| We were warned some years ago not to have | | | | corruption, wars, and other man-made conditions, |
| more than two children for this would feed the | | | | rarely overpopulation. Honestly, most lands, |
| problems of world overpopulation. Since we had | | | | including India, could easily sustain its present |
| five more, we obviously didn't heed this advice. | | | | population. |
| The warning today is louder than ever. | | | | Yet the warning trumpets continue to be blasted. |
| Several decades ago, Paul Ehrilich said, "It is | | | | "We cannot long continue our present rate of |
| already too late to avoid famines that will kill | | | | progress. The first check for our growing |
| millions, possibly by 1975". Another false prophet | | | | prosperity, however, must render our population |
| said, "I state flatly that the hungry world will not | | | | excessive". Does this sound like the result of a |
| able able to feed itself ten years from now". This | | | | recent study? It was written in 1865! "Our |
| was stated in 1967. Yes, the evidence for world | | | | number are burdensome to the world, which can |
| overpopulation and its destruction of the earth, | | | | hardly support us". That was written by Tertullian |
| has vanished. | | | | in the second century! How comical in light of the |
| Admittedly world population is constantly | | | | fact that India alone has sufficient rich farmland to |
| increasing. In the U.S. the rate is presently one | | | | provide food for the entire world! And food |
| more person every 16 seconds. We have 3.5 | | | | production has increased 1000% in the last 75 |
| billion more people in the world than in 1950. | | | | years. The danger of starvation is decreasing, not |
| However, this does not mean it is overcrowded. | | | | increasing. |
| As proof, how long would you have to drive from | | | | What difference does it make whether or not |
| your present location to be in wide open places? | | | | these facts are believed or not? The principle is, if |
| For us, it would take five minutes. | | | | you cause a crisis, you can get just about |
| In the U.S. the population density of the state of | | | | anything you want. The doom and gloom about |
| New Jersey is indeed 1171 people/mile2, yet 7 | | | | world overpopulation has encouraged the |
| states have less than 20 people/mile2 and the | | | | justification of abortion since another person will |
| same number have fewer than a million citizens. | | | | demand food, water, fuel, and the like. Children |
| The average population density of the entire | | | | are a liability to the world and any way to get rid |
| country is only 95 people/mile2. The city in which | | | | of them is viewed as good. |
| I live can fit comfortably its 65,400 people into 30 | | | | The medical field is also influenced, as expressed |
| square miles, a population density of 2160 people | | | | in a leading textbook for training Gynecologists. "In |
| mile2. The average school classroom, where | | | | the minds of many, rapid growth of population |
| children spend more time than any other place | | | | has become second only to nuclear warfare as |
| during the week, has a population density of a | | | | civilization's greatest menace. The gynecologist- |
| million people/mile2. In other words, to be | | | | obstetrician has assumed a leadership role and has |
| crowded, you have to choose to bunch together. | | | | recognized the necessity of controlling human |
| Overpopulation is not caused by a lack of land. | | | | fertility... Population growth is perforce temporary; |
| The population density of the world is presently | | | | that it will- indeed must- eventually cease, halted |
| 34 people/mile2, or a full seven and a half acres | | | | either by an increase in deaths or a decrease in |
| of usable land for every person on earth. The | | | | births. There is no other way. Thus, people must |
| simple fact is that most of the world is empty. In | | | | come to want fewer children". A woman visited a |
| fact, we could get the entire world population into | | | | doctor so trained might get what advice if he |
| West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri if | | | | feels she has had enough children? In fact, at |
| everyone lived as close as they do in New York | | | | 800,000, hysterectomies are the second most |
| City, about 25,000 people/mile2. If you refer the | | | | common major surgery each year in the US, yet |
| less crowded suburbia density, everyone could live | | | | only 10% are due to cancer. |
| comfortably in the 48 contiguous states. | | | | The heart of the problem is not overpopulation |
| The starving people of Bangladesh (2750 people | | | | but lack of love for children. They are too often |
| mile2) or India (890 people/mile2) are often | | | | viewed as a hindrance to accomplishing our goals. |
| presented as evidence for overcrowding. The | | | | However, the truth is that children are the future |
| crowded conditions are blamed for their troubles. | | | | of any country. When properly trained, they |
| Yet, contrast India with the industrial giant Japan | | | | multiply the potential of parents and benefit |
| whose density is only slightly less. Instead, the | | | | society in a multitude of positive ways. Children |
| reasons why starvation is rampant in areas | | | | are indeed not the cause of the world's |
| include false religious beliefs, unwise political control, | | | | destruction, but its future hope. |