The Rise Of Einsteinian Special Relativity Essay - 1908 Words

In 1905, Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity was proposed. The reason that it is so quot;specialquot; is because it was part of the more complex and extensive Theory of General Relativity, which was published in 1915. His theory reshaped the world of physics when it contradicted all previous laws of motion erected by Galileo and Newton. By mathematically manipulating these previous laws of motion, physicists in the nineteenth century were able to explain such phenomena as the flow of the ocean, the orbits of planets around the sun, the fall of rocks, and the random behavior of molecules in gases. At first, Einstein faced great opposition when he came up with his radical new theory because the previous laws of motion proposed by†¦show more content†¦Newton and Galileo would have assumed that like the speeds of the two cars in the previous example, the velocity of light could be calculated in the same fashion. For example: If a car is moving at a speed of 25 meters per second with its headlights on, what is the speed of the light emitted by the headlights? Newton and Galileo would have thought, quot;25 meters per second for the car plus 299,792,458 meters per second for the speed of light equals 299,792,483 meters per second for the speed of the light emitted by the headlights of the car.quot; This method of thinking would have been acceptable up until 1881. At this time, an experiment took place that would change physics forever. Albert Michelson wanted to test Newton’s idea of variable speeds of light due to the existence of the aether. He knew that since the Earth moves in absolute space, that the speed of light should be measured differently in January than six months later in June when it is moving in an opposite direction in its orbit. This is because the speed of light and Earth would be additive. The difference, according to Newton and Galileo, would only be about 1 part in 10,000 since the earth moves slowly relative to the speed of light. Michelson set up an extremely accurate test using a special device thatShow MoreRelatedRelation Between Science and Religion Essay4079 Words   |  17 Pagessecond half of this century is that historians and philosophers of science have come to realize that this supposed history of warfare is a myth. As Thaxton and Pearcey point out in their recent book The Soul of Science, for over 300 years between the rise of modern science in the 1500’s and the late 1800s the relationship between science and religion can best be described as an alliance. Up until the late 19th century, scientists were typically Christian believers who saw no conflict between their science

An Influx Of New Immigrants - 914 Words

In the nineteenth century, an influx of new immigrants came to America. A majority of these new immigrants came from southern and eastern Europe, as opposed to the northwestern Europeans who came in abundance before them. Between 1820 and 1920, less immigrants with northwestern European origins were coming to America and an increase of immigrants from southeastern Europe, countries in North America, Asia, and Latin America. The new immigrants from Ireland and Scandinavia were different from the previous groups of immigrants. They were not Protestant, and they had different migration patterns. The new group of immigrants had a completely new experience in coming to America than previous groups. A new cultural identity was created and with a new demographic of citizens, the United States would move into a new era of growth. The motivation behind a majority of Irish immigrants in the 1840s and 1850s was famine in Ireland. In total, more than two million Irish people left Ireland due to the dangerous conditions. This famine would continue to haunt Irish immigrants and change their ways for years to come. The attitudes and actions of the new immigrants changed not only because they were in a new country, but because they had to deal with the often times harsh treatment because of their immigrant status. Irish immigrants in the nineteenth century tended to settle in areas that already housed a large number of people of Irish origin. Daniels states that their settlement inShow MoreRelatedImmigrant Children and U.S Education1257 Words   |  6 PagesAware of the free education provided by the United States government to any school age children, immigrants both legal and illegal continue to be attracted to the United States, migrating in an attempt to provide better opportunities for their families and themselves. As the number of illegal immigrants living in the United states continues to rise and the percentage of illegal immigrant households which consist of childre n also continues to rise, it is important for the American government to examineRead MoreThe Impact Of Immigration On The United States1469 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the 1990’s there was a massive migration of Hispanics from Central, and South America