Effects of Population Increase on Forest Resources

Introduction

World Population refers to the aggregate number of human being living in the world. The current human population is estimated to be 6.8 billion people by the United Nations. This is expected to increase even though there are low fertility rates in both developed and developing world. Over the years the world populations have been going on an upward trend. Despite the low fertility rate in both developing and developed world a massive world population it’s expected to rise till the year 2050 where it is projected to be 9.37 billion people (Jiang, & O’Neill, 2005).

Beside United Nation projections, other projection states that the world population will reach a crest in the year 2050 at a population of 9 billion people. This crest have bee attributed to the gradual decrease in birth rate all over the world. In another phenomenon, environmental and other disasters associated with population growth will eventually control the population. For instant, population increase has lead to pressure on resources which has had a negative effect on the population (O’Neill, & Chen, 2002).

Various efforts have been undertaken by various governments to control population growth, for instant, in the United States of America, family planning methods/ techniques to avoid conception have been initiated and thus reducing birth rates. In India, the government have initiated a project where they tested women between the age of 16 – 35 whether they are pregnant and if not they were to be given some amount of money. This too was a method to control population through reducing birth rates (Jiang, & O’Neill, 2005).

Statement of the problem

Despite the world governments controls, the population has continuously increased. This has posed a major threat and pressure on the forest resources throughout the world. Due to population increase massive forest and bush areas have been cleared to provide land for cultivation and grazing ground and areas and timber for putting up shelters for the growing population. This has resulted to destruction of water catchment’s areas thus reducing the volumes of water in rivers and lakes (Kaimowitz & Angelsen, 1998).

Destruction of forest resources have also resulted to reduction in rain fall and this has resulted to increased occurrence of drought resulting to hunger and eventually death to all living things. Due to the fact that there is no rain desserts have increased in both severity and size. For instant, Sahara dessert in Africa has extended to reach countries that initially were not affected, example of these countries include Sudan, Washington and Ireland. Thus there is a need to control the world population (Robert & Richard, 2000).

Justification for the choice of the topic

Over the past years the world consumption of energy resources has risen four times higher than the previous years. This has been attributed to the increased population. Non- renewable energy resources such as coal, oil nuclear fuel, timber and biomass and other renewable resources such as water, wind and sun have been highly depleted. This does not leave out forest resources which include timber, natural honey, and rubber among others which have been highly depleted. This calls for an extensive research on the effects of population increase on forest resources in all parts of the world (Kaimowitz & Angelsen, 1998).

Research methodology

This is a guide on how one is to conduct the research, collect data and analyze the data.

Nature and sources of data be collected

To achieve the objectives of the research both primary and secondary data are to be collected. Secondary data involves data collected from journals, magazines, reports and books that have the information required while primary data is to be collected from the ground or the area being research (O’Neill & Chen, 2002).

Research Design

This is a plan on how to conduct a research. Quasi- experimental design will be used in this research because large amount of materials from existing data will be used. This design does not assign any number to the individuals or the material and thus it is most appropriate in this research.

Research methods

Two research methods are to be used and these include; use of existing data and observation. Existing data method is to be used because, it saves time, money and effort as opposed to use of survey which include conducting interviews and administering questionnaire and thus making it time consuming and more expensive. Observation method is to be because, fast hand information is obtained from the ground and the data can be recorded by use of photography or films. Although this method is a bit expensive close involvement with the group is encouraged and thus bringing a better understanding of the problem. A large sample can be observed as compared to interviews where only a small sample is interviewed (O’Neill & Chen, 2002).

Data Analysis and Presentation

Qualitative and Descriptive data analysis and presentation techniques will be used in this research. In Descriptive analysis proportions and percentages obtained from existing data will be used to represent the total area of the forest that have been cleared and the percentages of the declining forest resources. In qualitative analysis statistical tables and pie charts will be used to represent the increasing population trend and its effects to the forest resources.

Resources required

Various resources will be required in order for the research to be successful; photography materials, an air craft for aerial photography, writing materials, and journals on effects of population on world resources and relevant books and magazines.

References

Robert, E. & Richard, P. (2000), People in the Balance: Population and Natural Resources at the Turn of Millennium. Population Action International.

Jiang, L. & O’Neill, B. (2005), Economic Growth: Population Changes and Residential Energy Consumptions in China. Tours, France.

Kaimowitz, D. & Angelsen, A. (1998), Economic Model of Tropical Deforestation. Center for International Forestry resort, Indonesia.

O’Neill, B. & Chen, B. (2002), Demographic Determinants of Energy Consumption in United States of America. Tours, France.

