There are some interesting things in development in our world
... I track the development of a group called the World Futurist Movement [WFM]. Late last year ... the group came up with 10 major issues that the world will face in the next 50 years.
Many demographic specialist predict the world will reach 9 billion people within 30 yrs. This prediction is based on current trends in population growth. This projection made by many is incorrect however. According to the WFM we fall behind [yearly] in global grain production by 10%. That means 10% of the world is not getting staple foods [aside from the other issues that are causing mass starvation]. North American Corporations such as Ford Motor Co and Husky Oil, as well as several members of Congress and Canadian Politicians are attempting to make a motion that 45% of all North American Grains will be utilized for the production of Ethanol [a fossil fuel replacement]. This again causes a greater need for food and proves a severe lack of vision by several North American Leaders.
In all this ...the bottom line is that the world population will decline.
Found a few interesting articles today that state that this is already happening in Europe and Russia.
"A dramatically declining population is one of the most acute problems facing Russia today. The country's official population, now around 143 million, is shrinking by 700,000 every year. By 2050, some experts predict that the country's population could be as low as 120 million."
Radio Free Europe
"In countries - both modern and less developed -throughout the world, birthrates and fertility rates have fallen at an astonishing rate. Because of extremely low fertility, Europe has already begun losing population and is projected to fall from 725 million today by approximately 100 million people or more by mid-century, and continuing thereafter. Japan will fall from over 125 million to just 110 million. In less developed countries the fertility rate is about 2.7 and falling fast; about 25 such countries are already at or below replacement level.
Among the modern nations, only the United States is an exception to the trend, as it is likely to grow from about 285 million to about 410 million people by mid-century because of higher fertility and continued robust immigration."
FutureScan
Now interestingly enough there is a movie about to come out that kind of plays into this... On Christmas day for that matter [stop and think about this for a second].
... I track the development of a group called the World Futurist Movement [WFM]. Late last year ... the group came up with 10 major issues that the world will face in the next 50 years.Many demographic specialist predict the world will reach 9 billion people within 30 yrs. This prediction is based on current trends in population growth. This projection made by many is incorrect however. According to the WFM we fall behind [yearly] in global grain production by 10%. That means 10% of the world is not getting staple foods [aside from the other issues that are causing mass starvation]. North American Corporations such as Ford Motor Co and Husky Oil, as well as several members of Congress and Canadian Politicians are attempting to make a motion that 45% of all North American Grains will be utilized for the production of Ethanol [a fossil fuel replacement]. This again causes a greater need for food and proves a severe lack of vision by several North American Leaders.
In all this ...the bottom line is that the world population will decline.
Found a few interesting articles today that state that this is already happening in Europe and Russia.
"A dramatically declining population is one of the most acute problems facing Russia today. The country's official population, now around 143 million, is shrinking by 700,000 every year. By 2050, some experts predict that the country's population could be as low as 120 million."
Radio Free Europe
"In countries - both modern and less developed -throughout the world, birthrates and fertility rates have fallen at an astonishing rate. Because of extremely low fertility, Europe has already begun losing population and is projected to fall from 725 million today by approximately 100 million people or more by mid-century, and continuing thereafter. Japan will fall from over 125 million to just 110 million. In less developed countries the fertility rate is about 2.7 and falling fast; about 25 such countries are already at or below replacement level.
Among the modern nations, only the United States is an exception to the trend, as it is likely to grow from about 285 million to about 410 million people by mid-century because of higher fertility and continued robust immigration."
FutureScan
Now interestingly enough there is a movie about to come out that kind of plays into this... On Christmas day for that matter [stop and think about this for a second].
Now I don't know about you ...
but someone is trying to say something...
But what
are they trying to say?
This leads me to a few questions
What are the causes of the decline in the Birth rate? Keep in mind that this is a global issue not just a pocket of populations here and there. So its not just economic.
Are there significant sociologic, economic, environmental and theologic implications to this?
How should the church respond to this type of trend?
A fundamentalist approach might be the thoughtless... 'this is a judgement from God.' Is it that?
Or is it something more? Maybe if we dig a little deeper we may uncover a 'Cry from the hearts of men.'
Are we mere victims to a evolutionary development in humanity or are there some key significant thinking processes that are causing this shift?
Is anyone making the connections? Seeing beyond what the trends seem to be saying?
Does hope tie into this? Does hopelessness effect the
birth rate?
Or Trust?
Or community?
14 comments:
hmmm... interesting.
I honestly don't know how to respond, other than to think that it's simply what God knows will happen (and not necessarily wants to have happen).
Curious.
I think we've had this talk too many times before. I think it's a talk we'll continue to have. It's a talk a lot of people should have far too many times.
To be honest, the first time we talked about it, I had the thought of "crazy conspirator" in my head, but I gave it some time to sink in. I've done some research on this stuff and it's valid.
North America is pig of natural resources and to be honest, the majority of NA doesn't care about what we're doing, who we're effecting and what we're leaving for the future.
So I agree with you Mark. Something needs to be done. What, how are things we can figure out as they come. The when I think is key. If people start demanding a change, I don't know if we'll see anything happen.
There's an increasing development in the film industry of people rising up against negative forces in this world. Go to www.apple.com/trailers and look for documentaries and non-fictional movies that deal with our present day struggles. GW Bush takes a whack load of hits and rightfully so, but other movies like CHildren of Men and so on. Go on, doubt what Mark is saying, look for yourself... it's there.
Seriously, this blog is intense. How do you come up with these things?? I'm more of a take a picture of my kids in the snow type of girl, but sure, let's talk birth rates!
That movie trailer was interesting...
What do we do? Have as many kids as we can? (uh..no thanks....)
Stuff to think about tonight....
Mark, as I said - Insightful. Challenging questions. I had seen that movie trailer a while back and it really hit me then. I think whether we want to believe it or not, this world is dying and there are so many filled with hopelessness. How many and what will it take to change that? I don't know.
Thanks for the great post. Lots to think about.
p.s. I told I'd comment.
Thx for your input nats and smelly. Glad to know you lurke here. I realize that this article seems a little intense ... I do have a theory about this[another article maybe] ... just wanted to see if ther is anyone else who might be on the same wavelength/ or have their own theory?
Anybody? I think this is a significant thing to think about.
ANd its happening in Canada too; this is from a globe and mail report last week that shocked me...
"Canada's population continues to get older, with the median age reaching a record of high of 38.8 years in July, according to a new Statistics Canada report.
The median age for Canadians increased by 1.7 years in just five years, the government agency said Thursday. It predicts that by 2011, under the current medium-growth scenario, the median age for Canadians will top 40, and will jump to nearly 47 years by 2056."
Its very difficult for me to speak to some of these questions on a global scale or even a national scale. At very best, I feel like I could give some thoughts from a lower-mainland scale that matter.
Jer... I am aware that Canada is effected as well... this is what probes me to think. The mindset of many of the european countries and Candian are similar... far more progressed that our american counterparts. This makes me wonder if there is some connection here? Thinking processes, cultural paradigms and birthrate.
Jer... I think it would be good to get your 'Lower Mainland' perspective. The principles behind our perspective should be applicable in any human setting correct?
Very interesting post...
In regards to Canada's median age -
I think alot of it has to do with the sheer amount of Baby Boomers and the developments of medicine. Simply put there are alot of people living longer.
Plus with the whole "you can have it all" generation of feminism women are doing careers first and families later. When you don't start having kids until you're in your mid-30's you physically don't have the energy for more than 1 or 2 pregnancies, fertility rates drop off and the older you are the likelier chance you have for problems like Downs Syndrome. Then there's the pressure of when are you going back to work? When will you resume your "real" life, your career? If women take too much time out to raise a family they lose out in the marketplace.
Plus I also think that we have been conditioned to believe that a family of 2 is ideal. Family rates are most often for 2 parents, 2 kids. "The millionaire's family" is 1 boy 1 girl. These are actually the only examples I can think of off the top of my head but you get the idea.
Mark I know this isn't totally on topic but just thought I'd give you one woman's perspective.
heather
Heather
Some of your thoughts are actually some of the stuff I was digging towards. In our thought processes we have painted a picture for women... I think that might be one of the key issues we need to think of... why are women looking differently at life?
Women are looking at life differently because we are told that ONLY being a 'mom' isn't good enough....that a real women can have a career and a family....that why would you even WANT TO STAY HOME???
It's because we (and I mean 'womankind') have self worth issues, about what makes us important.
And then you got the problem of men too...
The men are getting lazy, and letting women do a lot of the leading.
What I mean by that is, the women are working twice as hard as the men are, and thus are actually the ones providing, taking care of, and raising families, and are, as a result of that, having increasing burn out rates.
When I read this blog I am forced to think about things and formulate intelligent answers. I am always shocked at how many people actually do think as a result of your questioning, and care to talk to other people about those things. (I must just hang around dumb people.)
Declining birth rate is connected to community.... Today's community...........tells women..... be beautiful, be thin, have a career, youth is paramount, the body is a temple.
Not a temple that can house the presence of God, or a temple that can carry life.......but a temple that worships self.
Women have bought this lie and have been doing things that decrease fertility. We've been duped.
-low body weight....decreases fertility
-careers first, babies later........the older you are the higher the rate of inferitlity
-making choices to abort children in the name of their right to independence....causing complications in some cases for future fertility
-Liberal sexuality resulting in sexually transimitted diseases that cause infertility
-alcohol and smoking consumption decreases fertility.
-on and on i could go
God has given women an amazing capavity to carry life. Our community says life is all about you. We need a community that puts value back where it belongs. Children are a gift from God, mothering a high calling and a privilege.
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