overpopulation

Writing for Graduate School17 March 2011Overpopulation in ChinaPrefaceWith just over 1.3 billion people (1,330,044,605 as of mid-2008), China is the world's most populous country. As the world's population is approximately 6.7 billion, China represents a full 20% of the world's population so one in every five people on the planet is a resident of China.China's population growth has been somewhat slowed by the one child policy, in effect since 1979. As recently as 1950, China's population was a mere 563 million. The population grew dramatically through the following decades to one billion in the early 1980s. China's population is expected to grow over the next few decades. By the late 2011, China's population is expected to reach 1.4 billion. Around 2030, China's population is anticipated to peak and then slowly start dropping.We can see the chart about China population in Figure 1. It shows the population in China from 1978 to 2009. In 1978, the population is 1.05 billion. In 2009, the number is rising to 1.33 billion.Figure 1With such a huge population, every social problem is magnified. If things keep going the way they are, then China will consume more resources than they have to spare. Therefore, we need to solve the problem and manage the population.DefinitionSo, what is overpopulation? By definition, overpopulation is “the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life, or a population of crash.”Then, I will develop an extended definition of “overpopulation”. For example, the population of a place increases in just a short time. However, the space in a placeremains the same. When the houses in a neighborhood are overcrowded, it shows that the population in the area is too big. This is a common sight in a city. Many poor people build shanties along creeks, in dumpsites or along railroads. More than one family may share a shanty. Overpopulation in a community can limit space for housing.In operational definition, overpopulation bring the bad influence to people‟s daily lives. Because of overpopulation, people can not get enough food and water. So it causes food shortage and water shortage. When people do not get enough food, their health is affected. In another aspect, overpopulation causes environmental Problem. The more people there are, the more waste people generate.I can see how someone could say that overpopulation is too exaggerative, it does not influence their daily lives. I‟ m sure many areas do not suffer overpopulation. However, I believe that if we don‟t control and manage it, everywher e will be overpopulation in the future.Overpopulation is one of the big problems in the 21 century, especially in China. As the people live in the world, we have the responsibility to think about the problem and how to solve it.CausalOverpopulation is the result of large population base. The main causes of population growing are social welfare, national health improving (a decrease in infant mortality and a decrease in death rate as national health improves), and quality of lifeimproving (longer lifetime).The effect of overpopulation is obvious. It causes employment problem, traffic problem, education problem, limited space, food shortage, water shortage and environmental problem.●Traffic ProblemThe number of cars is going up much faster in China than the length of the roads in the cities. The greatest …communist‟ society ever invented doesn‟t know what to do. That‟s what worries me. Cars are not something any kind of government c an easily control if they‟re c heap to buy and cheap to drive.In Shanghai, a city of more than 20 million where new car registrations are restricted to 6,000 monthly, commuter traffic has slowed to 6 to 10 miles per hour, well under the speed of a bicycle. The traffic‟s a mess, even though only 20 percent of all daily trips in Shanghai are by car, compared to 80 percent in U.S. cities. For the majority of people in Shanghai, who are walking or biking or waiting at the bus stops, it means breathing in a lot of bad air.●Education ProblemIn china, Education is necessary and compulsory to everyone. Because the literate quality of people will be improved by Education, People have paid an attention to the education. However, there are many education problem because of the over population. Many children who are in the poor family in the poor areas have nochance to go to school.●Limited SpacePopulation density: 362 people square mile, compared to 4 per square mile in Mongolia, and 72 in the United States. The population density ofChina is three times the world average of 91 people per square mile.Figure 2In figure 2, it shows the population density in China. In Shanghai, there are almost 100,000 people per square mile. Only twelve cities on earth, including China's Shenyang, Tianjin and Chengdu, have higher population densities. Shanghai had a population of 20 million people; Beijing and Tianjin had 15 million each; and seven other cities had a population of more than 5 million each. More than 100 Chinese cities have a population of more than 1 million.The population of a place increases in just a short time. However, the space in a place remains the same. When the houses in a neighborhood are overcrowded, it shows that the population in the area is too big. This is a common sight in a city. Many poor people build shanties along creeks, in dumpsites or along railroads. More than one family may share a shanty. Overpopulation in a community can limit space for housing.●Food ShortageThe more people there are, the greater amount of food is needed. If there is not enough food to feed people in a specific place, then there is food shortage in that place. When people do not get enough food, their health is affected. People become undernourished when they do not have enough food to eat. Undernourished children are more likely to get sick.●Water ShortageWhen population increases, the demand for water also increases. Farmers need more water to irrigate their fields so that they can produce more crops. Factories need more water to use in manufacturing more goods. More households need more water for drinking, cooking, washing clothes, personal hygiene and many other activities. Water shortage is evident when people have to walk a long way to get water, or when they have to queue up to get it. Many people do not have access to potable water. They get their water from springs, rivers, wells and rain. The quality of water thatpeople get may be poor. Water shortage in a community can bring about problems related to sanitation and health.