World Population Day, observed on July 11 every year, serves as a reminder of the global population’s continuous growth and the issues associated with it. It sheds light on various areas that require attention, such as poverty, economy, and maternal health. The day aims to raise awareness and encourage efforts to address these concerns for the betterment of individuals worldwide.
Established by the United Nations in 1989, World Population Day originated from the recognition that the world population reached five billion on July 11, 1987. Dr KC Zachariah proposed the idea of commemorating this milestone, leading to the celebration of World Population Day.
The significance of World Population Day lies in its focus on highlighting the pressing issues related to global population growth. It emphasizes the challenges faced by women, economic crises, and poverty, prompting conscious efforts to bring about positive change. The United Nations aims to celebrate the day by envisioning a future where every person has access to opportunities, potential, and a promising life. This vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, promoting a sustainable future for all.
The theme for World Population Day 2023 is “Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities.” This theme underscores the significance of empowering women and girls, recognizing their potential to shape a better world when provided with equal opportunities.
World Population Day serves as an occasion to reflect on the global population’s impact and the need for sustainable solutions. It is a call to action for individuals, organizations, and governments to collaborate and address the challenges posed by population growth.
Here are some insightful quotes related to population and its impact:
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn’t matter if someone dies.~ Isaac Asimov
Overpopulation is a root problem of all environmental issues. If you can control the population, you can control almost anything.~ Rinkesh Kukreja,
The biggest obstacle was mixing abortion with overpopulation. These are two things that have nothing to do with each other. ~ Jacques Yves Cousteau
Excessive (population) growth may reduce output per worker, repress levels of living for the masses and engender strife. ~ Confucius, philosopher
The strongest witness is the vast population of the Earth to which we are a burden and she scarcely can provide for our needs. ~ Tertullian, writer, and theologian
If we don’t halt population growth with justice and compassion, it will be done for us by nature, brutally and without pity- and will leave a ravaged world. ~ Nobel Laureate Henry W. Kendall
If the world is to save any part of its resources for the future, it must reduce not only consumption but the number of consumers. ~ B.F. Skinner, psychologist, and author (Introduction to Walden Two, 1976 edition)