Population Pyramid: The Case of the Republic of Moldova

The Republic of Moldova is a small eastern-European country that used to be a part of the Soviet Bloc. Its population reached its peak during the year 1990, prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, and has been in the process of a steady decline since. According to Population Pyramid (b), the population of Moldova is at 4,033,936 people, having lost a net total of 330,000 citizens since the collapse of the USSR. The country’s life expectancy is at 71.63 years in total, with a few years fewer for males, and a few years more for females (Cash 93). Moldova’s birth rate is 10.57 children per 1000 individuals (Cash 93). Death rates are at 12.6 deaths per 1000 people, showing a negative dynamic (Cash 94). The population pyramid of the country during the year 2000 is as follows (Population Pyramid (a)):

Population Pyramid of Moldova in the year 2000
Fig. 1. Population Pyramid of Moldova in the year 2000

As it is possible to see, the number of people of child-bearing age and pre-child-rearing age are the majority, promising a potential growth for the country’s population. The only drop is seen among the individuals of years between 25 to 34, which is understandable considering that 10 years ago the country suffered a crisis, surviving the aftermath of the collapse of the USSR (Cash 91). However, these are not the only factors that affect population rates. In 2020, the population dynamics are as follows (Population Pyramid (c)):

Population Pyramid of Moldova in the year 2020
Fig. 2. Population Pyramid of Moldova in the year 2020

As it is possible to see, the number of people in the first third of the pyramid shrunk considerably, with the biggest quarter of the population currently found in other parts. It promises a continued shrinkage of the population in Moldova. The projected parameters for the year 2040 are even bleaker, with the population aging rapidly, and the younger people becoming fewer and farther between:

Population Pyramid of Moldova in the year 2040
Fig. 3. Population Pyramid of Moldova in the year 2040

The shapes of pyramids are different from those of the US for two major reasons. The first is that the population dynamic is negative – there are more deaths than births in Moldova, whereas the US shows a marginal increase from year to year (Cash 95). Second, Moldova has a very high migration rate, whereas the US is a country many people migrate into. Moldova’s current migration rate is at -0.344 per 1000 population as of 2020 (Cash 98). The reasons for such trends include the economic stagnation of the country, inept leadership in the past 30 years, and the open-border policy with the EU, of which Moldova is an associated member of (Cash 99). These trends make it very easy for the younger populations to migrate in search of a better life. The people most likely to migrate to Europe in search of work and better opportunities include those aged between 20-35, whereas older populations often find work in countries like Ukraine and Russia (Cash 99). These factors, combined together, explain the trends as they are demonstrated in the population pyramid.

Moldova is in no danger of overpopulation, as the number of citizens occupying the country is projected to decrease by roughly 350,000 people by the end of 2040 (Population Pyramid (c)). The negative birth-to-mortality dynamic is explained not by the standards of medicine and child-rearing (these parameters are acceptable and not much lower than in the rest of Europe) but rather by the propensity of young people to migrate (Cash 91). They are less likely to conceive more than a single child either, due to not being able to support them domestically. Unless the country goes through an economic renaissance in the next 20 years, transforming its living standards to those of Finland, Germany, or Italy, the trend is likely to continue as predicted.

References

Cash, J. R. (2020). A Nation of United Villages? Demographics and identity in Moldova since independence. Balkanistichen Forum, (1), 90-101.

Population Pyramid (a). PopulationPyramid.net, 2021. Web.

Population Pyramid (b). PopulationPyramid.net, 2021. Web.

Population Pyramid (c). PopulationPyramid.net, 2021. Web.

Population’s Impact on Migration

Introduction

An article summary entails a concise, well-written document describing a single academic article guided by a critical examination of that work. Primarily, an article summary serves to give the audience a quick rundown of the study. This paper details “Population, Policy, and Politics,” “Let the People Go,” and “Overpopulation Discourse.” It further discusses the common ideals among them.

Discussion

In “Population, Policy, and Politics: How Will History judge China’s One-Child Policy?,” Feng et al. (2013) explain that many societies have issues due to rapid population increase. According to Feng et al. (2013), the birth control movement participates actively with support from nation-state governments. The scholars note that the governments of industrialized countries and private foundations boosted their funding. In addition, Feng et al. (2013) claim that the concept of one-child households is a strategy for lowering the birth rate.

In “Let the People Go: The Problem with Strict Migration Limits,” Michael and Justin explain that immigration has a variety of beneficial impacts, as many scholars demonstrate. Economists have discovered a reduction in crime in English and Welsh communities as a result of the large number of immigrants (Clemens & Sandefur, 2014). Furthermore, in Spain and the US, immigration has also increased local property values. Additionally, the scholars point out that natives and immigrants benefit from better returns on capital investments, faster economic growth, and consequently higher labor demand.

