So we know that overpopulation is one of the biggest contributors to the current and projected environmental problems we face. We have discussed many of the roadblocks that stand in the way of curbing our current rate of population increase. In addition we have touched on some possible solutions to population issues as well.
One of the areas we touched on was education. Is education the answer needed to create long-term stability and a stabilization of the global population? If so, what kinds of education are absolute necessities? If not, what do you believe the answer is?
Answer completely, but I do not need a novel. State specifics, and make sure you support your opinion.
You must submit your answer via the comment tab, no later than 12:00 a.m. Wednesday November 26, 2008. Have a great Holiday!
13 comments:
I think there are a few things that both developed and developing countries need to do in order to solve the world's overpopulation problem. Although I do think education is a key ingredient in the process, and a contributing factor of the solution, society also needs to change its outlook on having children. We can't just expect to change the laws or regulations regarding this problem, but we also need to help other cultures to adjust to a new way of thinking. I know that sounds like a very elitist idea, but I truely feel that you have to change the societal pressures that are placed on women, and praticularly the poor in order to get to the heart of the issue. I think empowering women and helping them to see options other than child baring, as well as providing better sex education in poor areas will help resolve the overpopulation problem. The main solution I can see at this point is to help change the way that poverty striken societies looks at having children and to help lift the burden off women to have children as a form of security.
I agree that education is not the only solution, but I do think it is vital. With a gradual increase of education could come gradual acceptance of what is being taught. Perhaps it isn't the quickest or most effective way of solving the problem, but we need to take it into account. I think education about contraceptives is crucial, as well as education, particularly in developing countries although also developed, about consequences of having children and introduction of some sort of alternative that would preserve some of the benefits such as a security network for old age.
Other solutions face many problems just like education faces. For example, regulating how many children a couple may have, which seems like a decent option, would face immense protests from the general public, and may be difficult to enforce (how do you deal with unwanted pregnancies, etc?). Therefore, while education may not be sufficient, it is most definitely a necessary component of stabilization of the population.
I think education is indeed one of the main things needed in order to change the world’s outlook on having children. The question is simply a matter of what kind of education is going to create the change. It will require more than just the teaching of basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills. I think there should be greater requirements for environmental education along with those already instilled. The change in outlook will occur as result of more people coming to the realization that having large families is not a good thing for the environment and therefore not a good thing for themselves and future generations. Many people are unaware of that fact right now, because of their poor education. As more people come to this realization there will be a gradual shift away from the belief that having more children is beneficial. It may sound harsh to put it this way, but people need to feel bad about putting such a strain on the earth and society, before they will want to change it. Environmental education is a way to create both an awareness of the overpopulation problem and a desire to fix it.
With that said, I don’t think education can be looked at as the sole solution to the problem. Yes, new policies, such as making environmental education required, are extremely important, but can’t be given all the responsibility. Other factors such as economic, social, health and resource management policies will also serve a purpose in stabilizing the global population.
I agree with both of Nschweitzer and Sblake. Education is one of the most important parts of solving the issue of overpopulation, but not the most important part. Education can help reduce the population growth rate, but it will not solve the crisis. The only true solution to the population crisis is reducing the actual population. Even if we created a better education system the population grows exponentially while our resources do not. Education is very important, with more education we could reduce the birth rate, but eventually the population will outgrow the resources. As defeatist as it sounds only the reduction of the population will solve this problem. We can solve the problem in the short term through a number of processes, but in the long term only population reduction will work. I do think that contraceptive education, and family planning education as well as general education for women would be the most important types. Merry Thanksgiving to all and I hope you all remember to answer the question.
I agree with most of the idea's above me, especially with the fact that education is key. Teaching children core classes (history, math, writing, government, etc.)would help them understand the world in a broad sense, but the overpopulation crisis is still increasing. In reality, to still save the Earth, drastic measures would have to be taken. Letting wars, disease and famine run their course would be the worst of ways to reduce the population, but the most effective. Perhaps settling on other planets or enforcing birthing limits would lower the population, but those would both evoke a sense of outrage with the people.
There is no easy solution to overpopulation. Every "easy" method to solving the overpopulation problem involves death, prejudice or fantasy. Perhaps someday, Darwinism will just take it's course, or, as the Aztec's predicted, the world will end in 2012. Maybe the only solution, for the Earth's good, is the extinction of the human race. As I said, there is no easy solution. Perhaps education is the best way to solve the overpopulation problem, because maybe someone can come up with a new idea, if we all can't. The best thing for us to do, is to keep on thinking, for the good of all mankind.
i thought the Maya predicted that the world would end in 2012?
I think education is the most important factor to create global stabilization, but like we talked before, it shouldn't be the same for everyone. Education involving farming and simple first aid (including contraceptives) could create a more stable family and economic environment for many people. Basic education about government and business could also help many people with job oppurtunities in their communities and even communities around the world. Education shouldn't be the only factor though, creating hospitals and health clinics could really help populations become more stable because it could reduce the mortality rate.
I agree with what ealbertson said about creating a stable population. Disease and famine may not simply 'run its course', because people who can have children have a lot of them, because most of them would die. When the crisis is over, the setup of having lots of children still exists, but many more of them survive to become adults. This just creates a population that has wildly fluctuating numbers. Many diseases have originated in Africa and continue to kill people slowly, and they aren't enough to curb the population. Health care and health education need to play a bigger part in the solution to stop overpopulation in developing countries. And everywhere, there needs to be a wider outreach of family planning and birth control education. In developed countries (at least the U.S.) population growth may not even exist if every child born was planned. This also includes cultural changes. There's a lot of stigma against birth control that has no logical basis. Speaking of which, I just came back from an HIV/AIDS conference, and they gave me a bag full of lube and condoms, if anyone wants some. But I digress.
*Wink wink*
Environmental Science is good. All Wilson Dragon Boat Team Members, Workout night is tonight at 7:30 at the Southwest Community Center. Bring a little money and workout clothing, I'll see you there.
I had no idea that we were supposed to respond to this before the 26th…
For what it’s worth, I agree with EAlbertson, in that we should not simply look for a ‘one size fits all’ approach to education as a means of controlling population growth. Applying education so that it is relevant to each country's culture would be key. I liked Zcada’s idea about giving people a chance to understand the world in a broader sense. I think that the most important thing to help curb over population is just to keep moving. While we’re sitting around thinking, the population numbers are still rising. We need to at least come up with some short term solution that can work in the here and now while we try and find a more structured long term solution.
To be completely honest i do not think that in the long run education with have the desired affect of creating stability. It may come off as seeming apathetic, and it may just as well be apathy but i think that the world and society will work itself out. Obviously education will temporarily halt the vastly increasing population in some circumcstances however i also think that people will do what they please regardless of the possible negative consequences that will occur in the future. The FACT is that the earth cannot sustain this kind of growth and something will forceibly happen to change the situation. I think education will only slow down the process. there are just too many people already.
For a nation to undergo safe sustainable social modernization, largely meaning curbing overpopulation, without becoming industrialized, there must be a movement of some kind that supports sustainable living, given the economic situation of the nation in its current position. For a people to work towards living sustainably, there must be some kind of education provided and direction of some kind on how to work in that direction. Industrialization is one form this takes. A people can however live sustainably without becoming industrialized with education and the giving of opportunities by the aid of developed countries, like jobs, health care, and aid. I think that taking steps towards sustainable living are the most crucial in reaching social modernization. People will always have kids, but by living more sustainably people can better support a population growing as it is. Education and aid sound insignificant, but whatever works towards sustainable living is helping take large steps towards social modernization.
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