into Texas. This large influx of population in Texas caused several problems such as hundreds of poor neighborhoods, a need for more teachers in public school, and fewer jobs available for the native born Texans. I plan to find my information on this topic by gathering data from the Rice Library, as well as using my online databases containing several scholarly articles such as JSTOR and GALE. Two sourcesRead MoreThe American Of The United States1081 Words   |  5 Pagesmore powerful nations, the U.S. became a bright new prospect for a better life, and many immigrants came into the United States. New York for example, was populated by the Dutch. Indentured servants also came to work as they envisioned a new life. Eventually when they were released, they built their own futures. Slaves were also imported from places throughout the world, mostly Africa. Later, the Irish Potato Famine caused millions of Irish immigrants to come to the U.S., which started Irish newspapersRead MoreImmigration Policies During Mexican Immigration Across The Border From The Mid 20th Century Into The 21st Century1627 Words   |  7 PagesMexican immigration trends from the 1940s-1990s. This is validated by the negative effects of the numerical restrictions of the policies and the lack of control over illegal business practices between US employers and Mexican immigrants that led them to become the largest immigrant population in the US by the 1970s. The second argument examines how United States’ reforms of the previous immigration policies and increased border enforcement during the Bush and Obama Administration, effectively led theRead MoreImmigration Paper1629 Words   |  7 PagesImmigration is such a relevant an d pressing topic in the minds of millions in our growing society. The news constantly covers stories of today’s youth striving to become what their parents brought them to this country for. Our country is full of promises and dreams of making what we thought impossible, become possible. Illegal immigrants deserve to be part of this country. The mind set of an illegal immigrant isn’t one of failure or lack of determination; it is one of growing hope and perseverance to escapeRead MoreEssay about Illegal Immigrants: Amnesty1007 Words   |  5 Pagesis illegal immigration. According to the Department of Homeland security in 2010, there are 10.8 million illegal immigrants residing among the 300+ million Americans. Since then, the number has grown to 11+ million people. The U.S. Congress has always sought to find the solution for illegal immigration, with amnesty being an option. If enacted, an amnesty will give unauthorized immigrants a path to legalization and eventually citizenship. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) is a primeRead MoreDo International Migration And Remittances Reduce Poverty? Developing Countries?1137 Words   |  5 PagesCompetition and Individual Preferences over Immigration Policy,† the economists focus on how individual preferences concerning immigration policies are influenced by an individual’s socioeconomic status. Less-skilled workers fear an influx of â€Å"job-stealing† low-skilled immigrants, and therefore are more likely to favor restrictionist policies that limit immigration. While these fears are believed and often influence policy, they do not hold up to economic theory and should be disregarded. InternationalRead MoreNew Era Of The United States1571 Words   |  7 Pageslate nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to describe the growing number of immigrants in the United States. From 1900 to 1915, â€Å"more than 15 million people† immigrated to the United States, ushering in a new era of Americans (Library of Congress). Furthermore, there was a shift in the countries from which immigrants were arriving. These changes characterized the first half of the twentieth century, as immigrants struggled to assimilate to American culture. Immigration during this period profoundlyRead MoreDoes Immigration Have Positive Or Negative Effects On Recipient Nation States?1523 Words   |  7 Pagesnation states? Immigration is defined as the migration of a group of individuals from their home country to another country in search of social, economic and political sustainability (Flores Loss, 2010). Kim and Koo (2016) report that the number of immigrants is rapidly increasing in Korea, the population of immigration rise from approximately 1.5 million in 2013 to more than 7 million as of 2014, which is equivalent to almost 14 percent of the population of South Korean. Currently, immigration has becomeRead MoreImmigration Benefits And Promotes Urbanization1642 Words   |  7 PagesImmigration benefits and promotes urbanization in New York and Vancouver from 1860 to 1920. The period from the late 19th century to the early 20th century is important in the urban development history of Canadian and American. Urbanization is a historical process that contains urban development. Urbanization is a process of population concentration as well as a process that advanced production modes substitute backward modes. At the same time, it is also the process to adapt to the mode of production

