By John McKeown Empty Planet moves confidently from an optimistic premise to unwarranted conclusions. It has been reviewed favourably by Steven Pinker, The Wall Street Journal and the New Statesman, among others. Its premise is that world population will peak far lower and sooner than the UN forecasts, and that because of a faster-than-expected decline in … Continue reading Review of “Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline” Part 1
Category: Family Planning
Overpopulation during my lifetime of eighty years
With a focus on fifty-six years of advising governments on policies and programs to achieve population stabilization by Bob Gillespie, President, Population Communication In 1938, when I was born, the global population was 2.2 billion. Today there are 7.7 billion. A child born today, who lives to 80, will witness 5.5 billion more deaths of humans … Continue reading Overpopulation during my lifetime of eighty years
The Iranian miracle: The most effective family planning program in history?
By Patrícia Dérer In the second part of our Population Policy Case study series, following Indonesia, The Overpopulation Project Team examines the history of population policies in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran stands out for lowering its fertility in a very short time without coercion. The total fertility rate dropped from almost 6 in … Continue reading The Iranian miracle: The most effective family planning program in history?
“Two Children Are Enough” – “Dua Anak Cukup”
Indonesia: Population Policy Case Study 1 By Jenna Dodson Population policies[1] of the late 20th century played a central role in the global decline in fertility rates1. These policies mobilized resources to enact policies aimed at reducing fertility by widening contraception provision and changing family-size norms. In the first of a series of Positive Population … Continue reading “Two Children Are Enough” – “Dua Anak Cukup”
Solutions to overpopulation and what you can do
By The Overpopulation Project Here at The Overpopulation Project, we try to keep a positive outlook. Although many environmental trends are grim, there exist clear paths forward toward a more sustainable world: one where people steward resources for the future and share habitat and resources generously with other species. Recently, a correspondent wrote challenging us … Continue reading Solutions to overpopulation and what you can do
Changing social norms and behaviors for the sake of the planet and people
By Patrícia Dérer “It’s just a snowflake in the avalanche, just a drop in the ocean”– we hear these arguments time and again in the fight against global challenges with individual actions. And yet, thousands of environmental activists are working on changing our social norms and individual behaviors with campaigns aiming to create a better … Continue reading Changing social norms and behaviors for the sake of the planet and people
“Karin Kuhlemann on Overpopulation”: Associated Researcher of TOP Team Featured Guest on Podcast
Karin Kuhlemann and host Thomas Hornigold tackle the complex discussion of overpopulation in a recent episode of Physical Attraction. In a refreshingly comprehensive dialogue, Thomas Hornigold and Karin Kuhlemann approach the conversation from a practical perspective, focusing on the best way to frame the overpopulation discussion, with an emphasis on potential solutions. Using helpful analogies, … Continue reading “Karin Kuhlemann on Overpopulation”: Associated Researcher of TOP Team Featured Guest on Podcast
Reproductive biology of abortion
By Max Kummerow “What would you say of the learned here, who…. have steadfastly refused to cast a glance through the telescope? Shall we laugh, or shall we cry?” Letter from Galileo Galilei to Johannes Kepler The Catholic Church has admitted that forcing Galileo to recant in 1633 was a serious mistake. Insisting the … Continue reading Reproductive biology of abortion
Whose freedom of choice?
By Jan van Weeren Last month, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) presented its report The Power of Choice, declaring that every woman should have the right to decide freely and responsibly whether, when and how often to have children. This right complies with article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) stating … Continue reading Whose freedom of choice?
Recognize family planning as a human right
By Richard Grossman Family planning was declared to be a basic human right fifty years ago. The right to family planning was included in the International Conference on Human Rights held in Tehran, May 1968. The concept of universal human rights started after World War II with the United Nations. Its charter included the obligation … Continue reading Recognize family planning as a human right