Friends' Witness on Rapid Population Growth
Facts
 World population has been growing at an astonishing rate!
- In 1650, when George Fox was alive, the world's population was one-half billion. Today there are more than 6.5 billion humans on this planet.
- World population is now growing by 78 million persons per year. This is about 215,000 per day, or 9,000 per hour!
- Over 50 nations of the world will double in population size in less than 25 years.
- The United States' population is growing by about 3 million persons per year.
- At present rates, the world's population could exceed 8 billion by 2025.
- Until now, world food production had managed to keep up with increases in population. But now we have reached the limits of arable land, ocean fish population, and fresh underground water.
- Forests are being cut down at the rate of 5,000 acres per hour, partly to feed a growing population. Massive soil erosion continues to threaten agricultural productivity. Water tables are being drawn down for irrigation at alarming rates, and pesticide residues are contaminating the soil.
- Human waste and population are poisoning the air, water, and land at an unprecedented pace. Rapid population growth is also a factor in persistent public health problems, poverty, crime, wars, and other social issues.
- The developed nations, with 20 percent of the world's population, consumes 80 percent of the world's resources.
Questions
- What will the world be like if population reaches 9 billion people? What would the world be like if population could be stabilized at a level closer to the current 6.4 billion than to 9 billion?
- If relieved if the burden of feeding, clothing, and housing an ever-growing population, what higher goals of fulfillment would society be able to pursue?
- How would we limit human population to what the earth can support? Where is the line between (dis)incentives and coercion?
- What social and cultural values lead people to have large families?
- How is family size an economic issue?
- To what extent is family planning a women's issue? How can men participate more responsibly?
- What is the spiritual basis of our desire to reproduce? How do we relate this to responsibility for the fate of the Earth?
- What approaches have we found to population problems that are consistent with the religious outlook and social concerns of Friends?
 Does support for population stabilization encourage abortion? (Consider that effective family planning can prevent pregnancies and therefore reduce the need for families to consider abortion.)- Which is more important--to reduce excess consumption in richer countries or to limit population growth in poorer countries? How are both concerns vital to the future?
What can we do?
In light of these facts and questions, many Friends are concluding that voluntary population limits are needed if the Quaker vision of an earth restored and a peaceful, just society is to be realized.
If nothing is done to stabilize population, coercive policies like those in China may become more common. Suffering and death rates may rise in some nations that cannot feed their people.
Quaker Earthcare Witness supports the following changes in order that population may be stabilized and brought into harmony with the Earth community.
- Adequate funding for family planning services to the millions of couples world-wide who want to limit their fertility.
- Raised status of women and better education for women and men--both are keys to changed attitudes and motivations regarding family size.
- A shift from the idea that everyone needs to have biological children by encouraging adoption, while recognizing the sacredness of parenthood.
- Simpler lifestyles in high-consuming nations (fewer possessions, more community sharing, eating less meat or no meat); more research on sustainable food production, renewable energy, and sustainable ways of meeting basic human needs.
- Support for those who choose adoption, community living with shared child-rearing, small families, or celibacy.
What else can Friends do?
- Hold these matters in the Light. Consider them in your Meeting.
- Support population education (including education about sex and contraception).
- Help give presentations of the concern via films and other resources (see below).
- Ask Friends Groups--specifically Friends Committee on National Legislation, American Friends Service Committee, and Quaker Earthcare Witness--to devote greater efforts to this concern.
Resources
A Witness on Sexuality for Friends. 2003. Flyer. Quaker Earthcare Witness, Burlington, Vt.
Adoption—An Earth Friendly Alternative. 2004. Flyer Quaker Earthcare Witness, Burlington, Vt.
Toward Taking Away the Occasion of Abortion. 2001. Flyer. Quaker Earthcare Witness, Burlington, Vt.
"Popular Little Planet" (for children), Video. Children's Television Workshop, GPO Box 5373, New York, NY 10087-5373. $26.84.
"Population and People of Faith: It's about Time." Video. Institute for Development Training. PO Box 267-B, Trenton, ME 04605 <www.idtonline.org>,
Population is People, A Friends Perspective. 2000. Book. Quaker Earthcare Witness Burlington, Vt., $13.50.
World Population Data Sheet. Population Reference Bureau. Online at <www.prb.org>
United Nations Population Division. Projections 2003. World Population in 2003. Online at <www.un.org/esa/population/publications/longrange2/longrange2.htm>
Organizations
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. 434 w. 33rd St., New York, N.Y. 10001. <www.plannedparenthood.org>
Population Action International. 1300 19th St. NW, Second floor, Washington, DC 20036. <www.populationaction.org>
Population-Environment Balance. 2000 P St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036. <www.balance.org>
Population Reference Bureau. 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 520, Washington, DC 20005. <www.prb.org>
Population Institute. 107 2nd St.. NE, Washington, DC 20002. <www.populationinstitute.org>
United Nations Fund for Population Activities. United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017.
Other QEW population-related pamphlets
See QEW Publications Catalog for population-related books and booklets.
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