Outliers - 1030 Words

Elda Espinoza May 9, 2016 Sociology 101 Outliers By Malcolm Gladwell The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell attempts to explain the reasons why people become successful in both controlled and uncontrolled environment. He uses different stories and studies to explain what makes a person who there are. For example, in chapter one Gladwell says that successful hockey players if born early in the calendar year this will make them stand out physically among other boys who are several months younger than they are. Gladwell says that over time, the opportunities that these players have has help them build up to make them better players. So, Gladwell uses a sociological perspective to try to explain the reasons for peoples success.†¦show more content†¦When we look at outliers, when we look at success stories, if we look closely enough, we see lives with opportunity from the start. To illustrate the importance of culture in success, Gladwell relates a story of a Colombian pilot who most likely crashed a plane because, even with diminishing fuel, he wa snt assertive enough to stand up to the intimidating control tower agents and demand to land. Cultures that encourage passive submission to hierarchy, or who phrase their questions in subtle, vague euphemisms, may find themselves at a disadvantage in some situations, such as the airplane cockpit. Other times, your culture works for you. For example, Gladwell explains that Asians who spent centuries working in rice paddies, a type of farming that requires meticulous care all year long, passed on this work ethic to their posterity. Many of the inheritors of the rice-paddy culture apply the same diligence in their schoolwork. This diligence, of course, brings more success. I found this book to be an eye opener to many things that I never really paid attitude to. We all want to believe that where we come from and who we are does not affect what we will be come. Yes all have heard it before you can be what you want to be as long as you work hard for it. But really many things that people would like to be are out of reached for the simple fact that you are not in the right class of people. Even thoughtShow MoreRelatedOutliers, By Malcolm Gladwell1431 Words   |  6 PagesOutliers, written by Malcolm Gladwell, examines the wonder of high achievement, and success frequently attributed to the hard work, determination, and specific talent in individuals. Gladwell succeeds at analyzing judgments and cultural epidemics, while putting his thesis into view, and explaining his proof through a series of short, exemplifying accounts. Stressing the fact that hard work is a crucial factor in becoming successful, Gladwell does not deduct the need for discrete skills. Factors suchRead MoreOutliers Essay1630 Words   |  7 PagesOutliers Essay An Outlier is someone who stands out in a group due to their mastery of a certain skill and because of that they are successful. According to Gladwell not anyone can become successful; it takes the right circumstances and opportunities. Human’s capability seems limitless, and if we put in the time and hard work we can achieve our goals. We as a society love to think that a person may become successful and that we all have the same opportunities and chance of succeeding if weRead MoreOutliers, By Malcolm Gladwell1245 Words   |  5 Pagesand many other multi-millionaires were all born within a span of 3 years? Malcolm Gladwell, the author of Outliers, suspects that there is something more behind this occurrence than just a simple coincidence. He asserts that there is no such thing as a self-made man and success does not come from natural talent, rather it comes from extraordinary opportunities and hidden advantages. In Outliers, Gladwell attempts to debunk the myth that peo ple are successful because of themselves, and not because ofRead MoreOutliers : By Malcolm Gladwell1917 Words   |  8 Pages Malcolm Gladwell wrote the book titled Outliers to show the world how unique people got their start and all of the factors and obstacles it takes to succeed in life. Every chapter of this book contains a different success story. At the beginning of each new section, Malcolm describes where each story is taking place and who will be involved. An example of this unique imagery includes the start of the chapter titled, â€Å"The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes,† when Malcolm Gladwell described the settingRead MoreEssay on Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell1853 Words   |  8 PagesExecutive Summary The novel Outliers, aims to investigate the very thing we want for our family, our students, and ourselves. For most of our lives we have believed that with hard work, anyone can achieve success. That had to be the reason that poor immigrants like Andrew Carnegie and college dropouts like Bill Gates achieved unimaginable wealth. Most of us were taught that working harder than anyone else would lead to ultimate success. While the author, Malcolm Gladwell, does not disputeRead MoreRhetorical Analysis on Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell571 Words   |  3 PagesIn Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers, he defines an outlier as someone who does something out of the ordinary or differently. The author is very credible and has a few awards for writing, â€Å"Outliers.