In “Overpopulation Discourse: Patriarchy, Racism, and the Specter of Ecofascism,” Jordan and Cassidy explain that birth control and family planning must be viewed in light of the global historical interactions with varied communities. Dyett and Thomas (2019) claim that sterilization, birth control, and family planning services are creeping ethnocide and tools of colonialism. However, scholars believe that the primary environmental issue for reducing poverty is population decline.

Common Ideals in the Articles

One common ideal among the articles is that the majority of the world’s issues result mostly from overpopulation. Every global community feels the impacts of global food, water, and energy shortages (Feng et al., 2013). Furthermore, countries have been able to preserve their welfare thanks to imports. However, this cannot continue indefinitely because the population is growing everywhere. According to Clemens and Sandefur (2014), a good likelihood exists that several nations will require their products to feed their populations. A universal population control program is the only answer. Besides, the economic world and religions are generally concerned with population expansion. For the wealthy, allowing welfare to decline can be as challenging as helping the poor escape poverty (Dyett & Thomas, 2019). Therefore, the growth scenario still predominates in thinking about solutions to global crises.

Across the articles, immigration entailing the global movement of individuals to a foreign country to establish themselves as nationals is a current concern. According to Feng et al. (2013), migration has positive economic impacts on both the sending and receiving countries. Moreover, development economists argue that lowering labor flow barriers between developing and wealthy nations is an effective strategy for alleviating poverty. As Dyett and Thomas (2019) put it, good immigration can help the aging global North’s demographic problem. Therefore, societal and natural barriers play an effective role in influencing immigration events.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the population’s impact on migration is key to addressing the most basic global problems. However, individuals must concede that migration can help a country relieve some of its social, economic, and security burdens. For instance, it can assist in supporting an aging population in certain situations. To address the world’s problems, everyone must practice ecological responsibility.

References

Clemens, M., & Sandefur, J. (2014). Let the people go: The problem with strict migration limits. Foreign Aff., 93, 152.

Dyett, J., & Thomas, C. (2019). Overpopulation discourse: Patriarchy, racism, and the specter of ecofascism. Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, 18(1-2), 205-224. Web.

Feng, W., Cai, Y., & Gu, B. (2013). Population and development review, 38, 115-129. Web.

Aging Population Study by Christensen Kaare et al.

Research Design

The descriptive approach in the Aging Population: The Challenges Ahead, the article written by Christensen Kaare et al., systematically and accurately elaborates on life expectancy trends in developed nations. The study indicates that many babies born from 2000 in Germany, the UK, France, Japan, the US, and Canada will reach 100 years. The swiftly increasing population segment in industrialized countries is the oldest-old group aged above 85 years. The research design observed and measured the life longevity variables.

Research Method

Search strategy and selection criteria help in identifying reviews on the aging population in established nations. The article includes studies published not later than 2004 and extracts them from the TRENDS and PubMed.The search terms are life expectancy, mortality, health expectancy, old age, longevity, and the elderly. The Human Mortality Database was vital in including the newest demographic information.

Method of Analysis

The article uses tables, linear regression, and horizontal bar graphs to analyze data. Tables indicated the oldest age with more than 50% birth cohorts alive in Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, Canada, and the US. The horizontal bars were Germany’s population pyramids in 1956, 2006, and 2050 projection. Developed nations were focus areas because they had complete health data.

Gerontology Principles Theories

Lowered exposure to carcinogens, early diagnosis of cancer, and therapeutic improvements are causing the life expectancy to rise in developed nations’ population. The active aging theory suggests that older adults in advanced nations are energetic and engage in social interactions. The increasing proportion of people aged 60 years and above engage in part-time jobs requiring them to commit 25 hours per week. The individuals focus on leisure, work, education, and childrearing activities.

Key Findings

Life expectancy in developed nations lengthens linearly with no declination signs. The probability of people aged 80 to 90 years’ survival was 37% for women and 25% for men in 2002. In Japan, six out of ten activities of daily living (ADL) indices had substantial improvement after age adjustment between 1993 and 2002. Germany had 29 persons aged above 65 years in every 100 individuals in 2006. The findings portray that current developed nations’ populations have high life longevity, fewer disabilities, and reduced limitations.

Implications

Governments need to raise age retirements to cope with the aging population’s economic effects in advanced countries. Redistribution of work and income will be even over the ages of life. However, the increasing old-adult population will cause significant health-care structures challenges. The oldest adults heavily depend on social welfare and stable medical provision in advanced countries.

