Our class watched a video made by National Geographic about our population hitting 7 billion. These are some of the things I learned.
7 billion people
•It would take 200 years to count to 7 billion out loud.
•7 billion steps would take you around the globe 133 times.
•In 1800 the world’s population was only 1 billion.
•In 1930 the world’s population was 2 billion.
•In 1960 the population was 3 billion.
•In 1974 the population was 4 billion.
•In 1987 the population was 5 billion.
•In 1999 the population was 6 billion.
• Now in 2011 the population is 7 billion.
•In 2045 the population could be 9 billion.
•Every second 5 people are born and 2 people die.
•In one minute our population has increased by 161 people.
•In 2010 the average lifespan was 69 years old.
•In 1960 the average person only lived to be 53 years old.
•For the first time ever in 2008 more of us lived in cities than rural areas.
•A Mega-city has a population of over 10 million. In 1975 there were 3 mega-cities; Mexico City, Tokyo, and New York City.
•Right now there are 21 mega-cities.
•By 2050 70% of us will live in urban areas.
•But we don’t take up as much space as you think, we could all fit shoulder to shoulder in the city of Los Angeles.
•So it’s not space we need, it’s balance.
• 5% of us consume 23% of the world’s energy.
•13% of us don’t have clean drinking water.
•38% of us lack adequate sanitation.
•7 billion people speaking more than 7,000 languages.
•7 billion people living in 195 countries.
by Max B.
7 billion people
•It would take 200 years to count to 7 billion out loud.
•7 billion steps would take you around the globe 133 times.
•In 1800 the world’s population was only 1 billion.
•In 1930 the world’s population was 2 billion.
•In 1960 the population was 3 billion.
•In 1974 the population was 4 billion.
•In 1987 the population was 5 billion.
•In 1999 the population was 6 billion.
• Now in 2011 the population is 7 billion.
•In 2045 the population could be 9 billion.
•Every second 5 people are born and 2 people die.
•In one minute our population has increased by 161 people.
•In 2010 the average lifespan was 69 years old.
•In 1960 the average person only lived to be 53 years old.
•For the first time ever in 2008 more of us lived in cities than rural areas.
•A Mega-city has a population of over 10 million. In 1975 there were 3 mega-cities; Mexico City, Tokyo, and New York City.
•Right now there are 21 mega-cities.
•By 2050 70% of us will live in urban areas.
•But we don’t take up as much space as you think, we could all fit shoulder to shoulder in the city of Los Angeles.
•So it’s not space we need, it’s balance.
• 5% of us consume 23% of the world’s energy.
•13% of us don’t have clean drinking water.
•38% of us lack adequate sanitation.
•7 billion people speaking more than 7,000 languages.
•7 billion people living in 195 countries.
by Max B.
With the global population growing so much, I keep wondering about really basic things. Like, how do we solve the problem that many people around the world don't have clean drinking water? In some parts of the world, people have no reliable electricity. This lack of electricity makes it dangerous if they get sick and need to go to a local hospital at night,as the doctors and nurses really can't see well enough to do their jobs in helping people. I also wonder when people will be able to get along and stop wars and other forms of group destruction. If the current number of people around the world can't get along, will it somehow get better with even more people in the mix? Will the number of people reach some magic tipping point where they decide not to fight each other any more, especially on a large scale like war, or will people continue to act the same way they have in the past? These are some of the things that come to mind for me when I think about the continuing increase in the world's population.
ReplyDeletein 2045 it could be 9 billion
Delete