Blog 1: Kiribati: Tiny island's struggle with overpopulation. 2/7/14

According to BBC News, the Pacific Island chain of Kiribati is largely populated place; one of the most dense in the world. Because of the large numbers of the island's inhabitants, Kiribati is at risk of disappearing due to climate change. Surrounded by the ocean, Kiribati's land is constantly diminishing because of erosion from the water's edge. The territory is similar in size to India, however most of the population of each island making up Kiribati is located on South Tarawa. This island alone is home to over 50,000 people and its population density is similar to Tokyo or Hong Kong. A direct quote from the article states: "We've a relatively stable climate at the moment, but a shift in weather patterns, that pushes us into the hurricane belt, that could wipe us out," Kiribati's President Anote Tong told BBC. A major issue within Kiribati's islands also shows there is limited sanitation, water, and food. The island's tropical location is cause to an increase of rain water and constantly overflows underground aquifers. The water is consistently tasting like salt according to the inhabitants, which poses them at risk. This water is undrinkable if it becomes contaminated. Waste is washing up onto the beaches after high tide subsides, showing the immediate dangers of pollution. Tabao Awaerika, the secretary to Kiribati's president states they should go back to the old ways of living in order to save their home.

Analysis:
After reading this article, it is clear there is danger amongst Kiribati's inhabitants. Overpopulation is a problem which is constantly increasing amongst developing countries, and Kiribati's islands are just the tip of the ice burg. Within the article it also states only 20% of the population in Tarawa have jobs which still poses a risk for the people living in this area. Because there is so little people working, the island is losing money for repairs they are in constant demand for. Climate change is a key limitation of overpopulation and has also been positively correlated with the shifts in global temperature. More and more people are being born and there is little space for them to thrive. Small islands such as Kiribati is a prime example of how overpopulation needs to be controlled. How do we accomplish this? In comparison to China and Japan with the one-child rule, it is obvious they have change the way the world is economically and even more importantly in my opinion, the number of people in the world. Just imagine how many people would have been born if they had not put this rule into place. Although they have changed the world's population, it is not enough to control overpopulation worldwide.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-26017336