† We should listen to Gladwell because some of his information is knowledgeable and can help with everyday life. His purpose is to teach us about the many rules that are being described in the book. The main intended audience would have to be the world and how he displays his values to millions of peopleRead MoreThe Book Outliers The Story Of Success By Joe Flom851 Words   |  4 PagesThe story of Joe Flom incorporates many aspects of the first half of the book Outliers The Story of Success. Malcolm Gladwell uses comparisons of other families with similarities of Flom’s story to demonstrate why he is successful. The story o f Flom not only has what the previous chapters present but also some new concepts. At the beginning of the chapter Gladwell tells the reader about Flom’s success and then jumps backwards to explain how it occurred. He also explains why some people thrive whileRead MoreWhy We Should Be Diligent About Checking For Our Outliers2421 Words   |  10 PagesAn outlier is an observation that lies an abnormal distance from other values in random sample from a population. Outliers are data values that are differ greatly from a majority of a set of data. The value that falls outside of an overall trend that a present in the data. Sometimes outliers can be caused by an error and other times outliers indicate the presence of a previously unknown phenomenon. Other reasons that we should feel the need to be diligent about checking for our outliers is becauseRead MoreWhy Are Do Underdogs Win in Malcolm Gladwells Blink and Outliers904 Words   |  4 PagesHistory has it that the underdogs o f our society are ought to win due to their disadvantages. In David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell (the author of Blink and Outliers) explores why the disadvantaged misfits were able to win their greatest opposing giants. Gladwell initiates his discovery with the Biblical story of David, an Israeli shepherd boy, who killed Goliath with a slingshot. He explains how the chances of the underdogs increase when they fight unconventionally. In our society, our advantagesRead MoreSuccess And Success : Malcolm Gladwell s Outliers : The Story Of Success1843 Words   |  8 Pagesalmost imminent result of talent, effort, and hard work. Liberals, on the other hand, believe that even when people who work hard and are talented could sometimes fall when hard times are presented and associate that with luck. Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers: The Story of Success, argues that factors and circumstances are those that will determine the person’s success rather than then hard work and effort. Many people would disagree with Malcolm Gladwell. The way that Gladwell portrays luck throughout

Difference between Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes Insipidus Sample

Questions: 1.Why is the Disease given the name Diabetes Mellitus? How does Diabetes Mellitus differ from Diabetes Insipidus? 2.Individuals with the Diabetes Mellitus are Classified into two Main groups. What are they and what is the basis of the cCassification System used? 3.How are Patients Diagnosed as Diabetics? What treatment Options are most used to Manage this Condition? 4.What Changes in the Metabolism of glucose and fat (triglycerides) are observed in this disease? What Symptoms might a Diabetic show as a result of these Metabolic Changes and why do these Occur?5.Determine the Concentration of Glucose in each Patient serum Sample and plot Glucose Concentration against the time over which the Samples were Obtained. 6.What Potential Long term Problems would a Pharmacist need to be aware of when advising a Diabetic Client? Answers: 1.The word diabetes is the short version for diabetes mellitus (DM). It is adapted from the words of Greek and Latin language- diabetes and mellitus which means siphon (passing through) and honeyed/sweet respectively. This word was firstly used in English medical literature language around1425, as diabetes and in 1675, Thomas Williams used the wordmellituswith diabetes to signifies the sweet taste of urine (Lakhtakia, 2013). Classical symptoms of DM include high blood sugar levels, elevated hunger, thirst and too much urination while that of diabetes insipidus include elevated thirst, and large amount of dilute urine.DM is of auto-immune, genetic or lifestyle in origin while diabetes insipidus is generally caused due to deficiency of anti-diuretic hormone or gene defect. The treatment of DM involves insulin injection and some lifestyle changes while that of insipidus involves use of desmopressin or diuretics (Smith Vermaak, 2009). 