Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth?

by Alan Weisman

  Mora C., O. Aburto-Oropeza, A. Ayala Bocos, P. M. Ayotte, S. Banks, et al. “Global Human Footprint on the Linkage Between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in Reef Fishes.” PLoS Biol, vol. 9, no. 4 (2011).

  Overview Integrated Population and Coastal Resource Management (IPOPCORM) Initiative, Overview, Key Lessons and Challenges. PATH Foundation Philippines, September 2007.

  “Philippine Business Supports Birth Control Despite Church.” Agence France-Presse, October 26, 2010.

  “Philippine Church Hits President on Contraception.” Associated Press, September 29, 2010.

  “The Philippine Marine Biodiversity: A Unique World Treasure.” One Ocean Information, OneOcean.org. http://www.oneocean.org/flash/philippine_biodiversity.html.

  “Philippine President Vows to Push for Enactment of Pro-Family Planning Bill.” Xinhua News Agency (China), April 17, 2011.

  “Philippines Says Likely to Miss UN Millennium Goals.” Agence France-Presse, September 8, 2010.

  “Philippines Women’s Groups Call for Legalized Abortions.” Channel News Asia. August 17, 2010.

  “PHS Vatican Shows Force Against RH Bill.” Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 19, 2011.

  Ramos, Fidel V. “Empowering the Filipino People.” Unity of Earth, Population, Dev’t (Last of Two Parts). Manila Bulletin, February 11, 2012.

  Rauhala, Emily. “More Catholic than the Pope? Manila Suburb Cracks Down on Condoms.” Global Spin (blog), Time, April 4, 2011. http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/04/04/more-catholic-than-the-pope-manila-suburb-cracks-down-on-condoms/#ixzz1n7CTbMkj.

  _______.“When a Country Cracks Down on Contraception: Grim Lessons from the Philippines.” Global Spin (blog), Time, February 21, 2012. http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2012/02/21/when-a-country-cracks-down-on-contraception-grim-lessons-from-the-philippines/#ixzz1n7DMQusS.

  “Research Report: Is Emergency Obstetric Care Within the Reach of Malabon’s Poor Women?” Likhaan Center for Women’s Health, Inc., n.d.

  Robles, Raissa. “Bishops Swim Against the Tide on Family Planning.” South China Morning Post, August 19, 2012.

  “ ‘Rolling Back’ the Process of Overfishing: IPOPCORM Approach.” Monograph Series No. 2, PATH Foundation Philippines, 2007.

  Sandique-Carlos, Rhea. “Philippines Adopts Contraception Law.” Wall Street Journal, December 29, 2012.

  Singh, Susheela, et al. Abortion Worldwide: A Decade of Uneven Progress. New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2009.

  _______. Unintended Pregnancy and Induced Abortion in the Philippines. New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2006.

  Tan, Michael, L. “Abortion: Realities and Responsibilities.” Health Alert, 211. Health Action Information Network (Manila), January 2000.

  Tulali, Carlos. “Bishops in Our Bedrooom.” Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, Inc., Policy Brief, November 2009.

  Walden, Bello. “Rwanda in the Pacific? Population Pressure, Development, and Conflict in the Philippines.” Philippine Daily Inquirer, August 27, 2011.

  Weiss, Kenneth R., and Sol Vanzi. “Philippine Contraceptive Bill Wins Passage.” Los Angeles Times, December 18, 2012.

  Whately, Floyd. “Bill to Expand Birth Control Is Approved in Philippines.” New York Times, December 17, 2012.

  _______.“Church Officials Call on Filipinos to Campaign Against Birth Control Law.” New York Times, December 18, 2012.

  Zeigler, Dr. Robert S. “Leading Crop Scientist Warns of Potential Rice Crisis.” Interview with Mike Billington and Marcia Merry Baker, Executive Intelligence Review, March 2, 2007: 54–63.

  Chapter Ten: The Bottom

  BOOKS

  Murakami, Masahiro. Managing Water for Peace in the Middle East: Alternative Strategies. New York: United Nations University Press, 1996.

