Peer Review (How population effects food shortages)

Paul R. Ehrlich, Anne H. Ehrlich and Gretchen C. Daily
Population and Development Review, Vol. 19, No. 1 (Mar., 1993), pp. 1-32
(article consists of 32 pages)
Published by: Population Council
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2938383

In this article it quotes, "Whether the expansion of food production can keep pace with the population growth over the long term, remains the crux of the sustainability debate precipitated by Malthus almost two centuries ago." To me, I look at this quote and question whether there will be enough food to sustain the population. At the rate we're going now, we're constantly wasting perfectly good food because it doesn't have a negative affect on our lives (yet). We have to put into perspective how much food we actually need for survival rather than just want what we want when we want it. We can either save food for the next person who needs it or save it for later. Instead of focusing on the now, we need to look forward and stop waiting for wake-up calls. (It's difficult but it's not impossible)!

AJ Mc Michael. "Global Environmental Change and Human Population Health: A Conceptual and Scientific Challenge for Epidemiology,." Print.

When reading through this article, a statement that stuck with me because of all the various factors that affect population through health risks was this: "The spectrum of health-endangering environmental problems has become wider, and potentially much more serious, than was evident two decades ago. It includes greenhouse-related climate change, thinning of stratospheric ozone, land degradation and topsoil loss, depletion of groundwater, reduction in genetic and ecosystem diversity and acidification of waterways and soils." Population is constantly affected by one of these things, whether it's playing a role at a different point in time around the world or simply growing into a bigger problem. Throughout the course of time, these problems trace back to how much the earth can hold also known as the earth's carrying capacity. It's also stated by the UN demographers that by 2030 we will reach 9 billion people, moving up to 11-12 billion in the following century. Out of this major increase, 90% of it will occur in poor third world countries where life is hard enough to sustain. With these statistics in mind, it seems natural that we'd transform some of our selfish ways, but like I said before unless it affects our lives personally major change won't take place.