Monday, April 2, 2012

"How many people can live on planet earth?"-Video Response (Monday, April 2nd, 2012)

“How many people can live on Planet Earth?”

From the time the world was created and the first organisms were present on the planet, the world has undeniably progressed to now be recognized as a place dominated by the human species. Humans, the smartest species present on the planet have undoubtedly renovated earth’s appearance as technology and innovation have made it what it is in modern times. The founding of new lands and their claims, then the brink of the industrial revolution which allowed individuals to find jobs in urban areas, changed the makings of the planet and gave humans the opportunity to control most of it.

The industrial revolution also allowed certain countries to grow more powerful than others; therefore, allowed individuals to seek a better quality of life and shift their focus from having big families living on a smaller income to having smaller families supported by a larger income.
Despite the innovation and progress, the world’s population in the past two centuries has rapidly grown because in the early 1800’s, what used to be a population of 1 billion people, became 7 billion in the 21st century. What caused the world’s population to multiply almost 7 times despite the great advancement of the human race? Is the world’s population going to continue growing? Can the world support the increasing demand? How many people can live on planet earth?


The increasing numbers of the world’s population have undeniably sent researchers of all kinds searching for answers to those exact questions. “How many people can live on planet earth?,” is a video in which the causes of the increased population and the world’s sustainability are brilliantly discussed and leaves its viewers with the message of not taking the
earth’s resources for granted. As nations grow to become more powerful, other nations grow poorer and become a part of a cycle of poverty which is never-ending. The trends in a country’s population can be altered based on the country’s literacy rate, basic necessity supply and a positively flowing economy. Literacy rates undoubtedly helped balance the population in developed nations because as individuals such as women became exposed to school, they got
married much later and reduced their family size. Countries in Africa and Asia are starting to slowly progress in areas which influence education so that their population doesn’t multiply too quickly for the supplies that are available.

Other animals in nature are able to sustain their growth based on the necessities (food, water etc.) they have available; therefore, population rates can also be altered based on the supply of these necessities and whether the supply can support the demands of a growing population. What is unfortunate is that the population is growing too quickly in comparison to food production, and even though the world does have enough food supply for its entire population,
the western nations are consuming most of what is available. According to the video, if all individuals in the world were to consume as much as an average Indian, the world would be able to support a population of 15 billion people; however, it would be able to support 18 billion people if individuals ate a little less than the average Indian.

The statement does bring a “sigh of relief” for a majority of researchers; however, it would only help in resolving the problem if food was rationed equally amongst everyone, which is close to impossible. The fact that many countries have more economic power than the others has become a barrier between humans and ways in which they can sustain their futures. Countries with their own self-interests will continue to consume more than what is needed; however, in the end all human beings will pay the price when the environment will not be able to satisfy their demands.
If the food cannot be rationed amongst the growing population, how can earth sustain humans? To begin, countries which are more developed can start contributing by acknowledging how blessed they are and can give back to the environment by only consuming what is necessary, not what they desire. Developed countries can help the underdeveloped nations by influencing
education and encouraging their governments to bring awareness about contraception so that the population of the nations can be controlled. Individuals living in developed countries should try to conserve the environment and its resources by polluting less, consuming what is required and recycling.

The video truly portrays to humans the importance of supporting one another and conserving the environment. Since the population is continuing to grow and will increase tremendously by 2050, to preserving the environment is not on expected but is ultimately the only possible solution which can sustain the human species as well as protect other species which make up the
world. In conclusion, the answer to how many people can live on planet earth is easy to determine. The amount of people earth can sustain truly depends on the amount of people which support the environment now. If individuals allow their self-interests to be their motivation in preserving the environment, they will not only be helping others but the planet which has given them so much already.


























































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