  ARTICLES

  Abu, Festus. “Nigeria Population to Hit 367 Million in 2050—UN.” Punch, April 6, 2012.

  Bilger, Burkhard. “The Great Oasis: Can a Wall of Trees Stop the Sahara from Spreading?” New Yorker, December 19, 2011.

  Bongaarts, John. “Can Family Planning Programs Reduce High Desired Family Size in Sub-Saharan Africa?” International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Guttmacher Institute, vol. 37, no. 4 (December 2011).

  Cleland, J., S. Bernstein, A. Ezeh, A. Faundes, A. Glasier, and J. Innis. “Family Planning: The Unfinished Agenda.” Sexual and Reproductive Health Series, Lancet, vol. 368 (2006): 1810–27.

  de Sam Lazaro, Fred. “Niger Famine and Re-greening.” PBS Religion & Ethics, News-Weekly, June 29, 2012.

  Margulis, Jennifer. “Backstory: Are Niger’s Giraffes a Fading Spot on the Horizon?” Christian Science Monitor, January 11, 2007.

  “Niger: Experts Explain Why Malnutrition Is Recurrent.” IRIN, March 15, 2010.

  “Niger: Southern Villages Emptying as Drought Bites.” IRIN, March 10, 2010.

  “Niger Appeals for Emergency Food Aid.” Agence France-Presse, March 10, 2010.

  “Niger Farmland Threatened by Locusts: Official.” Agence France-Presse, June 13, 2012.

  “Niger—Food Insecurity.” Fact Sheet #1, Fiscal Year 2010. U.S. Agency of International Development and the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, March 16, 2010.

  Pitman, Todd. “Niger: Once-Taboo Topic of Hunger Spoken Again.” Associated Press, February 26, 2010.

  _______.“President’s Ouster in Coup Praised in Niger.” Guardian (UK), February 23, 2010.

  Polgreen, Lydia. “In Niger, Trees and Crops Turn Back the Desert.” New York Times, February 11, 2007.

  Potts, Malcolm, Virginia Gidi, Martha Campbell, and Sarah Zureick. “Niger: Too Little, Too Late.” International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Guttmacher Institute, vol. 37, no. 2 (June 2011).

  Reij, Chris. “Regreening the Sahel.” Our Planet, United Nations Environmental Programme, September 2011.

  _______, Gray Tappan, and Melinda Smale. “Agroenvironmental Transformation in the Sahel: Another Kind of ‘Green Revolution.’ ” Paper prepared for the project Millions Fed: Proven Success in Agricultural Development, International Food Policy Research Institute, November 2009.

  Roberts, Leslie. “9 Billion?” Science, vol. 333 (July 29, 2011): 540–43.

  Rosenthal, Elisabeth. “Nigeria Tested by Rapid Rise in Population.” New York Times, April 14, 2012.

  Russeau, Simba. “Libya: Water Emerges as Hidden Weapon.” Inter Press Service, May 27, 2011.

  Werner, Louis, and Kevin Bubriski. “Seas Beneath the Sands.” Saudi Aramco World, vol. 58, no. 1 (January/February 2007): 34–39.

  World Food Programme. “Torrential Rains in Niger Lead to Prolonged Flooding and Devastated Cropland.” October 2, 2012. http://www.wfp.org/node/3540/3391/317705.

  Chapter Eleven: The World Unraveling

  BOOKS

  Brown, Lester R. World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011.

  ARTICLES

  Anjum, Aliya. “Education Emergency in Pakistan.” Pakistan Observer, April 7, 2011.

  “As Pakistan’s Population Soars, Contraceptives Remain a Hard Sell.” December 17, 2011.

  “Average Number of Children per Woman in Pakistan Declines from 6.7 to 4.1.” OnePakistan News, October 21, 2011. http://pakistan.onepakistan.com/news/city/karachi/.

