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One Planet: Seven Billion People

Factual: Science & Nature

28/10/2011

Seven Billion People

BBC World Service - One Planet, Seven Billion People

The world's population is due to hit seven billion next week - cause for joy or concern?

Early next week, the world's population will hit the seven billion mark. For some, this is cause for concern, with competition for space and resources threatening global security; for others, it's a cause for joy, as it means lower infant mortality and longer life expectancy.

One Planet heads to the House of Parliament to meet Baroness Tonge, the head of the UK parliamentary population committee, to discuss birth rates and development. 

We put some of our listeners' questions to the head of the UN's Population Fund, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, who says there's room for all of us and more.

Also on the show, we hear from a selection of 84 year olds around the world. When they were born in 1927, the world population stood at just two billion - they tell us what it's like to live in a world that's grown by five billion people since they were born.

As ever, tune in, and get in touch to let us know your views.

You can email the team at oneplanet@bbc.com, or join us on Facebook - the link's below.

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