7th billion being to grace the Earth

On October 31, 2011 the world population reached 7 billion inhabitants as stated by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) recently issued yearly State of the World Report outlining the trends that define our world. On one hand this exponentially increasing number represents the possibility for positive global advancements and development; while on the other, the reality of poverty, the economic crisis, human rights violations and volatile governments titter on the verge of collapse.   

UNPA Executive Director Mr. Babatunde Osotimehin, recognized this pivotal state the world is approaching and called on the global community to step into action in the fields of health and education by fully utilizing development opportunities and prevent any possible future global crisis. Encouraging planning and long term investments, Mr. Osotimehin asserted that actions in these areas are essential to pull suffering communities out of their disparities. Such disparities extend to opportunity differences between men and women; youth motherhood; and the continued spread of HIV in areas lacking access to sex education.

Data from the report points out the continued advancement of developed countries while conditions in underdeveloped countries worsen. Mr. Osotimehin cited that 1.8 billion, of the 7 billion world inhabitants, are youth between the ages of 10 and 24; and therefore he recognized this youth population as the key to changing social, economic and political disparities. The Director addressed this population stating, “Young people hold the key to the future, with the potential to transform the global political landscape and to propel economies through their creativity and capacities for innovation.”

To paint a better picture of the reality which many world inhabitants face,  Barbara Crosette, field expert with experience in India and Ethiopia, commented that the number 7 billion is not such a mind-blowing number to those people living in the worst conditions. She contended that those beings to who are most affected by the spike in the world population are concerned with making ends meet in their daily lives.