  Baig, Khurram. “Still One of the Worst Places in the World to Be a Woman.” Express Tribune (Pakistan), July 1, 2012.

  Bano, Farida. “A Study of Physical and Major Chemical Constituents of Malir River (Within Karachi) to Determine the Extent of Pollution.” Doctoral thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Karachi, 1999.

  Bhatti, M. Waqar. “WWF-Pakistan Honours Nature Conservationists with Awards.” News (Pakistan), January 11, 2013.

  Brulliard, Karin. “In Pakistan, Family Planning a Hard Sell.” Washington Post, December 15, 2011.

  “Call for Greater Awareness About Contraception.” Pakistan Today, September 27, 2011.


  Constable, Pamela. “Pakistani Case Shows Limits of Women’s Rights.” Washington Post, April 25, 2011.

  Cronin, Richard P. “90149: Pakistan Aid Cutoff: U.S. Nonproliferation and Foreign Policy Considerations.” Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division, Congressional Research Service Reports. Updated December 6, 1996.

  Daly, Herman E. “Economics in a Full World.” Scientific American, vol. 293, no. 3 (September 2005).

  Datta, Anil. “Population Planning Made More Acceptable Socially.” News (Pakistan), January 20, 2012.

  “Doctors in Rural Areas to Educate People on Population Control.” Pakistan Today, January 16, 2012.

  Dugger, Celia W. “Very Young Populations Contribute to Strife, Study Concludes.” New York Times, April 4, 2007.

  Ebrahim, Zofeen. “Lack of Access to Contraception, Abortion Persist.” Inter Press Service, April 30, 2010.

  _______.“Pakistan: Controversial ‘Abortion’ Drug Worries Some Experts.” Inter Press Service, August 10, 2010.

  “Education Emergency Pakistan.” The Pakistan Education Task Force. March for Education Campaign, 2011. http://www.educationemergency.com.pk.

  Fatima, Unbreen. “Baby Hatches Are Helping to Save Lives in Pakistan.” Deutsche Welle World, April 11, 2012.

  Giosana, Liviu, et al. “Fluvial Landscapes of the Harappan Civilization.” Proceedings NAS, vol. 109, no. 26 (June 26, 2012).

  Guttmacher Institute. “Abortion in Pakistan.” In Brief Series, no. 2 (2009).

  Hafeez, A., B. K. Mohamud, M. R. Shiekh, S. A. Shah, and R. Jooma. “Lady Health Workers Programme in Pakistan: Challenges, Achievements and the Way Forward.” Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, vol. 61, no. 3 (March 2011): 210–15.

  Hardee, Karen. “Where’s Family Planning on Climate Change Radar?” Interview by Zofeen Ebrahim. IPS News, May 19, 2010.

  “High Population Growth Rate Affecting Economy.” Daily Times (Pakistan), July 12, 2011.

  Husain, Shahid. “Malaria Cases Have Risen by 30–35 Percent in Sindh.” News (Pakistan), April 26, 2012. http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-104990-Malaria-cases-have-risen-by-30-35-percent-in-Sindh.

  _______.“Salt in Wounds: Damage to the Water Flow of the Once-Mighty Indus Is Forcing Major Changes in Pakistan—and Could Lead to Conflict.” Guardian (UK), January 14, 2003.

  Joshua, Anita. “Karachi Violence Leaves 95 Dead.” Hindu, July 8, 2011. http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2211601.ece.

  Khambatta, Nargish. “Agents of Change.” Gulf News, August 21, 2009.

  Khan, Faisal Raza. “Mangroves Martyrs.” Islamabad Pulse, June 1, 2012. http://www.weeklypulse.org/details.aspx?contentID=2369&storylist=2.

  Kristof, Nicholas. “A Girl, a School, and Hope.” New York Times, November 10, 2010.

  Lall, Marie. “Creating Agents of Positive Change—The Citizens Foundation in Pakistan.” The Citizens Foundation, Karachi, January 2009. http://www.tcf.org.pk/ePanel/Resources/DownloadFiles/Publications/Category/8/36/Marie%20Lall%20Report.pdf.

