As the forests are constantly decreasing, pollution is steadily increasing. The amount of garbage that is thrown away every year is filling up landfills rapidly. Pollution is another aspect of overpopulation that is steadily increasing (Ehrilch 279). Many different types of pollution effect the Earth today. Acid rain, hazardous waste, and the contamination of our water resources contribute to the decline in agriculture production, disease, and death. The increases in the number of automobiles have produced the amount of acid rain received every year. As the number of cars continue to rise, the amount of sulfur pollution destroys the ozone layer which in turn harms the agricultural products and damages the soil for future use (Ashmead 57). More and more waste is being deposited into the oceans every year. Examples such as pesticides and fertilizers from agriculture, oil discharges, radioactive wastes, and plastics are
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just a few that are dumped into the water. When excessive amounts of the waste are dumped into natural water reserves such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and
oceans, the fish in which humans consume for protein are contaminated and are causing sickness among many people (59).
The increasing population affects unemployment because there are not enough jobs to supply all of mankind with work. In turn, many things can occur due to the fact that a family is not able to provide for themselves. The most devastating consequences are starvation, death, and disease. The increasing population and the new technological advancements that are being made causes the limited amounts of jobs (Ashmead 92). The income a family receives provides for them the ability to survive in the world today. Many families do not have the education requirements to hold such jobs that require a further in debt education. These jobs usually are better paid and provide the family with all the necessities of life. The people who have met the education curriculum, that is a standard for determining their place in society, are more equipped to provide for their family (Shah 47).
Although overpopulation many not seem to be a serious threat to some, it is becoming more and more of an issue to many. Researchers have proposed many solutions to help alleviate some of the problems caused by overpopulation. There are really no solutions to overpopulation, but the effects can be limited by the assistance of humans.
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There are many ways to help reduce the number of people born every year. Contraceptives are being used more to help regulate the number of
offspring that are produced. Birth control pills and condoms are among the highest used contraceptives in preventing pregnancy. In order for these methods of birth control to be effective, the public needs to be aware of ways to prevent pregnancy. By planning ahead, couples are more prepared for situations that may result in a mistake, one being pregnancy (Hutchinson 158). In some countries, other measures have been used to decrease the number of children produced each year. China, for example, limits the amount of children a family may have based upon their income. They are only allowed to have only the number of children that they are able to raise and provide for efficiently (70). Another way to prevent population growth is the option of an abortion, and this is a highly debated issue among many. Ever since the popular Roe vs. Wade decision is has been legal to abort a fetus. Astonishing enough, the abortion and teen pregnancy rates has decreased over the past few years, and this is contributed to the publicity of other birth control methods. Education is becoming more and more common and many are reaping the benefits (57).
Strategies to improve the effects of overpopulation for the future must be based on the conservation and management of land, water, energy, and biological resources needed for food production (Pimentel 19). Humans are responsible for such effects as deforestation and the other ecological crisis, but
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mankind has the ability and potential to help resolve it (Hui 16). Recycling can be used to help prevent the number of trees that are cut down every day. On the survey conducted, only nine out of the twenty-five recycled such things as paper, plastic and glass (Matthews). When editor David Gergen interviewed Robert Kaplan, author of The Ends of the Earth: The Journey at the Dawn of the 21st Century, Kaplan states that it is education that will be a cheap and effective way to lower the population.
The issue of overpopulation may be prevented when humans realize the serious outcomes it may have and take action to help improve and even prevent them. Among the most effective way to prevent the increase in population are the methods of birth control and to inform not only teens, but also everyone about the option. By educating the public more, people will see that they need to plan ahead because it will only be beneficial to not only them but also society in the long run.