4 billion Africans by 2100

[rainforests1]

UNICEF Report: Africa's Population Could Hit 4 Billion By 2100 : Goats and Soda : NPR
Africa's population historically was very small until the West got involved. At least that's my understanding. Who is at fault for this obvious problem?

 

[beancounter]

Through various aid programs, the West has saved many lives in Africa from famine and disease.

 

[Second Summer]

Bush jr. and the Pope for not allowing them to receive contraceptives?

Well, it's a complex question.

 

[beancounter]

Heaven forbid anyone should take responsibility for their own actions. "I didn't get that women pregnant, the West did"

 

[rainforests1]

Many people can be responsible for one problem.

Through various aid programs, the West has saved many lives in Africa from famine and disease.

According to a book I have:
1650:100 million
1750:98 million
1800:95 million
1850:98 million
1900:130 million
1920:141 million
1930:157 million
1940:176 million
1950:207 million

What problems were there when the population was "only" around 100 million? For the time being farm animals and wild animals suffer the consequences. Since this isn't sustainable, the humans will suffer eventually as well. The long-term consequences of Western involvement in Africa does a lot more bad than good.

 

[beancounter]

Many people can be responsible for one problem.
What problems were there when the population was "only" around 100 million? For the time being farm animals and wild animals suffer the consequences. Since this isn't sustainable, the humans will suffer eventually as well. The long-term consequences of Western involvement in Africa does a lot more bad than good.

Sorry, I accidentally deleted some of your post. I thought I was editing my reply.

I understand overpopulation is an issue, but I don't think the solution is to just let people die.

 

[Spang]

Africa is a continent with 53 different countries.

That being said, the problems in many of these countries stem from the West's involvement--enslaving its people, stealing its valuable, natural resources, proxy wars, etc.

 

[Second Summer]

I think some of the things what Africa needs to stop the overpopulation problem are more education, less religion (or at least the kind that bans contraceptives and promotes traditional gender roles), less selfish elites, stronger nation-states, and more soap operas.

 

[das_nut]

Through various aid programs, the West has saved many lives in Africa from famine and disease.

Obviously, we should let poor people with dark skin color starve and die of preventable diseases!

There's no horrific implied philosophies there. No-siree. Its just us rich, pale skinned folks that get to benefit from modern medicine, farming techniques, and healthcare. Africans shouldn't get that because they won't know how to handle it.

It's the white man's burden, after all.

 

[rainforests1]

Sorry, I accidentally deleted some of your post. I thought I was editing my reply.

I understand overpopulation is an issue, but I don't think the solution is to just let people die.

Staying out of the continent altogether from the very beginning is not the same thing as letting people die. Do you think they can maintain this population forever? What goes up must come down, and this applies to Africa's population as well as every other continent. You haven't given me any reason to believe Africans have benefitted from Western involvement.

 

[beancounter]

Staying out of the continent altogether from the very beginning is not the same thing as letting people die.

If you are aware of a problem, and you do nothing about it ("staying out of continent"), then you are effectively letting people die by your inaction.

 

[rainforests1]

If you are aware of a problem, and you do nothing about it ("staying out of continent"), then you are effectively letting people die by your inaction.

So, what is this problem you're referring to?

 

[beancounter]

So, what is this problem you're referring to?

Through various aid programs, the West has saved many lives in Africa from famine and disease.

 

[das_nut]

Staying out of the continent altogether from the very beginning is not the same thing as letting people die.

So not giving vaccines, medicines, and food aid isn't the same as letting people die from easily preventable diseases and famine?

Do you think they can maintain this population forever?

Why would they have to? Even Africa's growth rate today is less than the peak population growth rate in the 1960s. Odds are very good that the growth rate will continue to fall.

What goes up must come down, and this applies to Africa's population as well as every other continent. You haven't given me any reason to believe Africans have benefited from Western involvement.

I'd consider not dying to be a benefit.