HUMAN RESOURCES The problem concerning population growth throughout the world is many sided and there is wide divergence in opinion as to what should be done, or if, indeed, anything should be done. The following excerpts from a State Department publication concerning the World Population Conference, are provided as a springboard for considerations of a subject that will grow in importance in the years to come: "The Problem "It took from the beginning of man to about 1830 for the world's population to reach the level of 1 billion. It took only 100 years to 1930 to add the second billion, only 30 years to 1960 to add the third. The fourth is being added in 15 years by 1975. If this rate of growth continues, the world's population can reach 7.5 billion by the year 2000 and additional billions would be added each 5 years or less. "Why the Growth? "Principally because the widespread introduction of modern sanitation and public health programs has preserved and prolonged life. During the last 50 years, as death rates were spectacularly reduced in the developing countries, birth rates remained high. Most countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America are now growing at rates of 2.5% to 3.5% per year, many times as fast as they did a few decades ago. Some may more than double their current populations before the year 2000. "Where We Are Heading "Even if it were possible for peoples to attain a level of fertility required merely to replace the parental generation (i.e., a Net Reproduction Rate of 1.00 or an average of 2.1-2.5 children per couple, depending on mortality conditions) in the reasonably near future, population would continue to grow for many decades. Consequently, the size of the stabilized population would be far larger than at the time fertility dropped to the replacement level. Source: Tomas Frejka, The Future of Population Growth, The situation for selected countries would be as follows: Source: International Statistical Programs Center, U. S. Bureau of the Census, September, 1971. Revised Sept. 13, 1973 "The U. S. Concern. "Our own enlightened self-interest requires that we participate actively with all countries in encouraging programs to slow the population explosion. The stability and peace of the world are undermined by excessive global population growth, which: hampers economic and social progress we are -- widens the gap between rich and poor nations; -- distorts international trade; increases the likelihood of mass famine in the adds to environmental problems; produces increasing numbers of restless young enlarges the dangers of civil unrest; promotes aggressions endangering peace. "The burden of population growth places increasing demands on our development aid programs: our aid has made possible improvements in agricultural technology and grain production abroad but growing population keeps caloric intake down; while we have helped increase the number of schools, there are ever more children for whom there is no schooling; our aid funds have assisted in the construction of new homes, but larger numbers of families are without adequate shelter. "As President Nixon has pointed out in his message to the Congress July 18, 1969 "... population growth is among the most important issues we face.... (It) is a world problem which no country can ignore, whether it is moved by the narrowest perception of national self-interest or the widest vision of a common humanity... For high rates of population growth ... 'impair individual rights, jeopardize national goals, and threaten international stability.'" Reading List 1. Ehrlich, Paul R. 2. 3. 4. 5. Population Resources Environment: Issues in Human Ecology. San Francisco, Calif.: Freeman, 1970. Ginzberg, Eli. Manpower for Development. New York: Helfrich, Harold W., Jr. The Environmental Crisis: Man's Nelson, Jack L. Population and Survival: Can We Win the Race? Population Bulletins. Washington, D. C.: Population Reference 6. Ruttenberg, Stanley H. Manpower Challenge of the 1970's: Institutions and Social Change. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1970. 7. Thomlinson, Ralph. Population Dynamics: Causes and Consequences of World Demographic Change. New York: Random House, 1965. 8. 9. Population Program U. S. Agency for International Development. U. S. Commission on Population Growth and the American |