Countries
all over the world are marked the global population reaching seven billion by
each nominating a child born on 31 October. The UN calculated the milestone
would be reached at some point on Monday 31st October. But as the global
population rises, the proportion of young people is decreasing, and the gap
between the rich and poor is widening too.
Modern
research on the genetic structure of human populations suggests that nearly 15
000 years ago the world population was 15 million (the present population of
Delhi, India). The population by the time of Isa (AS) over 2000 years ago had
increased to 250 million (about the same as present day Indonesia). On the eve
of the industrial revolution in the 18th century world population had tripled
to about 700 million (double the size of current day America). In the two
centuries that followed the global population increased at an annual rate of 6%
reaching 2.5 billion by 1950. In the five decades that followed global
population has more then doubled at a rate of 18% to reach more then 6 billion
on the eve of the 21st century. Although growth rates are slowing, barring some
demographic catastrophe the world population should reach 9 billion by 2050.
The current population of the world stands as of November 2011 at 7
billion.
The
myth of world overpopulation
The
situation of the majority of the world's people is one of abject poverty and
misery. 3 billion in the world live on fewer than two dollars a day. From
amongst them 1.3 billion have no access to clean water; 3 billion have no
access to sanitation and 2 billion have no access to electricity. The rate of
population growth over the last century has been labelled the underlying cause
of the world standing on the brink of disaster; we are running out of food to
sustain such growing population. It is argued by the proponents of
over-population that the huge growth in world population is responsible for
poverty, environmental destruction and social unrest. Economic development in
the third world is impossible as long as populations continue to grow as a
result international agencies and governments have developed numerous programmes
to curtail the rate of population growth, all of these have been implemented in
the third world.
The
United Nations sponsored the first conference of its kind in 1994 in Cairo to
examine the problem of overpopulation and propose measures to control it. The
conference debated numerous approaches to control fertility; it promoted the
use of contraception, promoted liberal economic development and called for the
improving of women's status. The basis of the conference was an acceptance that
population growth contributes to economic decline and efforts to control
population growth is hampered in the third world by religious beliefs that
promote large families and lack of education for women.
Such
efforts have led to an acceptance that Population growth leads to negative
effects such as Economic decline, Stagnation, Global poverty, Hunger,
Environmental devastation and Political unrest. Such a philosophy has been the
driving engine for the UN and World Bank. Population growth is a problem of
Africa, Latin America and Asia and if the problems are to be solved then such
countries are the ones that must do it. Hence the victims who have suffered the
worst are to blame with empirical research proving such an assumption.
The
first person to advocate such a view was reverend Thomas Malthus in 1798, who
in his famous Essay on the Principle of Population, stated that scarcity will
lead to problems because while populations increase at a geometrical ratio, (2,
4, 8, 16, 32) resources such as food increase with a ratio that is only
arithmetic (2, 4, 6, 8, 10). As a result, without 'checks' to control
fertility, populations will increase, use up the worlds resources causing
famines, war and disease to balance resources and population.
This
alleged over-population has to be in relation to something to qualify it being
over. That something is the use of resources. The resources being consumed
leading to global imbalances are attributed to population sizes.
Although
there is no consensus on why the first nation in the world to industrialise was
Britain its causes are generally accepted as potentially 8 factors, one of them
being the growth in population.
Following
the union with Scotland in 1707, the British population stood at 6.5 million; a
century later it had reached 15 million. More importantly, most of that growth
had taken place after 1750 in one of the greatest population explosions in
British history. By 1801 the population had grown to well over 16 million. This
increase was critical as it increased the potential labour force and consumers
of commodities. China and India have also proven that large populations are a
good thing, although during the 1960's and 1970's both nations implemented
programmes of population reduction under the influence of the West both managed
to reduce the size of population growth but have been unable to curtail it and
at the same time they represents the largest growing economies of the world,
which contradicts the overpopulation view that more means more resources being
depleted.
Capitalism
= Poverty
When
all assumptions on the effects of population growth are scrutinised population
increases in no way has ever contributed to the many ills of the world today
and what becomes clear is that there is a clear political agenda in attributing
the increasing global population as the cause of the worlds potential disaster.