2. Majority of DM cases are of two broad pathogenic categories on basis of their pathophysiology. First one is the type I DM which is due to insulin deficiency or its secretion from the -cells of the pancreas, while second one is type II DM which is more prevalent than type I. Type II DM is either caused due to development of insulin resistance or due to insufficient insulin secretion. Hyperglycemia is also observed in the latter case which may cause pathological changes in the body tissues, even before diabetes is being detected (American Diabetes Association, 2014a). Type I DM is also called juvenile onset DM, which is mainly characterized with complete deficiency of insulin in blood. It usually occurs before the age of 20 years. On the other hand, type II DM characterized by either deficiency of insulin or its inability to activate gluco-receptors. Type II DM is age related and usually occurs after the age of 60 years (American Diabetes Association, 2009b). 3.DM involves elevated blood sugar levels, which is diagnosed by estimating plasma glucose level at different time of the day. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a person with fasting blood glucose levels ranging from 6.1 - 6.9 mmol/litreor 110 - 125 mg/dlitre are presumed to be suffering from impaired fasting blood glucose while person with a blood glucose level of 7.8 mmol/litreor 140 mg/dlitre, but less than 11.1 mmol/litre or 200 mg/dlitre, two hours prior to a 75 g of oral glucose loading have an impaired glucose tolerance. Individuals should also be checked for glycated hemoglobin levels, which if at or above 48 mmol/mol indicates DM (Selvin et al., 2010; Consultation, W.H.O., 1999; Definition, W.H.O., 2006). DM is an incurable metabolic disorder but it can be managed by controlling blood glucose levels. Changes in lifestyle like diet controls and appropriate exercises help the anti-hyperglycaemic drugs to manage the glucose levels. Following are the drugs which are clinically used in management of DM. Sulfonyl ureas: Glimepride, Gliclazide etc Biguanides: Metformin etc Thiazolidenediones: Pioglitazone etc. DPP IV inhibitors: Vildagliptin etc. Alpha glucosidase inhibitors: Acarbose Meglitinides: Nateglinide etc. Combinations of some above mentioned drugs A routine estimation of glycated haemoglobin (Hb1AC) is very important for managinf the DM (Zarowitz et al, 2015). Along with the pharmacological changes, dietary modifications and lifestyle changes are immensely helpful in management of DM. 4.DM is characterized by absolute or relative deficiency of insulin in blood. Deficiency of insulin causes abnormalities in the metabolism of carbohydrate, protein and fat. The main functions of insulin are: Increases glucose uptake Increases glucose use and storage Increases protein synthesis Increases fat storage In diabetic patients the above mentioned function of insulin got disturbed. In diabetes mellitus (deficiency of insulin) causes following changes in carbohydrate metabolism. Diminished uptake of glucose by insulin sensitive tissue like adipose tissue and muscles. Promote the processes that increase the blood glucose and inhibit the process that removes the glucose form blood. Increased glycogenolysis Decreased glycogen synthesis Retarded glycolysis Promote gluconeogenesis The deficiency of insulin causes following changes in lipid metabolosim. Increased lipolysis Diminished lipogenesis Decreased removal of ketones and increased production of ketone bodies. The metabolic alteration in metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids leads to various biochemical and physical changes in patient. Some of them are listed below (Do et al., 2012). Symptoms due to impaired carbohydrate metabolism Symptoms due to impaired lipid metabolism Polyuria, Polydypsia and Polyphagia Ketone body formation causes ketourea Glycosuria Acidosis Weight loss Low pH stimulates the respiratory centre and causes rapid, deep breathing Muscle wasting due to negative nitrogen balance Acidosis may lead to coma High cholesterol level which leads to atherosclerosis Table 1: Symptoms arises due to altered metabolism in diabetic patients 5.Comment on the results for the two patients The standard plot of glucose concentration was drawn using the serial dilutions. A straight line curve has obtained with equation Y = 0.068X + 0.016. Putting different absorbance from blood samples of patient A and B were calculated and illustrated through a line chart (Figure 2). Figure 1: Standard plot, Absorbance vs Glucose concentration Figure 2: Comparison between glucose concentrations of patient A and patient B Comment: The normal fasting value of plasma glucose concentrations are 6.1 mMol/L. However, while doing postprandial glucose test, the blood glucose concentration after 2 hours should be 7.8 mMol/L. Figure 2 shows the result of postprandial blood glucose test of two different patients. Patient A has higher blood