by Charles Sumpter

Created on: August 12, 2008   Last Updated: August 13, 2008

The film 6 billion and beyond is a documentary that attempts to highligh growing trends across the developing world from pollution, population growth to disease and famine and its impact on our planet. The film also does a segment on more developed nations and how the same issues apply to them and they maybe doing to combat it all.

The film began in Mexico City with a population of over 18 million people. Mexico City is the largest city in the developing world. By 2015 there will be 26 mega cities throughout the world and Mexico City will be apart of that. The issues in Mexico City were not strictly related to the city but are present throughout much of the world. The entire world is grappling with a population that does not seem to stop growing. With that growing population comes increased strain on the planet trying to support it all.

In Mexico City, people are trying to focus on the importance of youth development,contraception and education so as to not further increase dependence on natural resources. Youth development centers and outreach centers are sprawling all over the city, trying to educate people on the fragility of the planet and their place in it.

In the film, there was one mural on the wall that depicts perfectly how the people are feeling. They are feeling the tight squeeze of a growing population and a shrinking planet it has started to make them realize, is this all sustainable? One issue that was specific to Mexico City was the connection to contraception and the Church. There is one scene with a woman talking about how it is her not GOD who must take care of the children when they are sick, therefore it is her responsibility to do what she wants to do with her body.

The film also took a look at Kenya, another country grappling with the miseducation of their population, in particular their women. Kenya in the past few years as the film points out has made great strides in educating their children, however, more work needs to be done.

A scary statistic was mentioned in the film; 1 out of 6 Kenyans are HIV +. The African nation also has to deal with a huge unemployment rate (70%). In some cases men have not had jobs in over 9 years. Only 20% finish H.S. while 80% finish primary school.

India and China both have to deal with huge populations with both of them the leader in global numbers. In 40 years, India is set to take over China in terms of population growth. In India, 70%of women live in rural areas, prohibiting them from gaining education and adequate healthcare.

The film highlights the trend of population growth among the developing world in contrast to the developed world. The film talked particularly about Italy which is on a population decline. One statistic noted that in 1998, 500,000 children were born. It also stated that there were more people over the age of 60 than 20.

The U.S. with a 4% of the population uses a quarter of all the worlds' resources, a scary trend. One statistic stated that 160 acres of land are developed every hour.

In an increasing era of demand on our natural resources, this film puts into perspective some of the issues that people all around the world are dealing with. I would recommend the film for a class discussion, or just for one's own personal awareness.

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