http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/opinion/sunday/talking-their-way-out-of-a-population-crisis.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=talking%20their%20way%20out%20of%20a%20population%20crisis&st=cse
The global population explosion, most of which will come from Africa, could have a major effect of the rest of the world, the U.S. included. Just like the western decrease in population from the 1700s - 1900s, the solution to African population explosion could be "relaxed, trusting, and frank conversations between men and women" because conversation opens the people up to the idea of family planning and contraception. Many women in rural Africa have little power over their fertility and fear beatings if they speak out against their husbands. Treating sick children and pregnant women has decreased child morality, but fertility has not decreased yet, except in women who have converted to evangelical christianity. At churches, women learned in church to speak and have some power and control over their lives and actions, so they were more willing and capable of grouping together outside of church to fight for rights over their own fertility. Also a program aimed at stopping men from beating their wives has given women more confidence and decreased fertility rates. Epstein concludes that women's rights and empowerment, more than health services and money, will decrease birthrates.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Coming to a Planet Near You: 3 Billion More Mouths to Feed
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/coming-to-a-planet-near-you-3-billion-more-mouths-to-feed/?ref=women
Although the dates at which the world population reaches 7 billion and 10 billion are estimates, overpopulation still presents a serious threat to the environment because the average consumption per person will increase along with the population. Iran, Mexico, and Sri Lanka have been able to decrease fertility rates and population growth by offering "family planning in a culturally sensitive way." The Obama administration has tried to finance family planning programs, "a neglected priority," but due to recent opposition, "budgets stagnated." However, USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, has reorganized, become more focused and effective, and started working with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the British development agency to implement family planning programs. Child mortality has declined in Africa, but parents are still in the mindset that they must have many children to insure against the death of some, and it may take 10 - 20 years to change parents' low "expectation of survival." While most of sub-saharan Africa faces an overpopulation problem, many developed countries face "stagnant or falling populations," which will cause future problems when the population ages and there are many more older adults and fewer young people to support them.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Cellphones, Maxi-Pads and Other Life-Changing Tools
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/06/opinion/06friedman.html?ref=thomaslfriedman&pagewanted=print
Thomas Friedman asked several Kenyans how they thought Africa could be freed from "poverty, disease and misgovernance." The first woman identified one of the major solutions to these problems as education for women. Although education was available for many poor girls, she had found that the poor girls missed several days of class every month when they were menstruating because their families could not afford sanitary napkins, eventually causing these girls to fall behind and drop out of school. To combat the problem, the woman worked with NGOs to give poor girls free sanitary napkins.
The next man identified democracy as a major solution because it increased government transparency and reassured citizens and outside investors, making them more likely to invest in Kenyan businesses because there is less fear that "the new guy will change all the rules -- often for his cronies."
The next woman proposed cell phones and technology as a solution because it would allow poor, uneducated, rural farmers to connect to urban areas.
Lastly, Friedman asserts the need for more honest, hardworking, open role models to inspire people to oppose government corruption and work hard and honestly to make a living.
Thomas Friedman asked several Kenyans how they thought Africa could be freed from "poverty, disease and misgovernance." The first woman identified one of the major solutions to these problems as education for women. Although education was available for many poor girls, she had found that the poor girls missed several days of class every month when they were menstruating because their families could not afford sanitary napkins, eventually causing these girls to fall behind and drop out of school. To combat the problem, the woman worked with NGOs to give poor girls free sanitary napkins.
The next man identified democracy as a major solution because it increased government transparency and reassured citizens and outside investors, making them more likely to invest in Kenyan businesses because there is less fear that "the new guy will change all the rules -- often for his cronies."
The next woman proposed cell phones and technology as a solution because it would allow poor, uneducated, rural farmers to connect to urban areas.
Lastly, Friedman asserts the need for more honest, hardworking, open role models to inspire people to oppose government corruption and work hard and honestly to make a living.
The Birth Control Solution
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/opinion/kristof-the-birth-control-solution.html?_r=1&ref=nicholasdkristof
The world population has been growing exponentially, much faster than the U.N. has estimated. Overpopulation has led to many of the world's problems that we hear about today such as "conflict and terrorism," "global poverty," and "climate change." Kristof proposes women's education, particularly about family planning and birth control, as the solution to overpopulation because research has shown that better educated women are more likely to be open to contraceptives and have fewer children. Opposition to contraception in the U.S. due to China's and India's radical population policies has increased among religious conservatives, so funding for global family planning programs and for research on more effective, less expensive contraceptives has decreased. Because contraceptives decrease the number of pregnancies, not the amount of sex, less family planning education and contraceptives will only cause "more abortions and more women dying in childbirth" in developing countries. It is vital that Americans prevent political ties and church dogma from restricting family planning when women's education and options are such an important part of the solution to several world problems.
The world population has been growing exponentially, much faster than the U.N. has estimated. Overpopulation has led to many of the world's problems that we hear about today such as "conflict and terrorism," "global poverty," and "climate change." Kristof proposes women's education, particularly about family planning and birth control, as the solution to overpopulation because research has shown that better educated women are more likely to be open to contraceptives and have fewer children. Opposition to contraception in the U.S. due to China's and India's radical population policies has increased among religious conservatives, so funding for global family planning programs and for research on more effective, less expensive contraceptives has decreased. Because contraceptives decrease the number of pregnancies, not the amount of sex, less family planning education and contraceptives will only cause "more abortions and more women dying in childbirth" in developing countries. It is vital that Americans prevent political ties and church dogma from restricting family planning when women's education and options are such an important part of the solution to several world problems.
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