glucose values and remains above then the permissible limits till the completion of test. On the contrary, patient B has controlled blood glucose levels (Martin et al., 2012). This result shows that patient A has lower levels of blood insulin which is unable to metabolize the available glucose. The result also signifies the Patient A is suffering from DM. It can be confirmed by repeating the test (American Diabetes association, 2014b) 6.DM is a chronic disease which affects the patients at a variety of levels. Therefore the pharmacist must counsel the patient about the nature of disease and its associated complications. Pharmacist must also advice the patients about the lifestyle changes and therapeutic treatment involved. The patients should be told that DM is lifelong and progressive disorder which needs basic modifications in the lifestyle. Pharmacist must also emphasize upon the significance of medication therapy, and advise them to strictly follow the prescribed medication therapy. The pharmacist must also notify the patients about the change the quality of life if the disease is not controlled (McCord, 2006). The pharmacist must stress upon the crucial areas of lifestyle changes like healthy diet, physical activity, and cessation of smoking, alcohol intake while advising the patients. Diet: A controlled diet is the basis of treatment in DM. So, pharmacist must carefully advocate the importance of dietary intake of protein, carbohydrate and fat. Carbohydrates directly affect the blood glucose levels in the body. So, the daily intake of carbohydrate should be kept constant should be according to the daily physical activity. It is practical to advise the patients of DM to restrict the use of saturated fatty acids as it increase the risk of cardiac diseases and obesity. Increased fiber intake in the daily diet also needs to be recommended as it serves the purpose of fullness of belly and increases satiety. It also delays the absorption of fats and carbohydrates thus diminishing the chances of hyperglycemia (Katz, 2014). Physical activity: Physical exercise can aid in promoting body weight management in the DM patients along with appropriate caloric uptake. But the pharmacist must take great care in advising the patients about physical exercise to avoid exhaustion or hypoglycemia (Balk et al, 2015). Smoking and alcohol intake: Smoking increases the chances of hypertension and cardiac diseases; so the pharmacist must warn the patients that continuous smoking might increase the risk of these cardiac complications in the DM patients. The pharmacist must also inform the DM patients that alcohol intake significantly affect the blood glucose levels even if their blood glucose levels are fairly controlled (Smith, 2009). References American Diabetes Association, 2014. Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus.Diabetes care,37(Supplement 1), pp.S81-S90. American Diabetes Association, 2014. Standards of medical care in diabetes2014.Diabetes care,37(Supplement 1), pp.S14-S80. Balk, E.M., Earley, A., Raman, G., Avendano, E.A., Pittas, A.G. and Remington, P.L., 2015. Combined diet and physical activity promotion programs to prevent type 2 diabetes among persons at increased risk: a systematic review for the Community Preventive Services Task Force.Annals of internal medicine,163(6), pp.437-451. Do, G.M., Jung, U.J., Park, H.J., Kwon, E.Y., Jeon, S.M., McGregor, R.A. and Choi, M.S., 2012. Resveratrol ameliorates diabetes?related metabolic changes via activation of AMP?activated protein kinase and its downstream targets in db/db mice.Molecular nutrition food research,56(8), pp.1282-1291. Katz, D.L., 2014. Diet and diabetes: lines and dots.The Journal of nutrition,144(4), pp.567S-570S. Lakhtakia, R., 2013. The history of diabetes mellitus.Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal,13(3), p.368. Martin, R.J., Ratan, R.R., Reding, M.J. and Olsen, T.S., 2012. Higher Blood Glucose within the Normal Range Is Associated with More Severe Strokes.Stroke research and treatment,2012. McCord, A.D., 2006. Clinical Impact of a Pharmacist?Managed Diabetes Mellitus Drug Therapy Management Service.Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy,26(2), pp.248-253. Selvin, E., Steffes, M.W., Zhu, H., Matsushita, K., Wagenknecht, L., Pankow, J., Coresh, J. and Brancati, F.L., 2010. Glycated hemoglobin, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk in nondiabetic adults.New England Journal of Medicine,362(9), pp.800-811. Smith, M.D. and Vermaak, J.S., 2009. Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes Insipidus. InGeneral Surgery(pp. 319-328). Springer London. Smith, M.D. and Vermaak, J.S., 2009. Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes Insipidus. InGeneral Surgery(pp. 319-328). Springer London. Zarowitz, B., Allen, C., OShea, T., Dalal, M.R., Haumschild, M. and DiGenio, A., 2015. Type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment patterns in US nursing home residents.Postgraduate medicine,127(5), pp.429-437.