Limitations

Health data exceptional to older adults are inconsistent and few. Moreover, life expectancy projections do not account for future challenges the aging population will face. The article does not account for the oldest group’s susceptibility to illnesses and disabilities. The complex models also assume that life expectancies rise linearly. The journal does not explain the stagnation of life expectancy in countries such as Denmark.

Reflection on the Quality of Research

In my view, the article methodically and precisely expounds on life expectancy trends in advanced nations. The linear regression, horizontal bars, and tables showed best-practice life expectancies and longevity for women in the UK, Germany, the US, Japan, France, and Sweden. Furthermore, the infant and childhood survival improvements led to high life expectation records. The Human Mortality Database was fundamental in including the latest demographic statistics.

Contribution to Academic Knowledge and Applicability

The research notes that advanced nations can modify aging processes in their population. Secondly, people are increasingly living longer and exhibiting less severe disabilities. Three-quarters of babies born in Sweden, Japan, and Spain reach the 75 birthday. Moreover, the mortality of the aged population in Denmark decreased faster than previous projections due to reduced smoking. The findings are useful in curbing challenges associated with aging populations.

Immunization of the Wildlife Population Against Rabies

Introduction

Rabies is a disease of a viral nature that occurs after a bite of an infected animal. It is characterized by significant damage to the nervous system and most commonly leads to a fatal outcome. Because of the severity of impairment, rabies is a critical public health topic. Most people and pets get infected by wild animals and street dogs. There have been numerous attempts to control the spread of the disease in wildlife. Several decades ago, methods were harsh but did not result in notable advancements. Today, however, health professionals take a different approach, one which does not violate animal rights while reducing the chance of the spread significantly. This paper will discuss the efficacy of current methods and how a local government could immunize the wildlife population against rabies.

Importance of Immunization

There are no known methods of treatment after the onset of the disease. The only way of reducing the number of casualties is by preventing the disease. Vaccination after potential exposure to the virus reduces the chance of becoming infected significantly (Baker et al., 2019). Therefore, millions of people get vaccinated after a possible exposure in the form of an animal bite (Moore et al., 2017). However, rabies is considered to be a neglected topic in healthcare and thousands of people die annually because they fail to immunize themselves against the disease. In the United States, most cases of rabies infection are attributed to dog bites (Gilbert et al., 2018).

Because the majority of households own a dog, the chance of becoming infected is high. Therefore, it is critical for people to immunize themselves and for local governments to control the spread of the disease in wildlife.

Previous Attempts

First attempts to manage wildlife rabies consisted of primitive measures. In summary, local governments would try to reduce the number of wild animals in the area. These measures included targeted hunting, poisoning, and trapping (Maki et al., 2017). However, the efficacy of these methods was compromised by the fact that it is not possible to hunt down all animals without damaging biodiversity and without incurring high costs, including human fatalities. Also, the reduction of the wildlife population was paralleled with controversies and public unrest. Many people were concerned with animal rights and the damage that such methods might impose on the local ecosystem (Maki et al., 2017). Therefore, there was a need for a more efficient and ethical means of battling the spread of rabies. Oral rabies vaccination (ORV) was proposed as a solution and is widely used by many local governments today.

Contemporary Efforts

Capturing wild animals one by one and immunizing them by needle injection is not possible due to limited human resources and a high number of animals; therefore, oral immunization was proposed. The idea is that animals are exposed to vaccination through special baits that contain the vaccine. After testing this method on caged animals, the first field trial took place in Switzerland, in 1978, with the use of chicken head baits that were injected with the vaccine based on Street Alabama Dufferin (Maki et al., 2017). Today, a widely used product is RABORAL V-RG – it is one of only two vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization (Maki et al., 2017). This product is sold only to government agencies that plan to conduct a rabies control program.

Results Across the Globe

RABORAL V-RG has been used in numerous countries across the globe, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ukraine, the United States, and Canada. The efficacy of the method is shown by significant achievements in the reduction of the number of rabies cases among the wildlife population. For instance, the number of animal rabies cases in France was more than 4000 in 1989 (Maki et al., 2017). Since the start of the annual use of RABORAL V-RG, that number has dropped to a negligent value (Maki et al., 2017). In the United States, the results are similar – the product has shown that such a method is an effective means of wildlife rabies control.

Potential Alternative

While ground dispersion of oral vaccine has proved itself as an effective method, ORV needs significant human effort to target specific populations of mammals. An alternative way that can be considered in the future is the delivery of the vaccine through water reservoirs from which animals consume water. This approach, however, will require a vaccine that does not harm water habitat and humans that may directly or indirectly drink this water. With the advancements in bioengineering, the possibility of such a vaccine being invented in the future is high.

