The United Nations Population Fund announced this week that the world's count of human inhabitants on the planet will surpass 7 billion this month, but there are few celebrations, even though the U.N. entitles its report, "People and Possibilities." This is because scientists in the environmental and social realms long have warned of overpopulation challenges that include hunger, pollution, global warming and in the extreme the conflicts of warfare and genocide.
America's Public Broadcasting Service has explored the issue in a series of reports under the moniker of "Our Changing Planet." The reports describe how the world's population has skyrocketed from an estimated 300 million during the time of Christ to 1 billion at the time of the American Revolution to today's 7 billion figure. Furthermore, experts predict that unless current trends are impacted, another 1 billion people will be added every dozen years or so.
One main cause is improved modern medicine such as the advent of antibiotics, which has extended the average lifespan to 68 years, up from 48 in 1960. Another cause is tied to cultures in which birth control and contraception are either ignored, frowned upon, or considered as outright evil.
Our Changing Planet reports signs of progress. A typical woman in Kenya gives birth to 4.4 children during her lifetime, compared to 8.1 as recently as near the turn of the millennium. In Iran, the average is 2.8, down from 6.8. In Bangladesh, it's 3.1, compared to the previous 6.4. Communal education is credited, along with increased availability of safe, humane contraceptives and steps away from traditions of child marriages.
The United Nations is scheduled to release a report on further action steps on Oct. 26. Meanwhile, a group known as Population Connection is protesting an early October vote by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee to defund the U.N. Population Fund. The vote was along political party lines, with Republicans protesting that the U.N. is promoting abortion. Democrats and U.N. officials deny this is the case.
hp ceo r e m gurney gurney clemency us supreme court cameron todd willingham
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