●Environmental ProblemMore people generate more waste. Solid wastes such as plastics, tin cans and bottles, when not properly disposed of, become eyesores in a place. Garbage and sewage, if left untreated, can pollute the water supply. More people need more things to use so more factories are built, more transportation facilities are made and more products are manufactured. This means more fuels are burned. The more fuels are burned, the more polluted the air becomes.Food shortage, overcrowding, poor water supply and environmental pollution affect the health of the people, particularly the children. Poor environmental sanitation is a major cause of diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid and cholera. Dirty insects such as flies and cockroaches contaminate food with disease-causing germs. Many children who play barefoot in dirty areas and do not wash their hands before eating become infected with worms. Some respiratory diseases such as tuberculosos, pneumonia and bronchitis are worsened by polluted air. Communicable diseases can easily be transferred from one person to another in an overpopulated area.Population Control in ChinaAbout one fifth of the world's people currently live in China, the government is concerned about its overpopulated status and try to find ways to slow the growing. For example, men are not allowed to marry until they are 22 years old. Women arenot allowed until they are 20.One-child policyThe Chinese have made great strides in reducing their population through birth control. The "Later, Longer, Fewer" policy that is the cornerstone of China's birth control program was put into effect in 1976. It encouraged couples to get married later, wait longer to have children, and have fewer children, preferably one. The program forced married couples to sign statements that obligated them to one child. Women who had abortions were given free vacations.China's one child policy was established by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1979 to limit communist China's population growth. Although designated a "temporary measure," it continues a quarter-century after its establishment. The policy limits couples to one child. Fines, pressures to abort a pregnancy, and even forced sterilization accompanied second or subsequent pregnancies.Well, C hina‟s already on that. We have enacted the “One Child” policy, which has effectively prevented around 300 million births. That‟s the same amount of people that are currently living in the United States.In the next few decades, because of the One Child Policy in China, India, the world's second most populous country is expected to surpass China in population. By 2040, India's population is expected to be 1.52 billion; that same year, China's will be 1.45 billion and India will become the world's most populous country. As of 2005, India has a total fertility rate of 2.8, well above replacement value, so it is growingmuch more quickly than China. Without a doubt, I am sure China will continue to carry out the One Child Policy in the future.In Figure 3, it shows the effect of one child policy. During the years from 1991 to 2008, although the population is growing, the growth rate is decliningFigure 3West countries adopt Chinese children.Most families are only allowed one child, and so if they have a second or third, they are forced to abandon all but one, unless there are born twins or triplets. Most Chinese couples prefer boys because it is tradition that the man takes care of his parents when they grow older. The woman takes care of her in-laws. For this reason, girls are usually abandoned from birth and the parents try for a boy, or the girl is abandoned after a boy is born.Usually when a child is born with birth defects the parents abandon them also, whether they are a girl or a boy. And if a woman were to get remarried, if herhusband did not want children, they would also be abandoned. For these reasons, Chinese adoption is popular for other countries. Also, West countries adopt Chinese children will help China to solve the problem of overpopulation.Although many Western countries were intrigued by the idea of adopting Chinese children, there a special interest in the United States. Unlike many wealthy Western countries, such as England, prospective American parents are only required to follow the adoption procedures of the country the child was born in, with no additional red tape from their own government. In 2006, China Daily reported that every four out of five children adopted from China were placed with families in the United States.Consequently a strong community support system has taken root in theUSA. Hundreds of online websites, complete with active forums, concern themselves solely with parents who have adopted from China or those who plan to in the future. Offline, local chapters of Families with Children from China (an international organization otherwise known as the FCC) formed in targeted areas of the United States. Adopting from China became so popular that groups of Americans would fly together to cities such as Guangzhou or Changsha, staying for several days in upscale hotels as they finalized the adoption process, according to the New York Times. Many claim they have a "red thread connection" -- referring to a Chinese saying of the red thread of destiny that connects fated lovers. Western adoptive parents have adapted this concept to their own situations, believing destiny also led them to their new daughters.ProposalIn order to reduce the effect of overpopulation in China, I suggest that China can manage the population in certain areas.●Manage the population in TrafficThe government should develop the public transport system such as bus systems and subway systems. Another management is to limit the quantity of cars in every family.●Manage the population in EmploymentThe government can provide the opportunity for the people to go to other countries who lack of enough labor force.●Manage the population in EducationThe government should build more hope school for the children who are in the poor family and should provide financial aid.●Manage the population in Food SupplyFirst method is to provide financial aid to encourage more people to farm. Another management is to introduce new technology and train farmers to master the advanced technology.Evaluation“Is overpopulation in China more serious than in India?” There are two criteria for an evaluation argument on that topic:The first criteria for evaluating overpopulation can focus on the total population. In the next few decades, India, the world's second most populous country is expected to surpass China in population. By 2040, India's population is expected to be 1.52 billion; that same year, China's will be 1.45 billion and India will become the world's most populous country.The second criteria for evaluating overpopulation can focus on the total fertility rate. As of 2005, India has a total fertility rate of 2.8.China's total fertility rate is 1.7, which means that, on average, each woman gives birth to 1.7 children throughout her life. The necessary total fertility rate for a stable population is 2.1. Well above replacement value, so it is growing much more quickly than China.Therefore, overpopulation in China is less serious than in India.Works Cited。