to make ends meet; if you think that life is too hard, then don’t have any children. Some people believe Americans don’t want to work in the fields; I say field work is hard work; but if you want to eat, you should work. “…we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’”(2 Thessalonians 3:10) Here’s another bombshell. If you’re using government health insurance to pay for your pregnancy and /or delivery, you should have your tubes tied after your second baby; if you’re also in government housing, you should have your tubes tied after your first baby.
I am involved in improving the natural environment of the Earth. One of the biggest problems with the natural environment is human over-population. I’m not proposing killing people; but rather, having fewer pregnancies. The natural environment would be better off if there were only one billion people, and they rode bicycles. If there were only one billion people not using fossil fuels, then the farmers (hopefully not big ag) would raise a lot less food (supply / demand); and there would be less fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides (if used), manure, sewage, and animal slaughtering waste; algae blooms would not be
devastating. The natural cycle could sustain itself; and there would be lots of clean, fresh water. Meanwhile, states and municipalities must become more sustainable. South Florida says they need North Florida water for South Florida’s growing human population; and North Florida doesn't want its water going to South Florida; so, since South Florida has maxed out its water, the state of Florida and the southern counties and cities in South Florida should not allow any more building permits in south Florida. It's called sustainability; it protects the citizens who already live in south Florida. It may sound drastic; but not having enough clean, fresh water is a drastic problem. The American capitalistic system prefers competition rather than sustainability.
Fertility rates vary by country.
Hong Kong 1.12
Singapore and South Korea 1.19 (cash incentives for parenthood)
Germany 1.38
Italy 1.40
Japan 1.43
Spain 1.48
Sweden (cash incentives for parenthood)
At the end of 2014, the United Nations encouraged Nigeria to control the country’s population growth. There are economic benefits from shifting from high fertility rates to low fertility rates. I think what we need more than a “growing economy” is a stable and sustainable economy and lower birth rates. In the US, have we encouraged our children and grandchildren to have fewer children based on escalating college costs, dilapidating natural environment, and increasing national debt? Our school health books should be teaching that big families will have families going hungry; and small families will have fewer difficulties. “No more than 2 children, but 1 is even better.”