A. Most spectacular non-political development since 1950
1. Improved health and sanitation
2. more efficient food production and distribution
3. declining death rates
4. birth rates didn't go down as fast
B. World didn't hit 1 billion til about 1830
1. Hit 1.5 billion by 1900
2. 2.5 billion in 1950
3. 3 billion in 1960
4. 1975, 4 billion
5. 1987 5 billion
6. 1997 6 billion
C. India
1. 1990 death rate half that of 1950
2. pop. rose from 350 million to 900 million
3. May exceed 1 billion by 2000
4. India and China are 2/5 of world pop.
D. Mostly a phenomenon in developing world--Asia, Africa, Middle
East and Latin America
1. Population growth cancels out economic advances
2. contraception not always available
3. religious problems with contraception
4. limited opportunities for women
a. stay at home with kids
b. more kids--better job
c. traditional patterns of family life
d. children part of family economy traditionally, so larger
family meant more economic security
E. North America and Europe
1. urbanization and industrialization
2. economic and social pressure for smaller families
3. birth rates slower since late 19th century
A. Population explosion strains resources
B. Industrialization biggest threat
1. 1960-1990 world industrial production grew 5 times
2. burning coal, oil and natural gas, synthetic chemicals
a. emit heat trapping gases into atmosphere--ozone erosion
b. Greenhouse effect--debated
3. Acid rain
a. industrial pollution
b. wastes forests, lakes and rivers
c. big problem in USSR and eastern Europe
4. economic planning had no regard for environment
C. Developing nations ignore environment
1. expanding population and rapid industrialization
2. slash and burn tropical rain forests for ranching, commercial
purposes and resettlement
3. arable acreage declined
4. pasture land turned into desert
D. From 1950-1990 world lost 1/5 topsoil and 1/5 rain forest
1. Especially striking in Latin America and Africa
2. Amazon Forest in Brazil--partially lost
E. 1980s--begin to worry about environment
1. alternative forms of energy
a. solar, wind
b. nuclear
c. hydrogen gas
2. Green political parties
3. international agreements
a. Biodiversity Treaty--endangered species
b. Global Warming Treaty--curbing emissions of harmful gases
A. Draws benefits of science and technology into question
B. National interests v. international interests
1. developing countries feel oppressed by western demands of
environmental control
2. western environmentalists say not a national issue but a
global issue
3. ecological colonialism