Conclusion

Rabies is a viral infection that poses a significant threat to pets and humans. It primarily spreads within populations of wild animals and may come to humans from pets that were bitten by infected bats, racoons, foxes, and other mammals. To maintain the spread of rabies at low levels, many actions have been undertaken by governments. Initially, people decreased the number of rabies cases by reducing the number of wild animals. Today, however, oral rabies vaccination is used. One of the leading products is RABORAL V-RG, which is primarily delivered via baits. With advancements in science, dispersion through water may become a new and more effective way of wildlife rabies control.

References

Baker, L., Matthiopoulos, J., Müller, T., Freuling, C., & Hampson, K. (2019). Optimizing spatial and seasonal deployment of vaccination campaigns to eliminate wildlife rabies. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 374(1776), 1-10.

Gilbert, A., Johnson, S., Walker, N., Wickham, C., Beath, A., & VerCauteren, K. (2018). Efficacy of Ontario Rabies Vaccine Baits (ONRAB) against rabies infection in raccoons. Vaccine, 36(32), 4919-4926.

Maki, J., Guiot, A. L., Aubert, M., Brochier, B., Cliquet, F., Hanlon, C. A., King, R., Oertli, E.H., Rupprecht, C.E., Schumacher, C., Slate, D., Yakobson, B., Wohlers, A., & Lankau, E.W. (2017). Oral vaccination of wildlife using a vaccinia–rabies-glycoprotein recombinant virus vaccine (RABORAL V-RG®): A global review. Veterinary Research, 48(1), 1-26.

Moore, S. M., Gilbert, A., Vos, A., Freuling, C. M., Ellis, C., Kliemt, J., & Müller, T. (2017). Rabies virus antibodies from oral vaccination as a correlate of protection against lethal infection in wildlife. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 2(31), 1-20.

Psychoeducation Group for Trauma in the Native American Population

A group or community that has more challenges to accessing social, economic, legal, and environmental advantages, as well as restrictions imposed by disease or handicap, is considered to be a vulnerable population. In a group therapy environment, the practice of educating and informing persons who are in need of or obtaining mental health treatment is known as psychoeducation. A psychoeducation group for trauma in the Native American population is required since native Americans represent a vulnerable community due to historical, social difficulties and potential benefits that can occur as a result of intervention.

The individuals who resided in America prior to European migrants arrived as well as the ethnic communities who claim to be descendants of those inhabitants are known as the Indigenous native groups of America. In fact, the Spanish ancestor groups have the largest median percentage of Native American ancestry, with the median rate of 38% (Jordan et al., 2019). The African ancestor groupings and Western European ancestor groups appear in second and third places respectively (Jordan et al., 2019). It was considered to be disastrous for the indigenous population when Europeans and Africans arrived in the Americas and engaged in combat. In general, Native Americans’ population has decreased by 95%, or an estimated 100 million deaths, according to the statistics (Jordan et al., 2019). Concerning the basic demographic information about the population, it can be stated that Native Americans represent a vulnerable group due to the historic, social, and health struggles that have to be addressed.

The reasons for selecting the issue include health inequities, need for cultural correlation of therapy, lack of evidence-based interventions for Native Americans, and the benefits that can be provided by psychoeducation groups. Communities of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and First Nations people have health inequities linked to exposure to various types of trauma (Gameon & Skewes, 2020). Interventions and therapies that are culturally relevant are required to help Native American communities recover from recent and past trauma (Gameon & Skewes, 2020). While evidence-based trauma therapies are present for use with other groups, only a limited number have been tested or used with Native communities (Gameon & Skewes, 2020). Summarizing the macro, or historic and sociopolitical background of the population and the issue, Native American communities were disregarded by institutions and authorities in comparison to other vulnerable groups in terms of trauma-related therapy (Gameon & Skewes, 2020). Concerning the meso, or agency funding, medical, social, religious, families’ issues, background related to the issue, it is feasible to emphasize the historical influence of Native American reservations, which impacted the initial social relationships differences.

The group presented for the research is needed since psychoeducational groups assist the therapist in developing a topic with an activity-filled agenda. These groups are especially beneficial as they may offer tools that can expedite rehabilitation, knowledge about their trauma, and expertise to enable them to be more self-aware of the effects of their condition. Group-oriented social work intervention will be provided to the population in this case. Referring to the outcomes of the group, the population will gain support by specialists, institutional assistance, mental health sessions, in-home health ais, supervision, and education.

To summarize, in terms of the population’s fundamental demographics, it can be stated that Native Americans constitute a disadvantaged group due to the ongoing issues with their social, political, and health. The historical impact of Native American reservations, which had an impact on the early social interaction disparities, might be emphasized. Specialists, institutional aid, counseling, home health care, management, and education will all be used to serve the Native American people.

