We've had this discussion before, so I'm typing stuff here that I've typed several times, but I'll try to do it concisely... mostly because my lunch break is already over.
#1) Overpopulation is the cry of the west. "All these environmental problems are caused by those people over there that won't control their population!!! Bad bad people OVER THERE are causing the problem. Not me! It's them!!" This completely ignores that we consume about 10 times the resources as most in the developing world. As per cowperson's suggestion, I did try to be vegan, but soy cheese destroys a good pizza. But I drink soy milk on my cereal and in recipies. So I'm almost there. And it doesn't have to be diet. There are many ways we can choose to reduce our consumption of resources. But I doubt many people want to. So if you don't want to, fine. But don't yell "It's all overpopulation! It's all their fault!".
#2) I think the solution to the overpopulation problem is two-fold. First WOMEN'S RIGHTS!!!! That is absolutely foremost! Women who are educated, who can read, who can enter the workforce - they are the most likely to seek out birth control. And less likely to be baby-factories. I couldn't decide whether to cry or put my fist through a wall when Afghanistan was passing that law requiring wives to put out whenever their husbands demanded it. But that is the way it is in many parts of the world. Which is why when I adopted my foster children from Plan Canada, I requested to adopt two girls to ensure they got to school. The boys get to go anyway; I wanted to make sure that at least the two girls I am supporting get to go too.
The second part is SHARING OUR WEALTH. I know that's not a popular measure. "We're just going to give our money to warlords and corrupt politicians". Yeah, well, we need to find a BETTER WAY of sharing our wealth other than handing it off to corrupt leaders. Because until people are able to make a decent living, they are going to pump out as many children as they can in hopes that one of them is able to make a decent living and take care of their parents in their old age. There are reasons why birth rates are low in rich countries and high in poor countries and access to birth control is not the only reason.
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