Sustainable population policy

The Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, called for a sustainable population policy.

In 2010, the number of babies born was the highest on record-297,900. This is a fertility rate of 1.89 babies per woman of reproductive age. However, this is below the replacement level of 2.1 babies per woman. Many countries around the world are reporting declining fertility rates due to modernization, increased education, and family planning.

Australian economists warn that a below-replacement birth rate, combined with a rising life expectancy, the country will face a smaller workforce, slower economic growth, and a lot of retired folk that need to health and welfare attention. The federal Department of Treasury estimated that the increase of Australians aged 65 years and older will add $60 billion to the country’s health and welfare bill by 2050.

With a lower than replacement level fertility rate, is Australia’s population also declining, leaving a dearth of young people to stock a workforce to look after the increasing older generation?

Australia has a high overseas immigration intake, relative to its population. In 2010-2011, Australia accepted 170,000 immigrants. In 2011-2012, it is expected to accept 185,000 immigrants.

Therefore, the fertility rate combined with the immigration rate gives Australia a rate of population increase of 1.4% annually. This is lower than previous years, but it is still adding to a population of over 35 million by 2050 (currently at 19 million).

Sustainable Population Australia calls for “better, not bigger” – advocating a policy to address environmental, social, and economic implications of population growth.

http://www.population.org.au/

Comments

The acacia thorn trees of Kenya

There are nearly 800 species of acacia trees in the world, and most don’t have thorns. The famous "whistling thorn tree" and the Umbrella Thorn tree of Kenya are species of acacia that do have thorns, or spines. Giraffes and other herbivores normally eat thorny acacia foliage, but leave the whistling thorn alone. Usually spines are no deterrent to giraffes. Their long tongues are adapted to strip the leaves from the branches despite the thorns. The thorny acacia like dry and hot conditions. The thorns typically occur in pairs and are 5-8 centimetres (2-3 inches) long. Spines can be straight or curved depending on the species. MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Suda...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

The Knight in the Panther Skin by Shota Rustaveli (2015 translation): book review

The Knight in the Panther Skin (12th century, this edition 2015) is a recent translation by American poet and author, Lyn Coffin. The author, Shota Rustaveli, is Georgia’s most loved poet. This poem is mammoth, a magnum opus – it is 1,656 verses long, separated by chapters. But readers, don’t give up, because every verse is worth reading. It is akin to 1001 Arabian Knights, Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, or Shakespearean poetry. King Rostevan of Arabia has a daughter, Tinatin. She loves the knight Avtandil and he loves her. Verse 368 from Avtandil: ‘The doctor’s could do nothing. A dark twilight on my heart now pressed, I was on fire because of love, but nobody knew or guessed. They blamed my blood. The king decided bleeding my arm would be best; I let it be done to hide the suffering I had not confessed.’ But a knight in panther skin is seen weeping, and subsequently kills the king’s soldiers, sparing the king. Before Tinatin weds Avtandil she r...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog