Blog #2:

Contraception is Greenest Strategy for Climate Change

Secondary:
http://yubanet.com/life/Contraception-is-greenest-strategy-for-climate-change---research.php

Primary:
http://www.optimumpopulation.org/reducingemissions.pdf

In the article, “Contraception is Greenest Strategy for Climate Change” (9 September 2009) by Optimum Population Trust, the author claims that contraception is the best way to combat climate change that humans have caused due to overpopulation. This is a secondary article based on the primary source, “Fewer Emitters, Lower Emissions, Less Cost- Reducing Future Carbon Emissions by Investing in Family Planning”(August 2009) by Thomas Wire from the London School of Economics, Operational Research. These sources share many similarities throughout the secondary article and the conclusion in the actual study or the primary source.

One major similarity in both sources is that both sources use the following information to support their conclusions:

“Each $7 (£4) spent on basic family planning over the next four decades would reduce global CO2 emissions by more than a tonne. To achieve the same result with low-carbon technologies would cost a minimum of $32 (£19). (Optimum Population Trust, 2009)

Although the secondary article is very similar with its findings, it is not as precise or thorough as the actual study. The secondary article is not expected to be exactly the same as the primary source because it includes opinions and should be easier for the general public to access and understand. This standard makes the secondary source more objective and therefore less reliable but it is still a valuable resource. In this article, the author mentions a few different sources, one in particular is a quote from a member of the OPT (the sponsoring organization):

“Roger Martin, chair of OPT, said the findings vindicated OPT’s stance that population growth must be included in the climate change debate. “It’s always been obvious that total emissions depend on the number of emitters as well as their individual emissions – the carbon tonnage can’t shoot down, as we want, while the population keeps shooting up. The taboo on mentioning this fact has made the whole climate change debate so far somewhat unreal. Stabilising population levels has always been essential ecologically, and this study shows it’s economically sensible too.” (Optimum Population Trust, 2009)

This section in the article shows that the secondary article has a bit more freedom to add quotations that may not be directly in the study. The primary source uses facts from data that the scientists collected and all evidence dealing with their conclusions is in the report. Also a detailed method section was created to show exactly how the conclusions were met. In the secondary source this is not necessary to do because the results are displayed and the conclusions are then drawn. The strengths of the claims differ among primary and secondary sources; primary sources use statistics, and secondary sources use the results of the primary sources. Therefore secondary articles cannot be as reliable, but are very similar.

The limitations of the work in each source are a bit different. Primary sources are limited by using actual fact, the statistics the scientists have put together, and they may also use quotes but are unable to make generalized statements. Secondary sources on the other hand, are able to use the results from primary sources, quotes from others, and the author can make generalized statements that are easier for readers to understand, this allows for more freedom in the writing.

Secondary resources are very effective for distributing the findings of research because the average person may not read research papers but would most likely read news papers and magazines. This is a large difference between the two sources; popularity. Other than that, secondary sources are not as limited as primary, and are also not as reliable or strong with evidence. In conclusion, I think that although secondary articles are more easily accessible, primary sources are more trust-worthy. Therefore we should all be careful of what we choose to believe, further research is always necessary when searching for actual facts.


Wire, Thomas.(2009)"Fewer Emitters, Lower Emissions, Less Cost- Reducing Future Carbon Emissions by Investing in Family Planning". Optimum Population Trust. August 2009.
http://www.optimumpopulation.org/reducingemissions.pdf Accessed: Oct. 4 2009.

Author unknown. (2009)"Contraception is Greenest Strategy for Climate Change”. YubaNet.com. September 9, 2009.
http://yubanet.com/life/Contraception-is-greenest-strategy-for-climate-change---research.php Accessed: Oct. 4, 2009.