References

Gameon, J. A., & Skewes, M. C. (2020). . American Journal of Community Psychology, 65(1-2), 223-241. Web.

Jordan I. K., Rishishwar L., & Conley A. B. (2019) . PLoS Genetics, 15(9), e1008225. Web.

Global Issues: Addressing an Aging Population

An important issue that is currently facing the world community is aging due to the increasing number of older people. Various countries in the world have experienced significant growth in the number of older people within their population. This has had a great impact on labor and financial markets while also affecting the demand for products and services. The issue is also threatening to upset existing family structures and intergenerational ties. Aging exposes a human being to significant health risks because of a weaker immune system. Countries that have large immigration flows tend to have a low number of older persons since many immigrants are of younger working ages (United Nations, 2019). Migration leaves the countries in which people are moving with a significant number of older people. The increased concern about ageing has led to the organization of various conferences seeking to come up with a solution for the issue. This is aimed at ensuring that older people do not suffer from the negative consequences associated with the ageing process.

One of the ways how the United States can work with other countries in addressing the ageing issue is by engaging in collaborative research and development activities. The US can work together with other nations to carry out scientific and medical research related to aging. This will enable professionals to identify innovative solutions needed to deal with age-related health problems (Runde et al., 2021). The United States should also consider teaching other nations across the world its most effective strategies for dealing with the aging population. In this case, the US can educate other countries on what is needed to provide quality care to older persons and strategies to use in fostering age-friendly societies.

Reference

Runde, D. F., Sandin, L., & Kohan, A. (2021). . CSIS. Web.

United Nations. (2019). . United Nations. Web.

Population Dynamics and Increase Reasons

Introduction

For an effective budget, each country has to examine its population to understand the peoples’ needs and expectations. By analyzing the population, the government understands the age, sex, and distribution of its citizens. The following paper discusses population dynamics to determine what affects it and how population growth rate can be controlled.

Population Dynamics Definition

Population is defined as a group of people who live in the same environment at a particular time. Each population is distinct due to various factors such as physical distribution, age, size, and sex. Population dynamics is a scientific field that analyses human population changes such as life expectancy and fertility level in a population (Hummel 34). By focusing on population dynamics, one can determine how, why, and when the difference in a population occurred (Hummel 38).

Factors Affecting Population Dynamics

The first factor that affects population dynamics is birth rate. Birth rate is calculated by dividing the total number of live births by a thousand. High birth rate means that the population size will increase as well as the number of young adults in the society. The second factor is death rate (Mosher 47). A high rate of mortality can drastically reduce the population size. However, if the death rate is minimal, meaning that the life expectancy of a particular population is high then, the population will increase. The third factor that affects population size is immigration. This is the number of individuals moving into a given area permanently.

If there are many immigrants moving into a particular jurisdiction, then the population size will grow. The final factor is emigration rate; this is the number of people moving out of an area permanently (Turchin 54). If this number is high, then the population size will decrease but if there are few emigrants the population may remain the same or increase.

Reason for Increase in Human Population

Human population has increased due to high birth rate and low number of deaths because of medical industry development. Life expectancy ratio has increased, due to the improvement of medical technology (Mosher 62). The mortality rate of children under the age of five has reduced hence, raising the young adult population.

Slowing Population Growth

Due to the decrease in scarce resources, there has been a greater need to control the rate of population growth. The first way of slowing population growth is by controlling the rate of birth to a manageable figure. This can be achieved by educating individuals about the need of having a small family (Mosher 76). States can also restrict the number of children that one can have by formulating laws that prohibit giving birth to many children. Birth rate can also be controlled by encouraging the use of contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies (Turchin 88). To manage the level of population growth, one has to determine the cause of growth first before developing ways to control it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, population dynamics data is useful for many stakeholders in a state since it provides crucial information about a specific population. The rate of population growth has mainly increased due to high birth rate and increased life expectancy. There is always a need to control the level of population growth for many states, to enable them to plan their budget. Birth control is an efficient way of ensuring that the rate of population growth is slow. Educating individuals on the need for family planning and using contraceptives can play a significant role in managing population growth.

Works Cited

Hummel, Diana. Population Dynamics and Supply Systems: A Transdisciplinary Approach. Frankfurt: Campus Verlag, 2008. Print.

Mosher, Steven. Population Control: Real Costs, Illusory Benefits. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 2008. Print.

Turchin, Peter. Complex Population Dynamics: A Theoretical/Empirical Synthesis. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2003. Print.

