At our current population growth rate, we will number around 9.5 billion by 2050 and will occupy basically every conceivable and habitable space in the planet [1], which is hardly sustainable or healthy for both the planet and us. Hence, in 1989, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme recommended that the international community observe July 11 as World Population Day – a day that highlights the urgency and importance of population issues. The overall theme this year is “Investing in Teenage Girls” [2].
The theme highlights the importance of investing in teenage girls – empowering them, providing them a number of opportunities, and even access to basic information regarding their health, human and reproductive rights. Based on the numbers we have stated above, a number of girls around the world do not even have access to this basic information, making them more vulnerable to illness and even exploitation.
This issue involves all of us because we only have one Earth, and to date, the number of people living on our planet is 7.2 billion people – and this is increasing by 115,000 to 200,000 people everyday [3]. So that means, billions of people are partaking in the Earth’s finite resources. But the question is, can the Earth support all of us? Here are a few facts you need to know about our planet and why the number of people living on it matters:
All individuals have the basic right to freely determine the number and timing of their children, which basically means that everyone has the freedom to determine when they would start a family, and the number and timing of their children. Sounds just about right in today’s modern world right? But sadly, millions of girls around the world, are still not fully exercising this basic human right:
Yet, with the right resources and support, these girls can be empowered to make the right decisions for their health and lives.
These women may live in communities and countries different from ours, but this does not mean that we cannot do something about it. And yes, we may still not feel the effects of overpopulation today, but there is no guarantee that this will still hold true after a number of years.
The good news is all of us can do something about it. Here are a few ways how to do so:
Here are several sites that offer relevant resources and publications related to family planning and overpopulation:
Donations and volunteers are welcome at these organizations - whose advocacies include family planning, women’s health, and overpopulation:
Here are communities and organizations whose main goal is to empower women:
This World Food Day, learn how climate change affects our food production and supply, and what we can do about it.
