2007-07-19 04:43:31 · 9 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
Malthus was wrong- he failed to anticipate the tremendous advances in agrculture.
The planet is nowhere near its carrying capacity for humans (which is upwards of 50 billion). We do feel like there's overpopulation because certain regions have exceeded their carrying capacity.
At this point it's all about growing in smart ways that are not as resource intensive (to maximize our aforementioned carrying capacity to absorb the growth that is going to happen).
For instance in the US, our habit of building suburbs the way we do, not the way we did in the early 1900's (still totally doable, by the way) uses more space (particularly arable land), and other resources, like energy for transport. In Brazil, they can focus less on grazing (which makes money for landowners, but crontibutes less to the local economy) and more on smaller farming, but that's difficult, since land refeorm there is a very controversial and sometimes violent issue.
Population growth will slow as we develop. Since ancient times, populations living in cities have never grown at replacement rate and have depended on immigration from the hinterland for growth and stability. As the nature of rural life changes due to development and technology, the high birthrates there will decrease.
2007-07-19 05:19:07 · answer #1 · answered by Kyle M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when we speak of overpopulation, we think of dwindling resources.
u don't have to agree with me but hear me out.
an increase in population in western europe and usa facilitated industrial revolution agree?
industrial revolution made agriculture on the scale it is done today possible.
more people means more scientists, engineers who are thinking of hybrid foods, genetically modified foods, constrructing high buildings in population dense cities.
as society becomes more advanced, the more ability it has to support a large population.
it's how i see it.
2007-07-19 16:40:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends. In Western Europe and Japan, they have negative population growth. In Africa and developing countries like India and China, they have tremendous population growth and are in danger in overpopulation. In the US, there is a negative birth rate, but steady rise in population due to immigration.
2007-07-19 11:55:58 · answer #3 · answered by unassailed 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
nah, wen i was driving through nevada, arizona and utah, there was nothing but land!! and out around afaganistand, miles and miles of land even in china, europe astraillia,africa the rest of the usa and more!!so i think that its going to take a while to over populate. and my mom told me that the government is just tellling us that to freek us out
2007-07-19 11:49:13 · answer #4 · answered by coloradogal 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
fiction:
check out the overcrowding in Canada,Alaska,Amazon Jungle,Antartica,Australian outback,Greenland,etc.
2007-07-19 14:46:17 · answer #5 · answered by robert p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very much true! Have you heard or read about the Malthusian Theory of Population !
2007-07-19 11:48:37 · answer #6 · answered by Sami V 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Very true..and it looks like the number will increase rapidly.
2007-07-19 11:48:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't think so. The sustainability problem is our own greed, not our numbers.
2007-07-19 15:53:54 · answer #8 · answered by wassupmang 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ah true......too many people not enough resources...we are already starting to see the strain
2007-07-19 11:46:27 · answer #9 · answered by penydred 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