Changing the boundaries

In many parts of the world, population is growing so rapidly that sustainable development simply cannot be achieved. At the same time it is sustainable development that allows for the social conditions necessary for population growth to slow and then stabilize. All Our People is a compelling and heartfelt examination of that complex problem.

Responding to those who argue that resources spent saving lives in impoverished and overpopulated regions are wasted, Klaus M. Leisinger and Karin Schmitt set forth the components of strategies that can bring down birth rates in an ethically acceptable way. They explain that development must foster a political, legal, and economic environment that supports human development; focus on the satisfaction of basic human needs; and improve the social status of women.

All Our People provides an in-depth, balanced treatment of such factors as human consumption patterns, the ethical issues surrounding population policy, and the role of women in development issues. The authors consider the wide range of conditions necessary to mitigate problems associated with population growth and the environment, including reformed attitudes and behavior patterns among people in industrial countries as well as global changes in economic, social, and political structures.