  “Letter: The Ticking Population Bomb.” Nation (Pakistan), June 19, 2011.

  “90,000 LHWs Working Across Country.” Associated Press (Pakistan), May 25, 2010.

  “Pakistan: Experts Warn of Desertification.” Right Vision News (Pakistan), June 18, 2011.

  “Pakistan: UNDP and the Youth.” From the website of the United Nations Development Programme, Pakistan. http://undp.org.pk/undp-and-the-youth.html.

  “Pakistan: Urgent Need to Fill the Funding Gap for 6,000 Pregnant Women in Sindh.” Right Vision News (Pakistan), October 12, 2011.

  “Pakistan’s Rape Laws Amended.” Human Rights Defender, February/March 2007.

  “Population Explosion in Pakistan.” Business Recorder (Pakistan), August 9, 2010.

  Rauf, Saleha. “Child Protection: ‘Islam Has Clear Teachings on Rights.’ ” Express Tribune (Pakistan), April 28, 2011.

  Schoof, Renee. “Food Crisis Looms After Floods in Pakistan.” McClatchy Newspapers, August 30, 2010.

  Shah, Saeed. “U.S. Considers Funding Pakistani Dam Project, Angering India.” McClatchy Newspapers, August 16, 2011. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/08/16/120878/us-considers-funding-pakistani.html#ixzz1VF0ZkQQA.

  “30% Marriages in Pakistan Fall into Child Marriage Category.” Baluchistan Times (Pakistan), January 19, 2012.

  Tran, Mark, et al. “Pakistan Flood Victims Flee Thatta After Another Levee Is Breached.” Guardian (UK), August 27, 2010.

  “UN: Pakistan’s Population to Double Within 40 Years.” Daily Clarity website, n.d. http://mydailyclarity.com/2009/07/un-pakistan-population-to-double-within-40-years/">http://mydailyclarity.com/2009/07/un-pakistan-population-to-double-within-40-years/.

  “UNFPA Rushes Reproductive Health Supplies to Sindh as Floods Worsen.” Pakistan Press International, September 16, 2011.

  “Victims Include 115,000 Pregnant Women.” Statesman (Pakistan), September 18, 2011.

  “World Population Day: South Asia Carries 20% of World Population Burden.” Pakistan Newswire, July 10, 2010.

  Zia, Amir. “Karachi Least Environment Friendly City in Asia: Report.” News (Pakistan), February 15, 2011. http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=4020&Cat=13.

  Chapter Twelve: The Ayatollah Giveth and Taketh Away

  BOOKS

  Abbasi-Shavazi, Mohammad Jalal, Peter McDonald, and Meimanat Hosseini-Chavoshi. The Fertility Transition in Iran: Revolution and Reproduction. London: Springer, 2009.

  Cordesman, Anthony H. Iraq and the War of Sanctions: Conventional Threats and Weapons of Mass Destruction. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1999.

  Dunn, Eliza. Rugs in Their Native Land. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1916.

  Hiro, Dilip. The Longest War: The Iran-Iraq Military Conflict. New York: Routledge, 1989.

  Humphreys, P. N., and E. Kahrom, The Lion and the Gazelle: The Mammals and Birds of Iran. Gwent, UK: Comma International Biological Systems, 1995.

  Majd, Hooman. The Ayatollah Begs to Differ: The Paradox of Modern Iran. New York: Anchor, 2009.

  _______. The Ayatollahs’ Democracy: An Iranian Challenge. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2010.

  ARTICLES

  Abbasi-Shavazi, Mohammad Jalal. “The Fertility Revolution in Iran.” Population & Sociétés, no. 373 (November 2001): 1–4.

  _______, Amir Mehryar, Gavin Jones, and Peter McDonald. “Revolution, War and Modernization: Population Policy and Fertility Change in Iran.” Journal of Population Research, vol. 19, no. 1 (2002): 25–46.

