Introduction
The world face numerous challenges ranging from climate change, global warming, outbreak of diseases and food insecurity, to highlight but a few. Every problem the world faces today accrue from overpopulation and overconsumption. The world’s population increases at an alarming rate; an idea that lowers economic development, human dignity coupled with life expectancy and strain natural resources. Initially, the world took more than 122 years and 33 years before attaining a population growth of two and three billion respectively. This is because the world had not attained high economic development as it has today.
However, population growth rate increased with the same pace as economic development thus shortening this time. Today, the world’s population increases by one billion people every thirteen years. This translates that two to three children are born after every 2.4 seconds, while one person dies after two seconds. It is estimated the world population will reach seven, eight and nine billion by the end of 2015, 2025, and 2050 respectively (population Growth, DVD). This trend will have negative impacts on natural resources of overconsumption that will strain. It is estimated that two to three people will experience water shortage problem by 2050 because of climate change and global warming associated with overconsumption.
Nations across the globe have addressed the issue of overpopulation by formulating and implementing environmental conservation programs aimed at increasing food production. However, the world will have to pay the price associated with this move because it will fuel global warming, climate change and increase demand for natural resources. It is the time for the world to employ population as a strategy of controlling population.
China is one of the countries in the world that has implemented policies aimed at controlling population growth. In 1978, the Chinese government enacted the one- Child policy that denied couples living in urban areas right of having more than one child. However, the policy allowed couples in rural areas, foreigners, and minority groups to have more than one child. Since it enactment, the policy has helped China reduce its population growth by more than 400 million births (Greenhalgh, 170). Effectiveness of this policy in population reduction remains a topic of discussion in the country.
Benefits and problems associated with a reproductive policy such as China's one-child policy
Advantages
Improve economic development: Implementing reproductive policies will help in reducing overpopulation and overconsumption; aspects that hinder economic, social, and political development. The government will not use much money on establishing health care facilities that offer maternal health care to expectant mothers. The money will be used to construct roads, communication channels and improve infrastructure; an idea that will attract foreign and local investors. The investors will create employment, increase gross domestic product, and government’s revenue thus improving the economy.
Reduce fertility rate and challenges associated with overpopulation: The one-child policy has helped China reduce its fertility rate from 2.62 births per woman in 1980s to about 1.60 births in 2010. This trend has enabled the country conserve its natural resources, increase economic development, and address environmental challenges effectively. This move has helped China prevent mushrooming of slums, greenhouse effects in main towns and cities and environmental degradation.
Problems
Increase induced abortions: Many women in China have died from maternal health complications resulting from performing induced abortion. Women perform unsafe abortion because they fear being punished for violating the law.
Violation of human rights: The international laws articulate that parents have the right of deciding the size of their family and the number of children they want without the interference from the government. However, in 2002, the Chinese government violated this right by introducing forced sterilization and abortion to more than 20, 000 women; an idea that amounted to violation of human rights. It is presumed that implementation of reproductive policy will amount to human right violation.
The Chinese government imposes monetary fines on parents who violate the one-child policy. However, it will be hard for the government to punish the violators because of corruption coupled with difference in the implementation process. Wealth parents will bride policy implementers so that to have more children. Additionally, parents who violate the law may relocate to rural areas so that to avoid the punishment. Based on this fact, it will be difficult for the Chinese government to impose sanctions on the violators.
Alternative solution for dealing with resource demand in a growing population as China
Empower women with education and rights to plan their families: The Chinese government should focus on educating and sensitizing women on the importance of embracing family planning methods. This move will help women space and plan their family effectively thus promoting sustainability and economic prosperity.
Lower level of unnecessary consumption and promote sustainability: Over population lead to high demand of oil and gas, which emit greenhouse gases. Emission of these gases led to global warming and climate change thus destabilizing biodiversity. China should use environmental friendly energy sources such as wind, solar and biogas so that to conserve its environment and sustain its population.
Works cited
Greenhalgh, Susan. ""Science, Modernity, and the Making of China's One-Child Policy." Population and Development Review 2.29 (2003): 163-178. Print.
population Growth. Dir. Isaac Asimov. Perf. jacques-Yves Cousteau. Independence media, 2012. DVD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b98JmQ0Cc3k&feature=related