This agenda is to shift the real cause away from the lifestyles, living
patterns, un-sustainability of consumerism, poverty and blatant abuse of the
Third world in order that the western world can live of the third world.
Accusing population of causing the worlds ills would be tantamount to accusing
too many women in the world for the high rape rate in the West or the existence
of too many trees for causing bush fires in the world.
The
developed world faces a very series conundrum; Japan, Russia, Germany,
Switzerland and much of Eastern Europe are experiencing population decline, due
to a huge reduction in births. The rest of the Western world would also have
declining populations was it not for immigration. As population numbers decline
in the West relative to the third world and Muslim world such countries will
have a legitimate right based upon their numbers to demand greater say in so
called international institutes and representation on international bodies. The
issue of overpopulation is a very useful tool to vilify nations with have
rising populations and at the same time protecting its potential loss of future
influence. This can be seen clearly with Turkish EU accession, upon joining the
EU, Turkey's almost 70 million inhabitants would bestow it the second largest
number of MEPs in the European Parliament. In addition Demographic projections
indicate Turkey would surpass Germany in the number of seats by 2020. Turkey's
membership would have wide ranging consequences for the future direction of the
EU including the thorny issue of future enlargement plans, grounds by which
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing of France has opposed Turkey's admission. d'Estaing
has suggested that it would lead to demands for accession by Morocco.
For
all the blame placed on the third world for being too many in number The
Industrialised West consume 81% of all that is manufactured in the world,
although the third world has most of the resources and minerals needed to
manufacture the worlds goods, the third world only consumes 3.6%. The Western
world consumes 50% of the 21st century's most important resource; oil, it
produced less then a quarter of it.
It's
all about the Economy
The
developed world has come to be characterised with its consumer industry, it has
become obsessed with consumption. Economies are measured by their ability to
produce more then the same period last year and Gross domestic product (GDP)
has become the measurement by which progress and happiness is measured.
Westerners view their needs as ever increasing and corporations with the help
of new marketing techniques have over the years generated numerous artificial
needs. The importance of the consumer to consume was outlined by Richard
Robbins in his award wining book 'global problem and the culture of
capitalism,' 'a couple of days after the al Qaeda operatives crashed two
planes into the world trade centre on September 11th , US congress members met
to plan a message to the stunned public. "We've got to give people
confidence to go back outside and go to work, buy things, go back to the
stores, get ready for thanksgiving, get ready for Christmas," said one
member of congress, echoing the message of the president 'get out' he said
"and be active members of our society." (CNN 2001). 'The fact that
after one of the most shocking events in US history government officials were
urging citizens above all to shop and work is ample testimony the significance
of consumption in the effective working of our economy and indeed for the whole
society."
Consumption
and more consumption!
Society
has been transformed from purchasing what was necessary to survive to buying
habits where luxuries have been turned into life's necessities; this was
largely achieved by marketing and advertising. The goal of advertisers has
always been to aggressively shape consumer desires and create value in
commodities by imbuing them with power which will transform any person into
something more desirable. National campaigns are undertaken where celebrities
effectively endorse them. Advertisers with the help of corporation's stir up
anxiety and restlessness over the possession of things that are 'new' or 'up to
date.' Being in possession of the 'fashionable' thing has become a necessity and
being defined as 'unfashionable' is one of life's failures which capitalism
created ensuring the consumer remains consuming.
The
nuclear family of western nations (the 2.4 children family), while smaller in
number then the Third world have always consumed far more resources. After WW2
the US Department of Commerce, at the pressure of affected businesses promoted
the notion of larger homes, and even a room per child, in order to increase
sales of the many products that are purchased in a home. Due to this the US
with 4% of the world's population, consumes 25% of the world's resources. This
is in stark contradiction to what is advocated by the US in regards
"over" population.
It
is to the consumer businesses look to supply their goods and for the impetus
for the continued expansion of the economy and the accumulation of money. The
reason why capitalism needs to continuously grow and expand is because for
companies to make profits they need to continually sell more and more of their
goods and services. These goods require resources which are naturally found in
the Earth such as oil, gas water etc. This requires the pursuit of these
minerals in the third world where most of the worlds minerals are and this is
where the worlds shortage of food and global poverty lies. The advances in
technology will ensure more goods are produced at cheaper prices undercutting
competitors. The struggle lies in continually developing technology to produce
items quicker and cheaper and at the same time ensuring consumers are always willing
to buy them. The world's resources are limited hence more and more companies
are competing for an ever more dwindling resource base.
