Four Children
Global Warming
Difficult to accept that life as we know it has to change. Unless we understand
that carbon dioxide levels are related to population growth and not just emissions we will
not solve this problem .The world net population rises by 76 million a year and now stands at
6.5 billion-more than twice what it was in 1950.So if we believe that human activity is
responsible for global warming (which is the conclusion of the recent Intergovernmental conference on
climate control) then along with a raft of measures to reduce footprint per person
the issue of population management will have to be addressed.The optimum population is probably
in the range 2-3 billion.Kenya,often seen as a bright spot on the dark continent of Africa
has seen its populatiom rise from 13.5 million in 1975 to 52 million today.Pressure on land,rising
unemployment and tribal tensions are the result.
Climate Change and Population
Recent coverage of climate change has ignored a key issue- the need for population control. "Population"
and "familly planning" are taboo words. Guillebaud and Hayes writing in the BMJ point out that every week
an extra 1.5 million people need food and somewhere to live a "new city each week,somewhere, which destroys
wildlife habitats and augments fossil fuel consumption
Population control need not be coercive as half the pregnancies in the world are unplanned.
Should doctors take an active roll in overcoming barriers to universal availability of contraception
and ensure that patients and the public understand the environmental consequences of population growth
An interesting exercise has been undertaken in Madagascar as part of a marine conservation programme called Blue Ventures.
This organisation unearthed a huge unmet need for sexual and reproductive health services with woman having up to
seventeen children and an average live birth rate of almost seven births per woman. In response to this need a
comprehensive programme has been set up in the villages in the area offering clinics and a range of contraceptive services.
For the first time couples will be able to space their children and choose smaller families. This will reduce the population growth,
one of the main drivers of unsustainabe resource use.
It is hoped that this integrated model will be evaluated and replicated in other parts of Madagascar
Four Old Men
Two Old Ladies
Ethiopia- Population- 1984- 33.5 million 2008-77 million 2019-110 million Average family- 4.5 children
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