TITLE:
A child is born: world population reaches 6 billion.

AUTHOR:
Crenson M.

SOURCE:
[Unpublished] 1999 Oct 9. 3 p.

ABSTRACT:
This article discusses the anxiety and expectations of experts and international organizations as the world’s population reaches 6 billion. Advocates for population control call this milestone "Y6B" and warn that, if humanity cannot stop the population explosion, there will be serious trouble in the form of war, famine, and economic collapse. Economist Stephen Moore, on the other hand, considers this as an occasion for celebration, stating that having 6 billion people is a real tribute to human ingenuity and humanity’s ability to innovate. In addition, the UN has found reasons to be encouraged by recent population growth, since the boom is a proof of increased agricultural production, decreased infant mortality, and prolonged life expectancy. Ecologist David Pimentel of Cornell University, however, notes that total agricultural yields have leveled off and that per capita food production has actually been falling since 1983. Moreover, whether the global population has already passed 6 billion or not, at the close of the 20th century there are really two demographic worlds: one is poor, young, and growing and the other is wealthy, old, and shrinking.

YEAR:
1999

PIP#:
150360