Cartoon by RedStateEcelectic

Overpopulation affects almost every aspect of

life, including the earth.

As a continuing and rapid growth of human

population, if the idea of World Overpopulation

is not considered then the animals, the plants, the

fossil fuels, and the environment will deteriorate.

Environmental scientist often conclude that the

biggest problem for the environment is human

overpopulation.

Artwork by Lef

Overpopulation is not a myth, and will grow into

a problem without proper consideration.

Education on World Overpopulation is vital and

could help sustain the environment to live a more

comfortable life.

Overpopulation affects the environment, the

economy, our food production, animal

species, and even ourselves.

Declination of the Mortality Rate.Death rates are dropping and they will continue to do so with the advanced technology and research humans are providing for each other.

Medicine is also big key factor.

Increase of Birth Rates.New discoveries in nutritional science have been able to bring an increase in the fertility rates of human beings. Women also have easier births

since global maternal death rate has dropped 35 percent in the past 30 years (The Lancet).

Emigration.Emigration is also a problem in certain areas, where too many people are coming in and not enough are leaving to balance out the population.

For example, in the United States population [under the current immigration policy] will double this century - practically within the

lifetimes of children born today (US Census).

Lack of Education.If humans were aware of the population, the problems wouldn’t be severe. For example, if every human was taught and given education on

birth control and safe sex, there could be a noticeable decrease in unwanted pregnancies. Every year, there are about 80 million

pregnancies. 40% of the pregnancies; almost half, are unplanned (Hood 2009).

Photography by WorldMystery.com

Humans excrete wastes and pollution that flow into water

systems, and animal habitats, polluting water, and killing

wildlife (Derek & Ryan).

Resources that humans need and want are taken away from

the Earth and pollute the air.

Just a single human waste product — greenhouse gas — has

drastically altered the chemistry of the planet’s atmosphere

and oceans, causing global warming and ocean acidification

(Center for Biological Diversity).

Photography provided by ClimateLab.org

As the human population grows, so does the

demand of natural resources, especially in the

developed countries.

One example of the fastest disappearing fossil

fuel is petroleum.

By 2020, petroleum will almost be completely

gone from the world (Aguimbau 2010).

Photography provided by Britannica.com

The demand for land has caused deforestation

and caused harm to many animals.

Most biologists agree that humans are in the

midst of the Earth’s sixth mass extinction event.

Because of humans, species of animals are

disappearing about 1,000 times faster than is

typical of the planet’s history.

Sources from “Center for Biological Diversity.”

Photograph provided by Yenra.com

As humans grow, so does the need of land.

One third of the Earth is land, and only 10% of that 1/3

is suitable for intensive agriculture (arable land).

It is estimated that 400 square miles of arable land can

support one million people.

An estimation states that there is enough land for 15

billion people. However, in the year 2100, it is

estimated that the population will hit 15 billion.

Sources from Ciment and Ness “Encyclopedia of World Population”

Photography by BigPlanetIdeas.com

As overpopulation grows, so does the need for food and clean water.

While rapid increases in population spell danger for food levels in the

developing world, so does food waste and meat consumption in the

developed world.

Because of the constant demand on food, new research has been proposed

on manipulating genetics and DNA in food, calling it the “genetic

revolution.”

Water is another problem to face, since only 1% of the water on earth is

drinkable.

Desalinization is expensive and energy consuming and in the US water is

being pumped out of the ground far more rapidly than it can be

replenished.

Sources from Ciment and Ness “Encyclopedia of World Population”

Photography by Ketsa.com

When there are too many people on a certain

area, the harder it is to get food let alone even

obtain to sell.

While this is going on, the GPD per capita can

drop significantly which forces the government

to rely on foreign debt to feed the people.

When a country is overpopulated, there is a high

rate of unemployment because there just aren’t

enough jobs to support the population.

Sources from Derek and Ryan “Effects of Overpopulation.”

In one specific region that humans are being greatly affected

by overpopulation is China.

China's one child policy was established in 1979 to limit

China's population growth by limiting a couple to have only

one child (Rosenburn 2010).

China’s one child policy, though arguably successful in

curbing population growth, has led to human rights violations

ranging from forced sterilizations, forced abortions and

infanticide (John Taylor 2010).

Propaganda Photography by WorldWall.com

As humans try and control their population by enforcing fertility laws, a very important concept is education.

Education is the best way to inform and show people awareness of the situations and crisis’s happening to our planet. The awareness and availability of birth control will inevitably drop the unwanted pregnancies.

Practicing cleaner agriculture and industrial technology would greatly help the food production and pollution in the world today.

Overpopulation is not a myth but a serious matter. However, it can be controlled if everybody in the world spread awareness and education about this situation.

Ness, Immanuel, and James Ciment. The Encyclopedia of Global Population and Demographics. Vol. 1. Armonk, NY: M.E Sharp Inc., 1999. Print.

"Ozone and Population." Eye in the Sky (2009): n. pag. Web. 16 Nov 2010. <http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/ozone/ozone.html>.

"OVERPOPULATION: A Key Factor in Species Extinction." Overpopulation n. pag. Web. 15 Nov 2010. <http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/overpopulation/index.html>.