Should there be a limit on population growth?

[kwicky]

UK population has grown a fifth since 1950. The trend is accelerating and expected to reach 70 million during a child's lifetime although this figure will probably be greatly exceeded. The area of land is finite. At the same time more demand is being made for housing, services and roads which are now at bursting point. The government refuses to tackle the problem of overpopulation. Global warming will mean millions seeking refuge to add to the statistics. China has for some years stipulated a 1 child policy.
Should we be doing more to address the problem?http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt.more.ukpo ptable.html

[jake-the-peg]

The UK is not overpopulated - we are 48th in terms of population density behind Barbados, Mauritius and Israel amoungst others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries _by_population_density

I know it's tempting for some people to think that London is the UK - but it's really not you know! - there is life outside of the M25.

Even London is about 45 on the list of cities!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_selected_ cities_by_population_density.

The problem is the distribution of people not their number and the infrastructure required to support a greater distribution.

[vehelpfulguy]

The problem in the UK is not the population NUMBER but the population AGE DISTRIBUTION.

100 years ago only 1% of the population was over 65, now it is 25% and rising (have not checked these figures so they may be wrong but you get the idea)

Also the birthrate amongst "white" English is dropping.

Now because the working population has to support the older population it means that you have a decreasing working population suporting an ever increasing older population.

The maths do not add up and this is why there is such a major pension problem.

This is why immigration has been encouraged, to bring in young familes who generally breed quicker than the indiginous English population.

The problem with this is that you then have a rapidly growing immigrant population with all the problems that entails.

Have a look at the UK populatoin pyramid here, compared with say Uganda.

http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/ipc/idbpyrs.pl?c ty=UK&out=s&ymax=250

See how the UK bulges in the middle for people around 40 to 50 years, and decreases below 40 years. These people will all be retiring in 15 to 20 years.

And see how Uganda is wide at the bottom and very narrow at the top, shiwing they have many young people but few old people.

[vehelpfulguy]

Put wrong link above, that is just for UK.

This link allows you to put the country you want.

http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbpyr.html

[stewey]

Two points:

1. Why is "Wikipedia" considered to be the God of knowledge?
2. Sterilize 50% of the population....oops!

[jake-the-peg]

It's not stewey - It's just pretty detailed and handy because it's free.

We could post links to Encyclopedia Britanica but then only people who had a subscription could read it which would rather defeat the object!

Now was it all the men or all the women you wanted sterilised?

[Loosehead]

Yes there should be some sort of world wide control. Unfortunately any suggestions would induce hysteria from the Liberal Elite and be denounced as fascism but if the problem is to be tackled then it will at some point be necessary to introduce some form of birth control. The longer we wait the more draconian the measures will need to be. I'm talking planetary here.

[Reverandfunk]

Personally I've never understood peoples fascination in "banging one out", a little version of me I can't think of anything worse lol

[MrBen5]

The simple cure will be to have another world war. Even though it may cause heartache along the way, it should sort a lot other problems out too...

[youngmafbog]

I've got four kids, anyone want to complain.

For all those that say we are overpopulated just look out the window next time you take a flight. England is full of green land and (yes you liberal car haters) it is very difficult to spot a road.

The problem is a sudden influx and that this Government has passed the bucj to councils. The reason for this is obvious, if they dealt with it taxes woudl rise - very unpopular, however pass it onto the councils and they get the blame (and alot of them are not labour). All part of Brown bullying con trick.

Of course what labour are trying to do is get lots of younger people in to pay for the pensions tha BROWN STOLE.

VOTE LABOUR

[kwicky]

There are some interesting replies. But to compare with the likes of Gibralter and many small islands in a population list I believe is not only ridiculous but not worth considering.
The problem of an ageing population not able to support itself would be a problem but with many middle aged professionals put on the scrap heap it would greatly help this section to find work.
Lastly we should not attempt to compare with other countries but consider the situation even just 20 years back compared with the present. If we are to continue at this rate stricter rationing will need to take place on the roads. housing allocation and public services. So the talk of road pricing where only the rich will be able to enjoy what we take for granted today. Also the green belt will need to be remapped. Decisioins need to be made today before they become a crisis.

[Kromovaracun]

Interestingly, there was also a fear of overpopulation in the early 19th century - when, in 1811, for example, the UK population reached around 18 million [Source: 'The British Empire 1558-1995', T.O. Lloyd]

If only they had a crysal ball handy - a fair segment of that population would have likely suffered a stroke...

[BillyBB]

Easter Island. Could apply to the whole planet.

[kwicky]

If you are concerned about the whole planet in general just look at the numbers being generated each second...its frightening!

http://www.optimumpopulation.org/index.html

[kwicky]

Only the government can really tackle this problem. If you care about your children's future make a positive stance

http://www.optimumpopulation.org/opt.petition. html

[jake-the-peg]

Come on kwicky - this bunch is just an anti-immigration "front" organisation isn't it?

They're right about there being a world population issue but then they try to extend it to the UK and say we can only support 30 million people based on some pretty dodgy statistics and then start banging on about immigration.

Go stand in a field Northumbria and start calling the odds about over-population! - Bring a megaphone you'll need one!

[kwicky]

I think even this Labour government has realised the huge influx of immigrants especially from Eastern Europe can do. So the restrictions or quotas from the skilled classes. But to keep a steady population requires a family of 2.1 children (average) and this will be exceeded.
There are many denyers as to what damage will be done but ask anyone over 50 how things have changed over the past 25 years. If we are to learn from history we should base our plans for future growth as there is no reverse gear once established.