Environmental Biology: Population
1. Choose North America as your continent. What is your age? 19 What was the Earth's population when you were born? 289 528 000
2. How many times greater is the population now than when you were born? 1.21 times
3. Choose Africa as your continent. How many times greater is the population than when you were born? 1.55
4. Choose North America as your continent. How many people are still alive that were born the same year as you? 99%
5. Choose Africa as your continent, and now answer the same question as #4. 80%
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6. In North America, what percentage of the population is older than you? 75%
7. Answer the same question as #6, but for Africa. 52%
8. What is the current human population of Earth? (You may have to explore the website for the answer to this one.) 7 052 960 000
9. Given the current growth rate and life expectancy what is the projected population for the year 2030?
10. As we progress into the future, does the average age of the population increase or decrease? decrease
11. Assume you are in charge of addressing the issue of population growth on Earth. Based on your reading and this activity, develop a strategy for dealing with this problem. Your strategy should be concise, within 150-200 words, and should include at a minimum:
With the population trend going on, and based on the population statistics, addressing the overpopulation should focus on the third world countries. It can be seen from this activity that the rate of population increase is almost doubled in the continent of Africa compared to that of North America. Most of the countries in Africa are third world countries while those in America belong to the progressive ones. It is also important to note that the life expectancy of people from the third world countries is far below the life expectancy of the more progressive countries. Comparing African countries for example to those of Northern American countries, 20% of the people born in 1993 are already dead compared to only 1% for the Northern American countries. (Institut national d’etudes demographiques, 2012).
A massive population education campaign targeting especially the countries with high population growth rate, high birth mortality rates and those with young populations because these indicates that the health needs of these countries especially the children and mothers. This is an indication that the country is no longer capable of providing quality life to its people.
Target audience for the population education campaign would be the younger generation especially those in the child bearing years. Statistical evidences and actual video footages comparing their situation to other countries would be good evidences to convince them to engage in population control and responsible parenthood.
References
Institut national d’etudes demographiques, 2012. “The World Population and Me”. Retrieved on 2012 March 2 from http://www.ined.fr/en/everything_about_population/animations/
