Unit 5 Blog - The Human Population

Unit 5 Blog- The Human Population

Unit Vocabulary - 

CBR (Crude Birth Rate) - the number of live births that happen among the population of a given geographical area consisting of 1,000 total people 

CDR (Crude Death Rate) - the number of live deaths that happen among the population of a given geographical area consisting of 1,000 total people

TFR (Total Fertility Rate) - the average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime

Replacement Level Fertility - is the requirement of producing an average of 2.1 children per woman usually in developed countries 

Population Momentum - refers to the population growth but at a national level that would occur if levels of childbearing declined to replacement level

Net Migration Rate - the difference of immigrants and emigrants of an area in a given particular period of time, divided per 1,000 inhabitants. (+) = more people entering the country than leaving it, (-) = more people leaving the country than entering it

Family Planning - the practice of controlling the number of children in a family and the intervals between each birth 

Affluence - the state of having a great deal of money; wealth 

IPAT equation - describes the role of multiple factors in determining environmental degradation. P - population, A - affluence, T - technology, I - environmental impact 

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) - the monetary value of all the finished goods, services, and products that are produced within the boundaries of a country in a specific and particular given time

Population Pyramid (Age Pyramid) - an illustration that shows the distribution of various age groups in a population  no definition

high growth rate

stable growth

declining population

Making Connections - 

The theory of demographic transition is a generalized description of the changing pattern of mortality, fertility and growth rates as societies move from one demographic regime to another. There are also many expected environmental impacts that are associated with each stage of the demographic transition such as:

-Stage 1 to 2
In this stage, the countries have better sanitation, more access to food, and ability to request and gain medical resources such as vaccines, and medicines. The sanitation, however, can disturb many ecosystems. There are many technological, agricultural, and medicinal advancements mainly resulting in lower death rates. There is an excessive and extensive amount of farming significantly to support a larger population. This farming directly correlates to remove many living and surrounding communities from plant and animals. 

-Stage 2 to 3
The countries at this stage and level in the demographic transition model usually have a larger ecological footprint because it requires more resources to make the products that people consume on a daily basis. This happens due to the affects of affluence, or an abundant amount of wealth in the society. The more affluent people are able to afford more and are also willing to give more. 

-Stage 3 to 4
This stage has countries that more highly developed. These countries have an abundance of affluence and technology that exceed farther than the other levels. The birth rates are significantly lower than death rates because women have an opportunity to be industrially involved in the work force. However, Stage 3's ecological footprint is a lot lower than Stage 4 because people could spend and afford more on resources required to people on a daily basis. Many of these resources include food, water, shelter, gas, and other tools. The higher and advanced technology in this stage brings the countries involved to a higher state of affluence as well. 

Current Event - 

Link: http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/24029/s-chandrasekhar/how-india-is-tackling-her-population-problem

The government of India and majority of its citizens have indeed known and been aware of the fact that India is rushing towards its overpopulation. The adverse economic circumstances they have been in though has stopped the advent of a new era and start to control the producing of children in each household. But the population explosion is definitely starting to become noticeable and observers have decided to implement a family planning program. The government of India, through the article, and outside research, has declared and decided to reduce the birth rate from the present 41 thousand to approximately 20-25 thousand as quickly as possible. Although this population control has been in force for many years it has created ruckus and chaos. Pros would include, less people which would decrease the overpopulation rate, and allowing India to socially, politically, and economically recover from its constant and unstoppable downfall. Cons would include the already stated chaos and ruckus and most definitely the recent action of banning the knowing of the gender of the child. Other cons or problems include the difficulty behind persuading families that a small family is better to have. This persuasion and statement indirectly correlates with the tradition of having bigger families to carry out the name and extended family. However, these pros and cons still add to the decision of implementing family planning that the government has made. 

Big Picture Reflection -  

Human Impact:

The impact humans have on this Earth has not only increased dramatically, but has also surpassed all means, creating an environment for only industrial, technological, and medicinal advancements. Birth rates are increasing and since death rates have significantly dropped, the growth rate in the environment has increased in many countries. Humans have the ability to change the world and through highly known professions and research that is occurring, the world in fact is at its turn about. 

Environmental Impact:

Humans have a drastic impact on the surrounding environment. They play a huge role in positively and negatively changing and improving the Earth. The biggest example we humans see is the most populated countries, China and India. As per China's one-child-policy, the crude birth rate has significantly decreased while having a stable population increase. This causes the population to be higher in its affluence rate. The country of India, however, has one of the largest populations, but absolutely no policy or way to stop the producing of children. Environmental workers and population controllers have even sent out doctors according to the documentary, to India to further improve conditions and stop women from being forced to have children. As birth rates increase in India, more death rates drastically occur and it effects the surrounding environment because there ends up being a lack of shelter, food, and water due to overpopulation. 

Economic Impact:

The human population also impacts the economy in many ways. According to statistics show on the internet on average being productive and earning an income is only possible by an age group from about 16 to 67 on average. This working age/population increases the environment but age groups like the youth/minor or the elderly seniors takes along a path for the economy to only fall short of the needed amount of money to sustain specific communities. The population size is important to the economy of a nation. As the stage or levels on the demographic transition increase in number so does the industrial workforce. The more women and men there are to equally balance out the labor rates the more opportunity there is for an abundance in affluence. The baby boom however can be considered as an example of one of the negative effects to decrease the affluence in the economy. The average age group working now has to provide for the elderly resulting in no net income in the economy causing a drastic change and impact in the work force and economy. 

Governmental Impact:

The governmental impact is usually on the human population. Like stated above we have the one-child policy in China which allows for only one birth of a child per person. In the United States we have family planning as an act to provide family planning services to those less fortunate that have limited access to resources but that did qualify for health benefits. This act was called the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act (1970).