Image Source: Wikimedia Commons BY NICHOLE CARTMELL ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS Political activism is rare in Singapore... but a new population plan has thousands of people protesting. So, what has these people up  The government’s proposing a plan to increase the city’s population by 30 percent, hoping to compensate for its aging demographics and low birth rate by bringing in foreign workers. Their goal? To boost their population of 5.3 million to 6.9 million by 2030. ( Via BBC ) Singapore already ranks as one of the most densely populated cities in world. So why does the government believe the country needs a larger working force? Since 2000, the median age has jumped up more than four years to around 38 years old, and Singapore’s current fertility rate isn’t able to support this population. Babies in Singapore are only being born at a rate of 1.2 compared to a natural replacement rate of 2.1. But how does Singapore compare to other Asian cities? Hong Kong is, in fact, in the same predicament. It’s fertility rate is lower than Singapore’s and can barely support the city’s 7 million person population. Last May, Hong Kong’s Steering Committee on Population Policy also suggested the the city continue to attract migrant workers. Singapore’s government says new immigrants are needed. Otherwise the working-age population will start shrinking by 2020. But according to Al Jazeera , critics believe growth will outpace development. There are already housing and transportation shortages. And others argue more foreigners will hurt the Singaporean culture. Today, native Singaporeans account for 62 percent of the nation’s population, which decreased from 75 percent in 2000. Opposition politician Yee Jenn Jong from the Worker's Party says the problem would be integrating those new citizens. “Truly integrating them to become Singaporeans as we know Singaporeans to be, will be take time. To integrate, the foreigner has to spend substantial time here and should make genuine effort to understand our way of life and speak our language. How fast can we make that happen with adult immigrants?” Only time will tell. Singapore’s population plan was endorsed in parliament on February 8.