Unit 3: Population and Migration
In class we discussed the basics of population, particularly the history and recent explosive growth of the worlld’s population. To do so, we examined several resources that portray the worlds population through various means.
1st. A world population clock, here, shows the increase of world population every second. There are several versions of clocks like these with what I would assume to be varying degrees of accuracy.
2nd. Simple world population graph. This is a simple but effective way to demonstrate the skyrocketing population in recent years.
3rd. Google Earth 3-D population growth animation. I found a video of it.
Animation of SE Asia population growth in Google Earth from Noel Jenkins on Vimeo.
4th. Lots of gapminder.org simulations. (links might not work) here here here and here
5th. Some French website with an awesome tutorial on world population history, trends, statistics, and future projections. (you have to click the “launch the movie” button and a new window will pop up that has all the goods)
6th. Here is the brief powerpoint presentation:
Homework: Read this NY Times blog post about General/Director Hayden’s sentiments regarding population. Please note that in the presentation I put those statements in quotes as if Hayden said them. He did not. His remarks aren’t so bold, yet still convey the same sentiment, that overpopulation is the biggest concern to the U.S.
Do you agree or disagree?
Read through Chapter 2 and do some research on the factors that deal with overpopulation. Document the data for both sides, and be prepared to make a decision on Monday and explain why you chose that. We will not be debating the issue …. yet.
