Liberal Studies

Population

Definition
1. The total number of persons inhabiting a country, city,
or any district or area.
Population Change
Definition
1. The sum of natural increase () and NET
migration ().
Formulas
1. Natural increase () = Number of birth - Number
of death
2. Net migration () = Number of immigrants (
) - Number of emigrants ()
3. Total Population growth = Number of natural increase +
Number of net migration
4. Birth Rate = Number of Birth / Total Population x 100%
5. Death Rate = Number of Death / Total Population x
100%
6. Rate of Natural Increase = Birth Rate Death Rate

Overpopulation/ Population Explosion

Definition
1. An undesirable condition where the number of existing
human population exceeds the carrying capacity of
Earth.
Reasons behind
1. Advances in medicine:
Governments: improvements in medical equipment

The results: lower infant mortality rate and increase in

life expectancy
2. Increase in food supply:
Agricultural change since 1960s
Farmers used tractors, other machines and new
fertilizers.
More production of rice and wheat
It was called the Green Revolution.
3. The rapid growth of Third World populations
After 1900, contraceptive techniques were more
popular.
People in the Third World were ignorant about
contraceptive techniques and they were too expensive.
In the developed countries, the birth rate reduced
according to the education level.
Difference in cultures, religions and traditions.
Many people in the developing countries followed the
tradition of having large families to ensure the
continuation of their bloodline.
Consequences
1. Overcrowding:
For examples, in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
People were forced to move into towns and cities due to
insufficient of farmland.
These places did not have enough water or sanitation or
even electricity.
2. Food shortages:
Crop yields could barely keep up with the rise in
population.
During 1980s and 1990s, droughts and civil wars led to
food shortages.
3. Resource shortages:
Governments spent a large amount of resources on
feeding,
housing and education.
Healthcare systems were going to collapse.

Poverty

Definition
1. Living in a situation with inadequate resources, or in a
level that is lower than the standard of society, or in a
situation that cannot meet basic needs.
Absolute poverty
Definition
1. People who cannot afford a bundle of goods and services
that are regarded as essential ()to the physical
need of an individual or a family. The standard set by
the World Bank is daily income less than USD 1.25.
Seven basic needs

1. Food
2. Safe drinking water
3. Sanitation facilities
4. Health
5. Shelter
6. Education
7. Access to services
Relative Poverty()
Definition
1. People are living in relative poverty lack the resources to
obtain the type of diets, participate in the activities and
have the living conditions which are customary in
societies to which they belong.
Causes
Immediate Causes of Poverty: are those factors that are
directly related to life and death situations; these can include
famine, disease, conflict, natural disasters, etc.
Intermediate Causes of Poverty: are related to improving
peoples well-being. They generally point to what people lack
(needs-based) and focus on: lack of access to basic services,
lack of skills, lack of productivity, etc. The major measure to
change the situation is by promoting education to enhance
peoples skills to improve their productivity.
Underlying Causes of Poverty: are most often the result of a
combination of political, social, economic, and environmental
factors that are related to structural underpinnings of
underdevelopment.

Pollution

Definition
The presence in or introduction into the environment of a
substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.
Problems
Pollution of the human environment
1. Human activities polluted the environment.
2. For example, industrialization polluted the air, the soil,
rivers and oceans.
3. Noise pollution and improper disposal of wastes (such as
nuclear wastes) also damaged the environment.
Cause
Human activities
1. Industrialization:
Industrialization means more industrial and commercial
activities.
In the 20th century, industrialization also took place in
many agricultural countries.
2. Overuse of resources:
Due to the rapid population growth and many unplanned
economic activities, the use of resources was sped up.

3. War:
The progress in science had greatly increased the
destructive power of weapons and the use of these
weapons seriously damaged the environment.

