Dear John Today’s World Population Day is, of course, the first since our human population reached 8 billion last November. While some have chosen to celebrate this milestone, we know the reality to be that it represents a failure to ensure people have the lives they deserve. If everyone was able to use contraception, and had the education, good health and - for women and girls - the rights and equality they deserve, we would not have 8 billion people today. We know too that our ongoing growth will trap
millions in deprivation, and continue to wreak destruction on the health of our planet. Population Matters exists to change that. Today, we mark World Population Day in different ways. First, we have published a brand new report detailing how population policies can and have improved lives across the world. From imagination, humour and hard work in Thailand to the journey from trauma to empowerment in Rwanda, there is a good news story here that
is seldom told. Second, we are announcing the winners of our third annual Change Champion awards, celebrating inspirational people who have made a real difference in the world. From Sir David Attenborough to a teenage climate activist in Niger, our recipients are truly deserving. Third, today over 100 guests joined our expert international panel for our webinar, Is Education the Magic Bullet? Don't worry if you missed it as we will be putting the event on our YouTube channel soon. Finally, we are asking you to take action. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are far off track. Since we launched our Hitting the Targets campaign on World
Population Day in 2020, we have been warning that their neglect of population issues is one reason for this failure. Later this week in New York, senior politicians will gather from around the world as part of the UN’s long process intended to both rescue the SDGs, and look beyond them. Please contact your government to demand meaningful action. Thank you, as always, for your support for our vital work. Progress is slow and resistance is great, but one day, with your support, we will celebrate a World
Population Day when our numbers are at long last going down. Best wishes, |