Over population free essay sample

â€Å"Whether we accept it or not, this will likely be the century that determines what the optimal human population is for our planet. It will come about in one of two ways: Either we decide to manage our own numbers, to avoid a collision of every line on civilization’s graph – or nature will do it for us, in the form of famines, thirst, climate chaos, crashing ecosystems, opportunistic disease and wars over dwindling resources that finally cut us down to size† – Alan Weisman A striking quote, if I may say so myself. It embraces and implies in one whole thought the problem of a majority of the countries all over the world are currently facing, the same problem our country has; overpopulation. First and foremost, what exactly does the term â€Å"overpopulation† mean? What does it refer to? Can it be stereotyped as something bad or is it actually a good thing? Arbitrarily speaking, like all other things, overpopulation has its pros and cons. According to the Merriam-webster dictionary overpopulation is â€Å"the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life or a population crash† whereas according to Wikipedia, â€Å"overpopulation occurs when a population of species exceeds the carrying capacity of its ecological niche. It is a function of the number of individuals compared to the relevant resources such as, the water and essential nutrients they need to survive which can result from an increase in births, a decline in mortality rates, an increase in immigration or an unsustainable biome and depletion of resources. † Note that the prefix over applied to other word case scenarios indicate more than desirable, this may also be applied to the word overpopulation. According to Casey B. Mulligan’s article, â€Å"The More the Merrier: Population Growth Promotes Innovation† she focuses on the conclusion that population growth should not be controlled in order to combat global warming, and other world problems since other economists ignore the significant economic benefits of large populations thus implicating that overpopulation is not a burden for a country but more or less an advantage. She justifies her point by quoting the director general of UNICEF, â€Å"Family planning could bring more benefits to more people at less cost than any other single technology now available to the human race† which strongly accentuates her belief that the larger the population, the more viable advantages it brings. One of the benefits of reduced population, it is claimed, is reduced carbon emissions and therefore mitigation of climate change. This statement takes technology for granted, yet technology itself depends on population. The more people on earth, the greater the chance that one of them has an idea of how to improve alternative energy or how to mitigate the climate effects of carbon emissions. It takes only one person to have an idea that can benefit many which focuses on appeal for innovation but this may only happen when the people in said community are encouraged to become responsible and productive. Many scientists agree that the human population is quickly reaching the point at which the planet will be unable to sustain it. This growth has placed a huge strain on the planets finite resources and done serious economic damage to nations all over the world, but some people, aside from Casey B. Mulligan, believe that there are a few advantages to having an ever-growing worldwide population. Among the other advantages or benefits of overpopulation is (1) increased labour forces resulting to increase in produced goods and services thus providing an economic boost, (2) more minds or ideas that will generate greater technologies in the future and (3) increased military might. But, are these advantages enough to encourage overpopulation to just continue as it is now? There are a lot of questions and controversies linked to the fast growing issues about the population with both the Catholic Church and our government officials going on about the pros and cons we now face because of ever growing population. Recently, news about the RH Bill created a public uproar but what exactly is the RH Bill all about? The Reproductive Health bill, popularly known as the RH bill, aims to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care with a goal to help people prepare and widen up each and every individual’s mind setting about our society in all its modernized glory. There has been a debate on its proposal that we, as taxpayers, along with various private sectors will fund and undertake widespread distribution of family planning devices such as birth control pills and IUDs which the Catholic Church strongly opposes against usage since it goes against the unwritten law of life. Hence, usage of these controversial pills is considered an immoral crime. Whereas, the Government reasons that the Philippines is in dire need of this bill since overpopulation is unhealthy for a country like ours. Overpopulation manifests growth. Growth may either be good or bad but for a majority of the public, growth in terms of the human population, is bad. People have been brainwashed into believing that all growth, unless it pertains to cancer, is unquestionably a good thing. But let’s really dwell and think about this cautiously. Would we want our population to grow until people standing in a mall end up shoulder to shoulder? Would you want that? I wouldn’t want that! That itself is an indication that we’ve recognized that the population growth must stop at some point, and not just slow down, either. Though most scientists and researchers argue that global warming is the big thing to worry about, they have completely neglected the root cause. At this point in time, it doesn’t even matter if humans are responsible for global warming even if we are so clearly the cause of the events unfolding right now. Too many mouths to feed and less natural resources on hand can have a devastating effect on the economy. Our country faces the problem of overpopulation and