Kenneth R. Weiss - Beyond Seven Billion: Reporting on Population, Environment, and Security

Summary: For “Beyond Seven Billion,” a landmark five-part series published in the Los Angeles Times, environmental reporter Kenneth R. Weiss and photographer Rick Loomis traveled to Africa and Asia to document the past two decades’ rapid population growth. They found that the boom is not over: “The biggest generation in history is just entering its childbearing years. The coming wave will reshape the planet, and the impact will be greatest in the poorest, most unstable countries,” writes Weiss. This podcast is Kenneth Weiss' presentation at a Wilson Center event on October 9, 2012. Weiss shared his stories about the impact of population growth on natural resources, food supply, and conflict in Afghanistan, India, Kenya, China, and the Philippines. He also discussed the challenges of covering this complex topic—from analyzing demographic projections to addressing contraception controversies—that make this series a unique accomplishment in the U.S. media.