China Pledges to Keep Birthrate Low

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May 4, 2011 RSS Feed Print
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The world’s most populous country will continue its strict family planning policy that permits, in general, only one child per couple living in urban areas, President Hu Jintao announced last week. The policy is controversial in many ways, but its most noticeable impact has been badly skewing the country’s gender ratio in favor of men. For every 100 girls born in China, there are 119 boys born. There had been speculation that the government in Beijing would take steps to relax the birth policy. Hu’s statements last week counterintuitively suggest, China watchers say, that party elders are actively evaluating the policy and possible changes may be in the offing. Chinese officials have credited the one-child policy, which was introduced as a temporary measure in 1980, with preventing 400 million additional births.

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Every Chinese pair will create 1,75 descents: 1 son or daughter + 1/2 grandson or granddaughter +1/4 grand-grandson or grand granddaughter =1,75 descent when the first pair dies. Add the not declared daughters, and you understand why China population is rising, with only 1 child allowed!

In the school, we learned that every pair should have 2 children: it is false!

If every pair make 2 children, 2 children will make 2 grandchild, 2 grandchild will make 2 grand grandchild, and then the first 2 dies: Every 2 peoples have generated 6 peoples, and the population explodes!

It would be right to say "every pair must make 2 children" if a pair would die just when his children would have progeny!

Jean-Francois Morf, Charrat, Switzerland 12:43PM May 07, 2011

And the U.S. continues to balloon up its population with historic levels of immigration in the face of job shortages and resource management problems of the future. Wrong track.

Luther of LA 12:46AM May 05, 2011

'Chinese officials have credited the one-child policy, which was introduced as a temporary measure in 1980, with preventing 400 million additional births'

In many countries, additional children generally means that there are less resources, like food and water, and that these basic necessities become scarcer. There are many children dying each day due to the growing populations in their countries and the inability of people to be nourished, and to have adequate health care.

As China has 1.3 billion people, it is wise to continue the one child policy. I don't know the specifics and don't feel people should be threatened if this policy is not followed. If it is felt by many people there to be an ethical consideration, and to be responsible so that all can live better and in more harmony with their environment, that is a good thing.

Observer of WA 10:51PM May 04, 2011

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