we are subject to disadvantages such as (1) more mouths to feed, (2) lowered standard of living, (3) increased problems pertaining to poverty, (4) overcrowded public areas, (5) sickness and spreading of diseases, (6) insufficient natural resources to provide adequate goods and services, (7) inadequate facilities such as housing, medical etc. Problem of starvation and malnourished population, (9) education facilities may not meet the requirements of the entire population, (10) unemployment, (11) higher crime rate due to unequal distribution of wealth and insufficient financial resources, (12) environmental pollution, trees are felled to make space for housing facilities, (13) agricultural production is insufficient to meet the requirements of the entire population, which results in higher prices, (14) money is diverted to ensure that the population is fed, rather than carrying out fundamental research, (15) lower life expectancy, (16) large number of people live in unhygienic conditions, (18) heightened birth rate and so much more. The list goes on! All the world leaders are concerned about how to feed, clothe, and supply water and energy to the growing multitudes but all these efforts will prove futile if world population continues to grow. We live on a finite planet. Growth will simply overwhelm the attempted remedies. The effects have been stated but what exactly are the causes of overpopulation? Some of the causes of overpopulation are as follows: Decline in death rate: the fall in death rates that is also known as decline in mortality rate is one of the fundamental causes of overpopulation. Owing to the advancements in medicine, man has found cures to the previously fatal diseases. This has resulted in an increase in population. Rise in birth rate: thanks to the new discoveries in nutritional science, we have been able to bring in increase in the fertility rates of human beings. Medicines of today can boost the reproductive rate in human beings. There are medicines and treatments which help in terms of conception. Thus, science in one way or another has led to an increase in birth rate. Migration: Immigration is a problem in some parts of the world. If the inhabitants of various countries migrate to a particular part of the world and settle over there, the area is bound to suffer from the ill effects of overpopulation. If the rates of emigration from a certain nation do not match the rates of immigration to that country, overpopulation is therefore present creating an imbalance in the density of the population. Lack of education: illiteracy is another important cause of overpopulation. Those lacking education fail to understand the need to prevent excessive growth of population. They are unable to understand the harmful effects that overpopulation emits. They are unaware of the ways to control population. Lack of family planning is commonly seen in the illiterate areas of the world which constitutes as a major factor leading to overpopulation. So, does our planet benefit from overpopulation or does it cause more harm than it does good? Once again, we are left to contemplate and ponder whether overpopulation can be considered a plausible advantage or a disadvantage. Taking into careful consideration the growth of the population in the Philippines which is expected to reach a hundred million this year putting a strain on the country’s resources, the Commission on Population (Pop-Com) said. â€Å"Definitely in the third or fourth quarter of this year, we will be more than 100 million,† Pop-Com executive director Juan Antonio Perez III told The STAR in a recent interview. In 2014, the National Statistical Coordination Board estimated the country’s population to be around 97. 35 million. Studies show that over a period of time, the increase of population slowly increases but in the span of 30 years, we could probably hit over a billion in number. And if that isn’t alarming, I don’t know what is! Viewing the issue of increasing population optimistically, one may say that overpopulation means the increase in human resources. This may be true but we cannot ignore the fact that the increase in the number of producers implies an increase in the number of consumers. Greater number of people requires a greater number of resources which our nation is not capable of providing at the very moment. The Philippines as slow progressing country must acknowledge that the Earth has finite resources. Our current population increases and economic growth mentality bear all the hallmarks of a country still locked into colonial thinking. Population and personal consumption are two sides of the same coin. The logical conclusion is that we can’t keep consuming these resources indefinitely, either through increasing per capita consumption or the number of us consuming. And yet, how we balance two options remains a subject of contention. This is where consumption and sustainability play a role. The population issue is fraught with moral positions, confusion and unexpected connections. We cannot talk about population growth without also discussing decline; or immigration, without climate and business; or contraception, without faith and medical technology. It is the mother of cross-cutting issues – at the intersection of economics, environment, gender roles, culture, politics and religion. The population question is about the possibility and necessity of balancing the needs of nature and human civilization and this must take place as soon as possible before what we dread happens, depletion and insufficiency of our environmental resources. The worst enemy of life is too much life, the excess of human life. But think again will life kill life or we just need to think how life can help other life even in the edge of overpopulation. You cannot stop overpopulation you need to maintain it or accept it make it an advantage even everybody thinks it is a disadvantage, nobody really know what overpopulation can bring let just help each other to make this overpopulation an advantage.