In
affect the developed world feeds of the third world, policies by government are
influenced by the pursuit of national companies usually termed national
interests. The need to continually produce more pushes companies to exploit
countries with resources and the third world is duped with the opportunity of
work. The numerous economic process zones in south East Asia, where workers
work in dismal conditions earning just a few dollars a day are evidence of
this. In such zones the companies concerned are not allowed to sell such
products in the market the goods are produced in but are only allowed to have
them produced which brings jobs to the host economy.
National
Interests are the root of the problem
It
was in the 1950's and 1960's the US developed a whole host of policies to
counter the rise in population of the Third world. Population growth in poor
countries started to become a concern to western governments. A US National
Security Study memorandum produced in 1974 by the National Security Council at
the request of then US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, concluded that
there were four types of reasons that population growth in poor countries could
be a threat to US national security:
1.
Larger nations would gain greater political power
2.
Populous nations would be more able to deny the West access to resources and
materials
3.
Growing number of younger people might be more able to challenge global power
structures
4.
Growing populations may be a threat to US investors in those countries.
The
memorandum mentioned nations like India, Brazil, Thailand, Turkey, Ethiopia and
Colombia as countries of concern in this respect. The request for the
memorandum was called NSSM 200 (National Security Study Memorandum), while the
official endorsing of it that led to it being a foreign policy guide was called
NSDM 314 (a National Security Decision Memorandum).
The
developed world led by the US was the driving engine behind the IMF and World
Bank and their notorious structural adjustment programmes. The Third world was
forced to privatise industry, deregulate its markets and turn their economies
into factories for exports so the West can continue consuming. Free trade
policies were forced on the third world which allowed the West to control
essential industries in the name of free markets and globalisation. Such
actions ensured a continued flow of cheap consumer items to the West, made by
the very cheap labour of the third world.
The
Khilafah Solution
The
lifestyles of the developed world aswell as their consumption patterns are the
real underlying issues which is causing the depletion of the worlds mineral
resources. Their increased consumption has ensured the third world remains in a
state of poverty, and at the same time the increasing population in the third
world is blamed for some of the ills in the world.
Islam
addressed to issue of consumption through a number of ayah's:
1.
Rizq in origin is from Allah سبحانه وتعالى and Allah سبحانه وتعالى has ordered
mankind to seek their provisions through halaal means. Amongst a whole
host of Ayah's Allah سبحانه وتعالى made it very clear that he is the provider
of ones provisions:
"And
eat of what Allah provided to you."
[Al-Maidah:88]
"Who
created you then provided to you."
[TMQ Ar-Rum:40]
"Spend
of what Allah provided to you."
[TMQ Ya-sin:47]
"Indeed
Allah provides to whom He likes."
[TMQ Al-Imran:37]
This
means all Muslim should drive to earn and seek their provisions and how these
are earned is what one will be accounted for on the day of judgment. One should
seek them with the understanding that they will receive what has been ordained
and not make this the one's ultimate aim in life. One should also work on the
basis that there are sufficient mineral resources in the world for all to live
handsomely as Allah سبحانه وتعالى has provided for all:
"It
is He Who created for you all that is in the earth." [TMQ Al-Baqarah:29]
"Do
you not see how Allah has made serviceable to you whatsoever is in the skies
and whatsoever is in the earth, and He has loaded you with His favours, both
the open and the hidden."
[TMQ Luqman:20]
"Who
has appointed the earth a resting-place for you, and the sky a canopy; and
caused water to pour down from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for
you." [TMQ Al-Baqarah:22]
Hence
Allah سبحانه وتعالى has created all the original minerals and resources
necessary for one to sustain themselves, and then left mankind to work and
manufacture goods or engage in agriculture.
2.
Islam encouraged spending in the halaal things but prohibited excessiveness in
ones spending.
