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POPULATION MATTERS SUPPORTERS' UPDATE

JANUARY 2020

Director's message

Our New Year began very positively with Population Matters name-checked in
BBC2’s Horizon documentary, ‘_7.7 Billion People and Counting_'
presented by Chris Packham. In conversation with Sir David Attenborough,
Chris made a point of noting that both he and Sir David are patrons of PM,
because it’s the only organisation making the connection between human
population growth and the accelerating environmental crisis; of which
climate change is the current, most obvious manifestation.

He went on to highlight the same key, positive solutions we do: universal
access to education, safe family planning, and enabling choice for the 232
million women (UN 2019) currently unable to access those basic rights. Do
watch via the link below if you’ve not already seen it.

Talking of choices, just a few days later our trustee and sustainable
transport campaigner, Anna Hughes, was one of the main protagonists in a
Woman’s Hour discussion, ‘_Would you stop having kids to save the
planet?_’. Whilst Anna has made the strong, personal choice not to have
children, she didn’t lecture anyone to do the same, but respectfully
introduced listeners to the real benefits for both our planet and future
generations from choosing smaller families. You can listen to the programme
by clicking below.

Two inspiring examples to kick-off the New Year, showing that PM and the
population issue are gaining greater profile and more considered
discussion. In turn, attracting the interest and engagement of more
like-minded individuals and organisations globally, who share our vision
for a future in which our species co-exists in harmony with nature and
prospers on a healthy planet, to the benefit of all. Of course that
includes all of you, especially the several hundred new supporters who’ve
just joined PM.

Thank you and welcome!

- Robin Maynard, Director, Population Matters

NEWS FROM POPULATION MATTERS

7.7 Billion and Counting

In a landmark and powerful documentary on the BBC, Population Matters
Patron and popular natural history broadcaster Chris Packham looked at the
challenges of population growth, and made an impassioned plea for it to
become a core part of environmental debate.

If you're in the UK, you can watch the documentary on BBC iPlayer for a
limited time.

Read more and watch [3]

POPULATION

Our current food system can feed only 3.4 billion people sustainably

This _New Scientist_ article points out how feeding the world without
destroying nature becomes increasingly difficult with ever more people.

Learn more about the link between population and resource consumption here
[4].

Read more [5]

Five myths about population, aging and environmental sustainability

This blog post by The Overpopulation Project debunks 5 common
misconceptions abouth population.

You can see more myths debunked on our mythbusting page [6].

Read more [7]

ENVIRONMENT

Wildlife habitat crumbling under weight of human footprint

A new study shows that the majority land-dwelling vertebrate species are
now under intense human pressure due to population growth and land use
change.

Out of all study species, amphibians were shown to be worst affected.

Read more [8]

Why 2020 could be a ‘super-year’ for nature

Environmentalists are calling 2020 a ‘super-year’ for nature because of
several upcoming international policy meetings that have the potential to
set nature on a path to recovery.

Population Matters is actively campaigning to ensure population solutions
are recognised and implemented.

Read more [9]

WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SEXUAL HEALTH

BBC Woman's Hour discusses limiting family size for the environment

We were very pleased with this episode of BBC Woman's Hour dedicated to
family planning choices and how they affect the environment. It features
some great comments from PM trustee Anna Hughes and our Campaigns Officer,
Florence Blondel.

Listen now [10]

Jiwsi: empowering vulnerable teens in North Wales

Meet our latest Empower to Plan partner Jiwsi (sounds like 'juicy') who
provide vulnerable women and girls in North Wales with the knowledge and
encouragement they need to avoid unplanned pregnancies and take control of
their futures.

Read more [11]

Quote of the month

_"We can't go on like this, we can't push human population growth under the
carpet. It's been shown all around the world that as women's education
improves, family size tends to drop. I would encourage every single
conservation organisation, every single government organisation, to
consider the absurdity of unlimited economic development on a planet with
finite natural resources."_

- Dr Jane Goodall, Population Matters Patron

TAKE ACTION

Support our winter appeal

Our goal over the next 3-5 years is to have a presence and effect across
the world. In partnership with other like-minded bodies and individuals, we
want to influence national and international policies and action on
population, as well as to empower individuals to make the informed,
responsible and free choice to have smaller families.

Many thanks if you've already donated. If you haven't yet, there's still
time to help us 'go global'!

DONATE [12]

135-137 Station Road, London E4 6AG, UK
Registered company no 3019081, Charity 1114109
© 2020 Population Matters

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