As mentioned in class multiple times, the world’s population has recently reached, and has most likely surpassed at this point, 7 billion. This claim carries both good and bad news. The good is that it is proof that, on average, people are starting to live longer and have more offspring; basically it means that the human species is succeeding in a Darwinian perspective. The bad news is that now, more than ever, we need to find more sustainable resources; because the planet definitely cannot support 7 billion people much longer if we use our resources at the same rate as we are now. One of the main problems is in food and hunger (as it usually is, it’s not so much that we don’t have enough food (we don’t), the main problem is that our distribution methods and allocation is shoddy at best. For example, most of the crops grown in the US is inedible by humans. A huge amount of corn grown is either used as biofuel or feed for livestock. Food being grown for livestock is necessary; however, a lot of the land used to make biofuels (all of it) could be used for actual food.
In an attempt to alleviate the food problems, Pepsi Co. and the World Food Program have created Enterprise EthioPEA, whose plan is to increase production of chickpeas in Ethiopia. This tactic, while good on paper, will probably not work. As stated in the article, chickpeas are staple in the diet of Ethiopians, which means chickpeas are probably already proliferant in Ethiopia. The program should probably be focused on growing more variety of food as chickpeas, while high in nutrition, don’t provide all the essentials one needs. Though, anything would help at this point.
The population growth to 7 billion is a scary realization. We have more elderly people living in the world than ever before. The problem of distribution of food and other resources arises. Hopefully the Enterprise EthioPEA can help with the issue, but more needs to be done, so the program is not tackling the issue alone.
ReplyDelete7 billion numbers is real, the observance is largely symbolic. That mean we need more health care system. Because more babies is coming to the world. At the same time, more foods demand need for this world. People should have a plan to solve or help this kind of problem out. It was a good start that the Pepsi Co. and the World food Program did step out to help this problem out. Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest agricultural productivity in the world, yet the highest birth rates. Hand wringers who respond by simply shipping them grain actually exacerbate the situation in two terrible ways. First it makes them dependent upon the food aid, which is dangerous given that it is vulnerable to future events such as a US dust bowl. Second, it enables the high birth rate to continue. In order to avert the almost inevitable human disasters that loom, all nations must adopt two dramatic policy shifts. The first is a shift to sustainable methods of food production, the second is to determine what population size that production can sustain, and implement the very tough measures to limit their population to that number.
ReplyDeleteReaching a population of 7 billion has definitely been a monumental event. It also should be taken as a sign that our population is growing at an exponential rate and we need to change our infrastructure to accommodate this growth. Right now, with your example of the Enterprise EthioPEA, a sink or swim method is being implemented to aid with the survival of the growing population. We are trying to fight starvation before taking on malnutrition.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thank you for noticing the timing of my post haha.
With the world population reaching 7 billion, it is vital to find ways to sustain the ever growing population. The importance of providing nutritious food and clean drinkable water to people worldwide is a big issue that must be met. Increasing populations call for an immediate attention to improving healthcare. In order to promote a healthy, living population, attention to basic health needs must be changed.
ReplyDeleteIt’s great that the malaria vaccine has been created. However now is the time to make the vaccine mobile and cheap in order for undeveloped countries to effectively put the vaccine to use. This will helps us meet the MDGs buy 2015 and increase global health.
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