Solution
Personal Level
1. Reduce: Use or buy only what we really need - there is
no waste to treat when there is no waste to begin with.
2. Reuse: Don't throw away items that are reusable.
Reduce waste by making full use of any item.
3. Recycle: Give items you don't need to persons in need;
recycle broken but recyclable items so that the
resources can be recycled into usable items.
4. Replace: Adopt eco-friendly goods or lifestyles, such as
using handkerchiefs instead of tissues, travel by public
transport instead of private cars.
Country / Government Level
1. Government legislation could help to protect the
environment from pollution and its effects. (negative
punishment)
2. Government would encourage business or industries to
carry out environmental-friendly policies or develop new
pollution-free productions. (positive reinforcement)

Global Level
1. International Cooperation in Environmental Protection
2. The United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment (UNCHE) of 1972 (Stockholm Conference)
was a turning point in the development of international
co-operation in environmental protection.
It was the largest international conference on
environmental protection before 1973.
The Stockholm Declaration was adopted, emphasizing
the equal importance of economic development and
environmental protection.
3. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was
set up to promote and co-ordinate international efforts
to protect the environment.
4. The 5th of June was designated as World Environment
Day.
5. Earth Summit, 1992:
In 1992, the Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in
Brazil.
The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
was adopted, which emphasized the importance of
sustainable development.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) was signed.
6. Kyoto Protocol:
7. In 1997, an international conference on climate change
was held in Kyoto, Japan and the Kyoto Protocol was
signed.
It required the developed countries to reduce release of
greenhouse gases by a certain percentage during 20082012.
The developing countries were also asked to do so on a
voluntary basis without setting fixed percentage on
them.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
1. Greenpeace (1971):
In 1971, a group of environmentalists established
Greenpeace to monitor those activities that might harm
the environment.
2. Friends of the Earth International (FOEI, 1971):
It organizes protests against the use of nuclear energy,

commercial whaling and deforestation.

3. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF, 1986):
The WWF (formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund)
was formed to protect endangered species and the
ecosystem.

Achievements
1. Increasing international awareness of environmental
issues
2. Peoples awareness of these issues was also increased.
3. Adoption of green policies
4. Governments set up specialized departments to handle
environmental problems, made laws to protect the
environment and adopted green policies.
5. Rapid increase in environmental organizations
6. More and more environmental organizations were
formed, helping to force the government to pay more
attention to the environmental problems.
7. The Greenpeace members colliding with police officers
during a demonstration in Romania
8. There were radical ones that organized protests.
9. These organizations became an important pressure
group in society.
Limitations
1. Shortcomings of the United Nations:
The UN did not have enough power to carry out the
global environmental work.
Many governments did not provide it with accurate
environmental information.
2. Environmental agreements mostly unbinding:
Most of the treaties signed on environmental protection
after 1972 were not legally binding, limiting their
effects.
3. Clashes between national interests and global
environmental protection:
Governments always considered national interests first.
The environmental treaties were mostly compromise
settlements, and no drastic measures were introduced.
For example, the US refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol
due to its clash with the American national interests.
4. Conflicts between developed and developing countries:
The developed countries criticised that the industrial
development of developing countries damaged
environment.
The developing countries considered the criticism of
developed countries a plot to hinder their economic
development and to protect the interests of developed
countries.
Since the developed and developing countries did not

trust each other, it was very difficult for them to cooperate

Government

Definition
1. An organization people set up to protect the community
and make rules.
Use
1. Protects the community
2. Makes laws
3. Keeps order
Types
1. Democracy
2. Monarchy
3. Dictatorship
Democracy
Features
1. In a democracy, the government is elected by the
people. Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to
have their say over who runs the country.
2. It is distinct from governments controlled by a particular
social class or group
3. A democracy is determined either directly or through
elected representatives
Types
1. Direct Democracy:
People vote directly on every issue
Only practical in a small community
2. Representative Democracy:
People are represented by elected officials
Used in large countries
Also known as a Republic government
Monarchy
Features
1. Power is in the hands of a king, queen, emperor or
empress.
2. The ruling position can be passed on to the rulers heirs.
3. In some traditional monarchies, the monarch has
absolute power.
4. But a constitutional monarchy, like the UK, also has a
democratic government that limits the monarch's
control.
Dictatorship
A country ruled by a single leader. The leader has not been
elected and may use force to keep control.
In a military dictatorship, the army is in control.