Summary - Section 36

The population of Earth is increasing at a quick rate, and our resources are having trouble keeping up with us. In Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich's section titled "The Population Explosion: Why We Should Care and What We Should Do About It" a brief explanation about the problems we are facing as we continue to populate.

The first major problem is our environmentally damaging structures, technologies, and practises, as well as our massive energy consumption. Whether be developed or underdeveloped countries, there is a great impact on our ecosystems that is hugely destructive. As discussed in the reading, over populated under-developed countries need increasing amounts of energy sources that are easily available, such as trees, which also provide shelter. The United States, a developed country, is greedy in their energy consumption amounts and blow almost every other country out of the water.

Another effect discussed is the loss of species diversity. As human population increases, non-human "populations, species, and communities of plants, animals, and microorganisms " (as specified in pt II page 85), are lost forever. All this harm is being driven from the worlds massive energy consumption and disregard for change.

The first thoughts in solving the population problem would be use of contraception. Though widely used in developed countries, undeveloped countries do not have the same safe resources for contraception and their populations continue to increase. Another option is to educate people further, specifically through means of government and religious support.

Even if we are successful in lowering our population, we still need to lower our energy consumption. Being frivolous with our luxuries is detrimental at any population size, especially when we are already so fragile. The point that the Ehrlich's are making is that we have to try, and our developed countries should lead the way.
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This article is difficult to choose as a side in the fight against climate change. How do we play God in controlling population? Promoting the use of contraceptives is the only way to go, but should only be by choice for the individual. I've often thought about "conspiracies" that H1N1 was planted as population control, but I've heard that strep throat kills thousands of people a year (through word of mouth, general statement, source not confirmed). Considering that H1N1 has not wiped out entire populations (yet) and that vaccines were immediately available that theory is probably not true. Also, another point that the Ehlrich's made was that even with successful population control, we as humans still need to be careful in how we use our resources or else they will still deplete. I think the general message that I get is that there is no quick fix for the present and near future, but changes that we make will have huge impacts for the better.