Homework

Topic one: Population Growth

China has the largest world population. Although China is roughly the same size as the US, it has about 4.6 times as many people. Since 1970, China has made massive efforts to bring its population growth under control. Between 1972 and 1996 China had a sharp decrease in its crude birth rate (from 32 to 17 per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in China is 70 years. China's per capita income of $530 is higher than that of India. Despite these achievements, its population is projected to reach 1.5 billion by 2025.

To achieve its drop in fertility, China has established a very strict population control program. Couples are strongly urged to postpone the age at which they marry and to have no more than one child. Married couples have easy access to free sterilization, contraceptives and abortion.

Families who pledge to have no more than one child are given extra food, larger pensions, better housing, free medical care, and salary bonuses. Their child will be given free school tuition and preferential treatment in employment. The result is that 81% of married women in China are using modern contraception, compared to 57% in developed countries and only 35% in developing countries.

The United Nations projects that the population of China may reach 1.7 billion before reaching zero population growth, probably around 2100, mostly because 27% of the population was under age 15 in 1996. To slow its growth, the Chinese government is now putting more emphasis on improving the status of women, providing old age security, and improving family planning and health services for mothers and children.

China's large and still growing population has a tremendous environmental impact. China has 21% of the world's population, but only 7% of its freshwater and cropland, 3% of its forests, and 2% of its soil. Most of the nation's rivers (especially in urban areas) are seriously polluted.

What is your opinion regarding China's population policy? Do you think that you could use it in the United States (or your country of origin?)

Topic two: Mutualism (Symbiosis)

Most domesticated animals and plants that we use for food benefit from a mutualistic relationship with us. In exchange for food, we care for them and ensure their continued reproduction. However, through crossbreeding and genetic engineering (to increase food production) we have eliminated many of the adaptive traits they need for survival in the wild. How do you feel about this form of mutualism we have imposed on other species? How would your life be changed if we decided to end this mutualistic relationship? Do you believe that domesticated animals we raise should be treated as humanely as possible during the time we are fattening them up for slaughter? Explain. What effect might this have on the price and availability of meat produced from such animals?

Student one discussion:

Honestly, i think in some ways having on one child per married couple could be good but also bad in the united states. One good thing about it is that there are alot of people who abuse the government system by getting wic, foodstamps, and other means of getting money from the government. Alot of people give birth to a bunch of kids just to collect money for them, they never see the point of actually getting a job and trying to provide for there family and have responsibilities they get to comfortable and dependent on the governments help. I dont feel as if its rite to have all my tax dollars that get taking from me and everyone eles who works, to get used on people who abuse the system now there is a select few who actually need the money and assistance that the other families are getting, but there are so many other families with way more kids that get put on a priority list, that the other families wait and wait for help and some never get it, but if they do its not enough to provide for their family majority of the time. But besides that i think people should have the freedom to have as many kids as you would like if you feel as if you want a huge family than you should be able to do so. Overall if the population is to high in china i think it is a great idea to do what there doing.

Student two discussion:

First of all i would like to say that yes we should treat these domesticated animals as humanely as possible, but in my opinion i think this cant be achieved considering the fact that we are creating emotional pain and suffering for the animals. The animals we slaughter for food are very sensitive and smart creatures, and the way we treat them is cruel. From stealing their babies from them at birth to keeping them confined until their death and denying them their natural behaviors, these animals are not able to thrive in their own environment and receive the adaptive traits needed for survival. I am not in any shape or form an vegetarian, but i really don't like the way things are done when it comes to this subject but yes if this was not done i think alot of lives would be different, we would have to rely on ourselves to provide the things we needed each day. Growing our own foods, killing our own animals for meats i think the worlds population of cows and chickens would be scarce considering over half of the population wouldn't really care about the reproduction of these animals. They would care more about just having dinner that night. If there was some people who did decide to breed these animals in a time like this, i think the prices would be sky high to purchase the meat.