  _______, Meimanat Hosseini-Chavoshi, and Peter McDonald. “The Path to Below Replacement Fertility in the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Asia-Pacific Population Journal, vol. 22, no. 2 (August 2007): 91–112.

  _______, S. Philip Morgan, Meimanat Hossein-Chavoshi, and Peter McDonald. “Family Change and Continuity in the Islamic Republic of Iran: Birth Control Use Before the First Pregnancy.” Journal of Marriage and Family, vol. 71, no. 5 (December 2009): 1309–24.

  “Ahmadinejad to Iran’s Rulers: Keep Coed Colleges.” New York Times, July 10, 2011.

  Amjadi, Maryam Ala. “Iranian Women Shoulder to Shoulder with Men.” Tehran Times, August 18, 2011.

  Austin, Greg. “IAEA Confusion on Iran Is Not Helpful.” News Europe/EastWest Institute, November 13, 2011.

  Barford, Vanessa. “Iran’s ‘Diagnosed Transsexuals.’ ” BBC News, February 25, 2008.

  Boms, Nir, and Shayan Arya. “Iran’s Environmental Ticking Bomb.” Today’s Shazam, September 14, 2011. http://www.todayszaman.com/.

  Brown, Lester R. “Smart Family Planning Improves Women’s Health and Cuts Poverty.” International Press Service, for Guardian Development Network, April 14, 2011.

  Camron, Michael Amin. “Propaganda and Remembrance: Gender, Education, and ‘The Women’s Awakening’ of 1936.” Iranian Studies, vol. 32, no. 3 (1999): 351–86.

  Chaulia, Sreeram. “Go Forth and Multiply?” Financial Express, July 29, 2010.

  Cincotta, Richard. “Iran: Taking Ai
m at Low Fertility and Women’s Mobility.” Stimson Center, October 15, 2012. http://www.stimson.org/experts/richard-cincotta.

  _______.“Prospects for Ahmadinejad’s Call for More Rapid Population Growth in Iran.” Stimson Center, November 13, 2006. http://www.stimson.org/experts/richard-cincotta.

  Dehghanpisheh, Babak. “Smugglers for the State.” Newsweek, July 10, 2010.

  “Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh Biography: Prime Minister of Iran, 1951–1953.” The Mossadegh Project website. http://www.mohammadmossadegh.com/biography.

  Erfani, Amir. “Abortion in Iran: What Do We Know?” Population Studies Centre Discussion Papers Series, vol. 22, no. 1, article 1 (January 2, 2008). http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/pscpapers/vol22/iss1/1.

  Femia, Francesco, and Caitlin Werrell. “Socio-Environmental Impacts of Iran’s Disappearing Lake Urmia.” The Center for Climate & Security website, May 18, 2012. http://climateandsecurity.org/2012/05/18.

  Ferrigno, Jane G. “Glaciers of the Middle East and Africa—Glaciers of Iran,” in U.S. Geological Survey, professional paper 1386-G-2: G31-G47, edited by Richard S. Williams Jr. and Jane G. Ferrigno.

  Ghasemi, Shapour. “History of Iran: Pahlavi Dynasty.” Iran Chamber Society website, History of Iran. http://www.iranchamber.com/history/pahlavi.

  Girgis, Monique. “Veiling” from Women in Pre-Revolutionary, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary Iran, 1996. Iran Chamber Society website. http://www.iranchamber.com/society/articles.

  Hersh, Seymour M. “Iran and the I.A.E.A.” in Daily Comment (blog), The New Yorker. November 18, 2011. http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2011/11/iran-and-the-iaea.html#ixzz2NeT46sEd.

  Higgins, Andrew. “A Feared Force Roils Business in Iran.” Wall Street Journal, October 14, 2006.

  Hoodfar, Homa. “Volunteer Health Workers in Iran as Social Activists: Can ‘Governmental Non-Governmental Organisations’ Be Agents of Democratisation?” Occasional Paper No. 10, Women Living Under Muslim Laws, December 1998.