The population choice

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33446, 30 January 1974, Page 16

The population choice

The Green Revolution, launched in the 1960 s in the hope that the world’s hungry could be fed, failed—not because the new varieties of wheat and rice did not yield more, but because there were too many more people to be fed. Population growth has continued almost unchecked. This year has been designated by the United Nations as World Population Year. If the campaign is successful there may be fewer people born in the future to live nasty, brutish, and short lives. The world is overpopulated. Many of its people eke out existences in areas where they should not be living; people leave rural areas to live miserably in cities where there is no work; many people die each day of hunger; others die because medical services are inadequate. Worse will come. The world’s population—3B6o million in mid-1973—wi1l double shortly after the turn of the century and will double again 30 years later if present rates of population increase are not checked. There are two ways of averting disaster: birth control, and population control, which is sometimes confused with birth control. The first consists of voluntary methods of family planning; the second the methods enforced by governments. Although present methods of contraception have disadvantages, contraception remains the easiest way available to those who want to limit their families. It also ensures that children bom will be wanted. Population control, already practised by some governments, at present uses financial and other rewards for those who limit their families, and financial penalties to discourage large families. With birth control there is individual choice; in population control there is not.

Political, economic, tribal, and religious reasons may prevent the adoption of birth control techniques. Governments may be afraid to encourage or even tolerate birth control measures lest they offend people or particular groups. Some people argue that certain economic systems require dense populations. Tribal resistance to birth control is usually based on the fear that one group will become, or remain, predominant. Some of the most effective methods of contraception are held by many to offend against religious principles. Those persuaded by any of these arguments may soon have to choose whether they will cling to these principles in the face of the workings of the ancient enemies of mankind: war, pestilence, and famine.