The Overpopulation Project
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Too many people consuming too much
The views and opinions expressed in guest blog posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Overpopulation Project.
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Canceling the Demographic and Health Surveys and Ending USAID’s role in Family Planning and Reproductive Health Programs: Why it Matters
In a world with changing demographic trends, does the retreat by the U.S. government from international population and family planning programs matter? Our answer is a resounding yes. by Win Brown and Karen Hardee We are demographers who earned our graduate degrees in the 1980s, when academic programs in population and family planning were booming.…
10 comments on Canceling the Demographic and Health Surveys and Ending USAID’s role in Family Planning and Reproductive Health Programs: Why it Matters -
Pro-life = Anti-choice
Today coercion is much more prevalent globally in pronatalist policies that increase population size than it is in family planning policies that decrease fertility and limit population. For this and other reasons, the ‘pro-life’ movement is often anti-life in its consequences. by Jan Greguš, Masaryk University, Czech Republic When discussing population policies, many worry about…
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To grow or not to grow
All around the world, politicians, business leaders, academics and many members of the general public worship at the shrine of ‘growth’. They are profoundly and dangerously wrong. by Sandy Irvine, eco-activist from England To grow or not to grow is the really big issue of our times. Most problems boil down to excess growth –…
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America’s “Serengeti” at risk: Population-driven sprawl threatens the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
From the Everglades to the Arctic plains, population growth and associated development threaten America’s protected areas. A recent study from NumbersUSA, Greater Yellowstone: An Ecosystem at Risk, documents this for the United States’ flagship national park. By Leon Kolankiewicz and Rob Harding Rampant development and a surging human population are imperiling what has been dubbed…
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The Need For More Wilderness Preservation
In a picture essay with stunning photos from all around the United States, ecologist and author George Wuerthner highlights how valuable wilderness preservation is for both wildlife and human societies. by George Wuerthner Big W, or designated wilderness as prescribed under the 1964 Wilderness Act, is one of the most biocentric pieces of legislation ever…
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“America Needs More People”
That’s according to the editorial board of the New York Times, arguing for expanding immigration into the United States. Based on comments, most of their subscribers disagree. by Philip Cafaro By insisting that enforcing immigration limits is immoral, liberals in the U.S. have twice helped elect Donald Trump President. Facing a second Trump administration, some…
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Reflections on the 2024 Nobel prize in economic sciences: What is prosperity and how did it come about?
How did modern prosperity come about, and why did it happen in some countries much more than others? The winners of the 2024 Nobel prize in economics argue social institutions play a vital role. But what about demography, science and nature? By Frank Götmark Recently, the ‘Sveriges Riksbank’ Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of…
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The impact of immigration policy on future U.S. population size
Immigration will be the key factor determining whether populations in the developed world increase or decrease over the coming century. Newly published policy-based population projections illustrate this for the United States. by Philip Cafaro Population size helps determine human societies’ environmental impacts. Given that immigration is a key factor influencing the size of human populations,…
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TOP’s year in review
We started the Overpopulation Project seven years ago to spur honest discussion about population issues among scientists and scholars, environmentalists and the general public. With your support and encouragement, we continue to pursue that mission. by Frank, Jane, Phil and Pernilla In 2024 the human economy, already much too big for the Earth, grew even…
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Which international aid to Africa do Swedish voters prefer? A new survey provides answers
The Swedish government wants to direct more aid to trade and business. But voters rate such orientation low and prefer developmental support and/or humanitarian aid. The results also show interesting support for assistance to family planning. (A slightly shorter version of this article was published in Swedish as an Op-Ed in Dagens Arena, an online…
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