The Aging Population’s Retirement Security

Have you ever thought about the aging population and some challenges they face due to a lack of retirement security? Today, I would like to inform you about the aging population and retirement security as a pressing issue because it is already affecting society. There is a continuous increase in the aging population number, without any retirement security hence a need for a collective effort to ensure stability and dignity for the elderly population in the future.

The rise in world’s aging population is expected to have some socioeconomic and political implications by 2050. Thus, by 2050, the number of people aged sixty-five and above is expected to reach over one billion (Sasiwongsaroj & Burasit, 2019). This will have more implications after 2050 as the number will continue to grow. Retirement security is one of the major challenges posed by this increasing number of the world’s aging population. Most people are not informed about saving more than enough for retirement, leading to inadequate funds for self-support in their later years (Kwan & Walsh, 2018). As a result, one may end up working for many years, yet at retirement, they still have financial burdens.

I have an uncle, Mr. John Draws, who worked hard his entire life but ended up retiring uncomfortably due to a poor retirement plan, including a lack of savings. He is in his eighties but struggling to meet his basic needs, forcing him to rely on his children and grandchildren for financial support. This is one of the stories common among the aging population that had poor retirement security brought about by a lack of saving for the future. One major contributing factor to this challenge is the decline in traditional pension plans and the burden of retirement savings being treated as personal responsibility (Ali & Frank, 2019). Therefore, this poses a challenge, especially to young youths, as they are also trying to shape their early lives in their early thirties to late forties (Ali & Frank, 2019). This is where the problem begins; hence a need to be informed in advance about the importance of the retirement security plan.

This issue can be addressed by increasing our retirement savings, especially through participating in several initiatives and programs. For example, individuals can take a step to participate in the employers’ 401(k) plan as a step to increase their retirement savings (Cardella et al., 2021). This is done by considering saving a portion of your monthly income until retirement age, whereby you can use the savings for self-support. Retirement security is an issue that needs to be addressed as early as now as we are likely to feel its consequences in our aging years and also adversely impact our future generations due to financial burdens and over-dependence on them. Without the retirement plan, we have inadequate retirement savings, increasing burdens on several government programs like social security, including pensions that otherwise could have been used to cater to other needs. It may also lead to an increase in poverty among the elderly, and you included if you do not have a retirement security plan.

In conclusion, the aging population can only sustain their living standards after retirement if they have enough pre-retirement savings. The elderly population records a high disparity in their sources of income hence a need for a good retirement security plan in an aging society to avoid future adverse impacts. Let us all have a good plan for our future, where aging will not be a burden but rather a celebration of the achievements of dreams with confidence. Thank you for your time.

References

Ali, S. B., & Frank, H. A. (2019). Retirement planning decisions: Choices between defined benefit and defined contribution plans. The American Review of Public Administration, 49(2), 218-235.

Cardella, E., Kalenkoski, C. M., & Parent, M. (2021). Less is not more: 401 (k) plan information and retirement planning choices. Journal of Pension Economics & Finance, 1-21.

Kwan, C., & Walsh, C. A. (2018). Old age poverty: A scoping review of the literature. Cogent Social Sciences, 4(1), 1478479.

Sasiwongsaroj, K., & Burasit, Y. (2019). Features and Challenges of an Ageing Population in Thailand. ISEAS Publishing, an established academic press, has issued more than two thousand books and journals. It is the largest scholarly publisher of research about Southeast Asia from within the region. ISEAS Publishing works with many other academic and trade publishers and distributors to disseminate important research and analyses from and about Southeast Asia to the rest of the world. 357.

Sexuality in the Elderly Population

Introduction

The importance of sexuality in a person’s life cannot be overstated. Sexual conduct, on the other hand, is not perceived similarly by people of all ages. The subject is still taboo among senior citizens. Media has been utilized to project attitudes and views that prevent older people from engaging in sexual activity over time. The elderly are stereotyped as beings who cannot or should not engage in sexual activity. As a result, any sexual activity is rejected, and society considers sexual expression to be sinful or deviant. Furthermore, older people are stereotyped as non-sexual members of society who have seen a natural reduction in sexual function. Other demographic misconceptions include a lack of sexual desire and a loss of sexual attractiveness (Laskey et al., 2019). The cartoon chosen for the project depicts the physiological, psychological, and social components of sexual development in older adults, demonstrating that they are stigmatized due to their bodily changes and the absence of personal and support systems.

