A Growing Population

9 billion people... The number is so enormous that it seems unrealistic. The first questions that comes to my mind are:

Is there enough food, water, shelter, space, etc. for that many humans?
How drastic of an impact will this size of a population have on the environment?
How long will the population growth rate keep increasing exponentially?

These are appropriate questions to ask, considering the ongoing issues with today's population such as poverty, hunger, pollution, and inadequate access to water. Sadly, the majority of these problems fall on the shoulders of third world countries, which account for a considerably large percentage of the world's total population. However, with every problem lies a opportunity. I would much rather take an optimistic approach to the inevitable phenomenon of a booming global population. A lot of positive things come from growing populations: the sharing of information and ideas, innovation, and increased economic activity.

We - all humans - must first realize that current issues will not fix themselves. It's going to take a global effort to fix some If we ignore the problems, then a population of 9 billion people could very quickly turn into a precarious situation.

Relating this issue to the topic of the class - water -, I think that a significant increase in population with only adversely affect the already proliferating water crisis that confronts us today. Water is running low, especially in the area where population is growing the most. This is obviously a dilemma. What should we do about it? Is there anything we can do about it? I do not intend to answer these questions. I simply just wanted to raise them because most people are ignorant of the impending issues that our generation will be forced to confront.

After reading The Big Thirst, I am shocked how the statistics elude society. Some of the numbers are so mind-boggling that they seem unbelievable. I found the chapter about Las Vegas particularly interesting because I visited Sin City this summer - for business, I swear. Water rained down as the foundations shot pools a hundred feet in the air to the beat of popular songs; my favorite was "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. It was simply amazing how a city in the middle of a desert could have such vast amounts of water available for fountains. Although it would take an enormous technological and financial effort effort, maybe those countries that have poor access to water, and a booming population, could model after Las Vegas. I know it's easier said than done, and accomplishing such a feat would require decades of planning. However, countries where water accessibility is limited need to act now to accommodate future generations.