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01st May 2010
The Myth Of Overpopulation -- Peter Fevrier, Family & Life Secretariat

Human overpopulation can be defined as the excessive overcrowding of people in a given area, to the point of depletion of natural resources or environmental degradation. This phenomenon does not depend only on the size or density of the community but on the ratio of the population to the availability of sustainable resources. Bearing in mind that this factor is dependent on the way resources are used and distributed throughout.
Consider the following: if a given community has a population of 10 individuals but there is food or drinking water enough for 9,then in a closed system where no trade is possible that community is overpopulated. On the other hand if the population is 100 but there is enough food, shelter and water for 200 for the indefinite future then this community would not be overpopulated. Overpopulation can result from an increase in births, a decline in mortality rates due to medical advances, an increase in immigration, an un-sustained biome or a depletion of a natural resource.
A recent CNN report indicated that the Earth’s human population has doubled from 1 to 2 billion between the year 1800 and 1930…an unparallel event in the planet’s history. No large mammal has ever grown to such extent or possess the ability to utilize so many resources. This figure, doubled again by 1975 taking a period of 45 years. Now the World’s population stands at 6.8 billion and if it continues on course it will reach 8 billion in 2020 before leveling off to about 9 billion by 2050.The report went further to explain that if it doesn’t level off the worldwide population could theoretically reach 15 billion by 2050.This however, is very unlikely, due to the insurmountable economic, political and ecological crises that could ensue. The report further stated that :Homo Sapient or humans have exceeded their sustainable population size, considering the extent of human waste products and the emission of green house gasses. All of which have altered the chemistry of the planet’s skies , ocean and water attachments causing global warming and water acidification.
Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus (1766 – 1834) was a British scholar who was very influential in matters of politics, economics and demography. Malthus thought that the dangers of population growth would preclude endless progress towards a utopian society. He claimed: the powers of population are definitely greater than the power of the earth to produce subsistence for man. As an Anglican clergy man Malthus saw this situation as divinely imposed. So it was important to teach virtuous behavior. He claimed further: population does invariably increase when the means of subsistence increase, but if the superior power of population is not repressed, then the manifestations of over population will so affect the means of subsistence that it would lead to undue misery and the perpetuation of vices.
Many countries have taken stringent measures to control population.These methods have all been influenced by sterility rates and the availability of resources. The Chinese government for example has instituted a harsh method of population control to regulate the increase of this country’s population growth. Their controversial “One Child Policy “ has created an uneasy reception, especially amongst the rural population in China and amongst Catholics all over the world. Many complained of the in-humane treatments they are subjected to, stiff fines levied, forced sterilizations and abortions experienced as a consequence of breaking population laws. Historically, human population control has been implemented by limiting the population birth rate usually by government mandate. This being undertaken in response to a number of factors including high or increased levels of poverty, environmental degradation or pollution, unemployment, diseases, absence of health-care and housing. Whilst population control involves measures that claim to improve people’s lives by giving them greater control of their reproduction…these programs have exposed people to much exploitation. The population control movement worldwide has remained active from 1960s up to date…driving many reproductive health and family planning institutes.
 
 

Many of these programs have affected some third world countries including St Lucia. Let us consider the aforementioned: St Lucia has a population of approximately 170,000 and an annual growth rate of 0.74%. The citizens of the country are predominantly of African, mixed African – European decent with a small East Indian and European minority. The population is evenly divided between urban and rural areas although the capital Castries contains more than 30% of the population. It is estimated that the GDP is approximately $987 million with a growth rate of 0.7%.Now the economic authorities believe that our population growth is bordering on the line of danger and that this country would not be able to sustain its population in the very short run if certain measures were not in place.
The rapid increase in population growth rate in St Lucia caused by the country’s young and high fertility rate, has placed an enormous stress on the society, which has experienced under-employment, a growing informal economic sector and increased pressure on livable space in urban areas. In the early 1980s although immigration caused an amelioration of the population problem emanating, observers believed that the government of the day, might have had to develop a national birth control program similar to what has been implemented in other countries of the Caribbean.
The justification as proclaimed by the advocates of population control institutions, was the eminent calamity that would ultimately ensue in the absence of swift and rigid measures. Starvation was looming according to experts such as biologist Paul Ehrlich of Stanford University. Many others predicted the possibility of permanent damage to the Earth’s resource base, due to the overwhelming growth of human population.
The false alarm has affected humanity in a serious way. The most severe consequence is the instructional genocide that has been perpetrated in many countries over the years and the effect it has on nations particularly colored people. The myth of overpopulation has reduced the value of human life and paved the way for abusive population control measures. It must be appreciated, that people are the most valuable resource of this planet…Earth. Human resource is the one major resource we cannot do without. The relentless promotion of abortion, abortifacient contraception and chemical or surgical sterilization is cunningly labeled: Population Stabilization, Family Planning or Reproductive Health Care. Catholic Christians worldwide view all of these as anti-life programs, which conceal coercion, deception and racism with the sole intention of keeping the poor in the minority. What we need for our people now, is an alternative to promote a culture of life, which encourages pro-natal and pro-family attitudes; laws and policies to institute programs that can help our poor people become the agents of their own development and change.

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