1958 Geloof en Wetenschap : Orgaan van de Christelijke vereeniging van natuur- en geneeskundigen in Nederland - pagina 192

156

B. C. P. JANSEN

dat de gemiddelde levensduur van gemiddeld 35 jaar gebracht wordt op 60 a 70 jaar, wat dus betekent, de toevoeging van nagenoeg een hele generatie aan het leven van een gemiddeld individu. Maar in vele on-ontwikkelde streken op de wereld leeft de grote massa in zéér slechte condities, velen leven nog in abominabele voedingstoestand, waardoor ze slachtoffers worden van ondermijnende ziekten, die hun werk-capaciteit verminderen. En dan vervolgt de F.A.O.-publicatie over „The world Food Problem" van september 1953 aldus; „There is no need for these contrasts (between the developed and the under-developed countries) to continue. It is technically feasible to abolish them through the sharing of skills and the development of resources. But wat is more important, the speedier communication, the radio and motion pictures, great numbers of people who live wretchedly, have realized the contrast between their own conditions and those of the better-off countries. This makes it psychologically unwise and politically dangerous not to do everything possible to improve their standards of living . .. The underdeveloped countries fear what they describe as colonialism and imperialism and any undue dominance of their economy by economically powerful nations. As things stand today, propaganda deliberately fosters these fears. But countries do not fear help provided through international agencies in which each member nation has the right by vote to determine policy It is plain, therefore, that the answer lies in international action. The international agencies are also in a position to offer to the underdeveloped countries a wide choice of the world's best technicians. F.A.O. for example, has recruited experts from 52 countries. Plainly the underdeveloped countries need to increase production of every kind. However, there can be no doubt that the most urgent need is for greater production of foodstuffs and hasic raw materials. The long-term trends of population are highly controversial and forecasts of world population 20 or 50 years hence are tasks for demographers. The present position, which indicates the probable trends for some years ahead, is, however, of striking interest. People tend to think that world population is increasing at a rate of about 1 percent a y e a r . . . A recent survey shows, for the rate of increase for those parts of the world for which statistics are available 1,4 %. If this holds true for the whole world, then each year there is a population increase of about 30 millions and each day there are

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