The Message

The depiction of elderly sexuality 
Figure 1. The depiction of elderly sexuality

An elderly couple on the beach is depicted in Figure 1, demonstrating that elderly adults are not sexually desirable. The illustration portrays an elderly person who is unable to dress decently. The older man is dressed in socks and loose-fitting underpants, obscuring his ability to judge what a person should wear to the beach. The man’s appeal has also waned as a result of his protruding stomach. The woman is wearing her one-piece swimsuit backward and cannot hear properly because her husband appears to be repeating a point. Her breasts have already deflated as a result of her advanced age and hence have lost their sex appeal (Meyerhoff & Ehrlich, 2019). She is also overweight and unable to properly groom her genitalia. As a result, other beachgoers are terrified and forced to flee or vomit. The image subtly promotes the misconception that only young adults can be sexually attractive.

Psychological Development

Old age is a phase of life marked by changes, most of which are characterized by losses. As a result, many older persons may lose their capacity to cope with the demands of aging. One’s sexuality could also deteriorate with age due to the ongoing changes that might affect their physique. Failure to adapt can result in deteriorated mental health, a lower chance of achieving a good quality of life, a lack of emotional regulation, and a lack of independence. Despite the woman from the picture not realizing that she got on her swimsuit backward, a bigger problem is that her psychological state might be affected by such unpleasant interactions with people on the beach.

Looking at the cartoon, one could wonder about the old couple’s mental health and level of independence. They may not be able to converse properly in this scenario due to hearing loss or other physiological changes. Furthermore, the woman left her residence wearing her swimsuit backward, exposing her upper body to the community without her knowledge. Therefore, it should be crucial to look at the elderly people in the picture while recognizing that they could be affected by psychological issues related to self-acceptance and an inadequate level of self-esteem. In this instance, the woman or her spouse may not be able to properly care for themselves while exposing their imperfections to the world. The stigma that is displayed in Figure 1 is most likely to deteriorate elderly people’s well-being.

Physiological Development

With the passage of time, physiological changes take place in the elderly. Notably, the body seems to change the most while becoming less physically appealing. It shows how, with age, people turn to younger partners to compensate for the physique they once had when they were thirty or forty years younger. The challenges associated with physiological development affect one’s sexual life because of the negative associations between aging and sexual appeal. The fact that the woman wears her swimsuit backward and scares other beach visitors shows how the elderly are often misrepresented and misunderstood by the younger generation. Hence the differences between the bodies of younger and older individuals, one can suggest that the concept of physiological sexuality is perceived differently during various life stages. Therefore, the reaction displayed by younger beach visitors could have been different if they were older and recognized the issues linked to psychosexual development. The woman is wearing her bikini backward in this situation, maybe owing to mental degeneration or vision loss, but it does not necessarily mean that she should be seen as unable to generate sex appeal.

Psychosocial Development

Psychosocial difficulties in older people can have an impact on their social engagement. The cartoon portrays both the impacts and causes of a lack of confidence. A younger woman can be seen in the background, either laughing or gagging at the couple. In comparison to the older woman, she appears to be more muscular and youthful, with firmer breasts. Her actions may add to the couple’s lack of confidence, leading to isolation and the loss of support systems such as relatives and friends. It is possible that she is disgusted by both the man and the woman (Laskey et al., 2019). Older males who strive to express their sexuality may encounter stereotypical labels like “dirty old guy.” She could also be giggling at the woman because she has lost her beauty or does not understand her swimsuit is on backward. Two males stand in front of the pair, appearing to be horrified by the events.

Furthermore, owing to his complexion and grey hair, one of the males appears to be the same age as the couple. The two gentlemen also demonstrate how elderly women are portrayed as not sexually attractive and undignified when they express their sexuality (Laskey et al., 2019). Psychosocial concerns arise as a result of such events, and older persons’ social involvement suffers as a result. In essence, older people’s sexuality is a contentious issue as people believe they cannot and should not commit sexual behaviors, which is frowned upon in society. They could also be described as immoral or depraved.

Conclusion

The cartoon illustration depicts the psychological, physiological, and social components of older adults’ sexual development. Because of their physiological symptoms and absence of personal support networks, the populace is stigmatized. Generally, because it impacted all of the distinct elements, this cartoon conveyed a wide range of meanings. The woman in the animation portrayed a biological aspect through her ability to casually discuss her anatomy. She also appears to be able to show physiological understanding about her body, as she recognizes that beneath all of her defects, including wrinkles, she is still a husk of who she used to be, despite the fact that she has altered slightly.

References

Laskey, P., Bates, E. A., & Taylor, J. C. (2019). A systematic literature review of intimate partner violence victimization: An inclusive review across gender and sexuality. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 47, 1-11.

Laugh, N. (2010). Masquerade Ball. nahlaugh.blogspot.com. Web.

Meyerhoff, M., & Ehrlich, S. (2019). Language, gender, and sexuality. Annual Review of Linguistics, 5, 455-475.