Thomas Robert Malthus once said, "The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man".
One of the biggest issues with over population is the ability to sustain the rising numbers. As the number of people increases the land and resources that are available remain the same. Some might argue that we could share the resources more evenly and recycle more often, but this is just a temporary solution. No matter how many times we recycle the amount of resources available continues to remain the same. Eventually we will reach the point where there are too many people to feed and not enough food.
We as a society need to realize that overpopulation is a crisis that affects every one, not just those in countries that its currently affecting. Restricting the growing population seems to be the only possible way to maintain the finite resources that we have. However, the means by which we do this is still left up for debate. Education seems to be a good first step. Letting people know that this is an issue and that we are all in this together may lead to new ideas on how to help this overpopulation crisis.
I think you make a good point, by acknowledging that the current rate of growth of the human population is unsustainable given a finite amount of resources. I think it’s also important to realize that population of the world is expanding unevenly and unequally in different countries, and for different reasons. This makes finding a single solution to population growth seemingly impossible, but it also is evidence that it can be done, whether or not it is intentional. Each community, region, and country has different cultural and religious beliefs that contribute to growth and decline. Violence, disease, emigration, low birth rates, and natural disaster are often sited as major causes of population decline, but in response some countries, including Japan, Russia, and Sweden have created national policy to incentivize population growth in their countries through financial and economic incentives.
I like your point that sharing resources and recycling are just temporary solutions to a much bigger issue. The basic problem is that at some point, we just won't have the resources to support the number of people on this Earth. The dilemma is in how we try to deal with this problem on a local and global scale. Like Maggie said, it seems almost impossible to do. With so many different cultural and religious beliefs, the dilemma is finding a solution that would benefit everyone; it is proven human nature that we are much more inclined to do something if there is a tangible benefit to doing it. I don't have a good solution for dealing with population growth and sustainability, but I think a solution should be implemented as soon as possible. Our generation specifically won't have to deal with running out of resources, but if we want a bountiful future for our children, grandchildren and so forth, something has to be done now.
I loved the approach that responds to the answer, I feel we are selfish when it comes to consuming natural resources. We do not think about what will happen in three or four decades, we focus indiscriminately consuming without thinking that so much maltrating the earth.
We see how every time everything is focused on strengthening education as a primary pillar in this regard. You are not mistaken when you make it impossible that this is a problem for everyone, not only the poor countries such as Karatu, it is something that is reflected in these countries, but the developed countries are not exentos of power Present a situation like this in a few decades.
I totally agree Elena, i think that the basic problem its overpopulation, high rates of birth, enviromental damage, resources, food but the basic Dilemma its how could we give all of this people a better live, health care, family planning, protected natural areas, enough resorces, food, water without violating their culture, with justice, how can we teach them family planning without getting involved in their religion, how could we help them in their way and not in our, how we could give them resources taking care of the environment, this is the real dilemma.