This unit is designed to expose students to the complexity of population issues facing the world today. Our natural inclination is to believe that the greatest population concerns are found in the poorest states and developing countries. While it is true that Africa and other poor regions have the hardest time feeding their population, it is the first world's population which is the cause of the greatest problems - the average North American consumes 100 times the resources of an average African.
Learn why having babies is no joke.
Unit Assignments
Introduction to Population
Text page 60. Questions 1, 3a-c, and 4.
Canada's Population Problem
Read the article "Canada's Population Problem" and answer the following questions:
1) List 5 ways in which Canada is viewed as being a "resource gobbler."
2a) What is carrying capacity?
2b) How is the world in danger of surpassing this?
3a) What is the article's view on sustainable development?
3b) What is Canada's role in achieving it?
Population Pyramids
Create 4 population pyramids using the statistics provided.
The base for pyramids a and b should have a scale of 0 - 3.5
The base for pyramids c and d should have a scale of 0 - 100
a) Canada, 1990
AGE |
0-10 |
11-20 |
21-30 |
31-40 |
41-50 |
51-60 |
61-70 |
70+ |
Male |
1.9 |
1.8 |
2.4 |
1.9 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
0.9 |
0.4 |
Female |
2.0 |
1.8 |
2.4 |
1.8 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
0.8 |
b) Kenya, 1990
AGE |
0-10 |
11-20 |
21-30 |
31-40 |
41-50 |
51-60 |
61-70 |
70+ |
Male |
3.2 |
2.2 |
1.7 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Female |
3.1 |
2.2 |
1.5 |
0.9 |
0.6 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
c) Industrialized World, 1990
AGE |
0-10 |
11-20 |
21-30 |
31-40 |
41-50 |
51-60 |
61-70 |
70+ |
Male |
100 |
94 |
83 |
94 |
84 |
68 |
49 |
40 |
Female |
112 |
110 |
108 |
106 |
105 |
83 |
77 |
82 |
d) Third World, 1990
AGE |
0-10 |
11-20 |
21-30 |
31-40 |
41-50 |
51-60 |
61-70 |
70+ |
Male |
622 |
512 |
428 |
358 |
282 |
188 |
108 |
50 |
Female |
608 |
502 |
430 |
366 |
294 |
208 |
140 |
88 |
Answer the following questions:
- Which stage of the demographic transition model is each of the four pyramids reflect?
- Identify two concerns that a third world country faces, as well as two concerns that a first world country faces, based on their population pyramids.
Population & Resources Position Paper
Read the handout of the articles by the Ehrlichs and Karl Zinsmeister, which opposite sides of the issue regarding population growth and the use of global resources. You goal is to write a 3-4 page (typed) position paper outlining the arguments presented and forming an opinion based on the readings and other information learned in this unit.
The paper should be made up of three parts:
- a brief summary of each of the author's views, including how they support their argument (5 marks)
- a longer presentation of your opinion on the relationship between population and resources. (15 marks) The articles can be used as a basis to form your opinion, but you should include in your considerations examples from the other sources covered in class, including:
- the article "Canada's population problem"
- the population video "The Human Tide"
- the Malthusian Theory
- the video "Who pays for Africa?"
- demographic transition
- a brief conclusion, in which you need to present your views about population and resource depletion, with recommendations for the future, to the World Conference of Bishops, a group of Catholic leaders meeting to draft a policy on population to be implemented by the United Nations in developing countries (10 marks)
- a longer presentation of your opinion on the relationship between population and resources. (15 marks) The articles can be used as a basis to form your opinion, but you should include in your considerations examples from the other sources covered in class, including:
Test Review
Things we have covered in class:
Test structure: