Why, just yesterday, there were only six billion, nine hundred, ninety nine hundred thousand people on this earth. Today, October 31st, the world population has now reached over 7 billion, climbing at a rate of 206,000 people every day.
What does this mean for people, and what does this mean for our fragile planet?
As Carl Pope, Chair of the Sierra Club writes in Think Progress, "The 7 billionth baby will inherit a planet facing enormous threats and challenges. And while environmental and reproductive health organizations have different missions, we know, based on decades of experience, that the health of our planet and our people are inseparable. We can be mindful of our environment and improve the lives of women, men, and youth worldwide.
Environmental justice and reproductive rights are mutually reinforcing; when people have the knowledge, right and tools to decide how many children are right for them, they typically chose to have smaller, healthier families. This has positive ramifications on the surrounding environment and the health of families and communities."
Read more:
People and the Planet
I Helped Put World Population Over 3 Billion
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This year, the Earth’s population will reach 7 billion for the first time, leading some to wonder if the planet and society will be capable of coping. We live on a finite planet with finite resources. No one knows with any certainty what the future holds, but there is a growing concern that we are already approaching or even exceeding those limits to growth.