Islam
considered excessive spending foolishness (Safah) and squandering, Allah سبحانه
وتعالى said
"and
squander not (your wealth) in wantonness. Lo! The squanderers were ever
brothers of the devils."
[Al-Isra: 26-27]
Here
Allah سبحانه وتعالى compares squanderers with the devils in their wickedness,
which is the greatest rebuke, because there is none more 'devilish' than Satan,
squandering means here to spend in the forbidden matters.
3.
At the same time Allah سبحانه وتعالى orders one to spend in the halaal matters, Allah سبحانه وتعالى said
"Say:
Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has brought for His servants
and the good things of His provision." [Al-A'raf: 32]
The
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "Allah loves to see the sign of His
favour on His servant," narrated by At-Tirmidhi.
The
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said also: "If Allah gave you property, let
Him see the sign of His bounties and dignity on you," narrated by
Al-Hakim from the father of Abu Al-Ahwas.
So
if someone has wealth and was miserly when spending on himself, he would be
sinful in the sight of Allah, this also includes those he is responsible to
support.
4.
Islam mandated the Khaleefah to provide for the basic necessities of its
citizens. Islam considers poverty as one
matter for any person in any country and any generation. The basic needs in
Islam are defined as three things, food, clothing and accommodation. Poverty in
the view of Islam is the non-satisfaction of the basic needs in a complete way.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى said:
"The
duty of feeding and clothing nursing of mothers in a seemly manner is upon the
father of the child."
[Al-Baqarah: 233]
And
"Lodge
them where you dwell, according to your wealth." [At-Talaq: 6]
Islam
made the satisfaction of these basic needs and their provision a right for the
person who cannot afford them. The Khaleefah would develop projects and give
contracts ensuring the economy provides for every individuals needs. The
Khilafah will also have an agricultural policy and grant those without jobs
free land in order to develop it.
5.
A large chunk of Islamic economics is dedicated to ensuring wealth
distribution. Islam recognizes the differences in
the ability and strength of people and does not leave things completely to the
forces of supply and demand. Islam allows government intervention in the
economy to bring equilibrium into the market. This is understood from the ayah
"That it (i.e. the nation's wealth) does not become a commodity between
the rich among you." (TMQ Al-Hashr: 7) This verse addressed the Ameer to
ensure that wealth is not distributed in a manner where it remains amongst the
rich alone. Hence Islam allowed government intervention to bring equilibrium in
the economy.
6.
Islam funds the basic needs of its entire population by designating any utility
regarded as indispensable for the community, such that its absence would require people to search far
and wide for it, i.e. the asset is difficult to find and make use of as it
requires refining, as a public property. This means the utilities would be
publicly owned and the revenue generated would be administered for the benefit
of all citizens. This is derived from the hadith of the Prophet صلى الله عليه
وسلم "Muslims are partners in three things: in water, pastures and fire".
Although the hadith mentioned just three things we can utilize qiyas (analogy)
and extend the evidence to cover all instances of indispensable community
utilities. Thus water sources, forests of firewood, pastures for livestock and
the like are all public utilities as well as the mosques, state schools (not
including private schools), hospitals, oil fields, electricity plants, seas,
lakes, public canals, gulfs, straits, dams etc.
7.
Besides the public properties Islam laid down a number of rules to ensure
wealth continually circulates
and penalized and in some cases taxed those who hoard their wealth. Islam has a
whole host of rules which restrict the hoarding of wealth and promotes spending
ensuring wealth distribution. Islam has land taxation where Khara'j which is a
tax estimated on the quality of the land, and Ushri, which is a tax on the
produce from the land. Islam allows the confiscation of land if it's unused for
3 years. This rule would effectively end the monopoly some families have in the
third world who inherited huge lands from the departing colonialists, unless
it's used productively which would aid wealth distribution
Conclusions
It
should be very clear the problem of global imbalances lies well and truly in
the policies of the Western nations. Whilst the Third world drowns in the
misery of poverty the governments of the developed world lay the blame on the
victims for their own misery. The Khilafah has a track record of taking care of
the affairs of its citizens and has in its possession a number of policies
which will not just ensure all its citizens are catered for but it will place
this on the global agenda exposing the West and bringing to an end the
exploitative policies of Capitalism.
