News from March

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POPULATION MATTERS SUPPORTERS' UPDATE

MARCH 2020

Director's message

With world-leading conservationists David Attenborough, Jane Goodall and
Chris Packham (and the late, great Professors Aubrey Manning and Norman
Myers) honouring us as Patrons, PM surely merits being at the heart of
discussions and debate around biodiversity, conservation and wildlife
issues?

That’s certainly been my view and ambition since starting as Director
just over three years ago, given my campaigning career began working on
wildlife issues at Friends of the Earth. Surprisingly, that’s not been a
universally accepted ‘no-brainer’. So it was very good to receive
confirmation at the end of February of PM’s membership of IUCN, the
International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Famous for its ‘Red List’ of threatened species, IUCN describes itself
as ‘the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network,
harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,300 member
organisations and some 16,000 experts’. IUCN membership enhances our
status as an organisation with something relevant to contribute on
biodiversity issues, provides opportunities to build partnerships and
boosts our efforts via our ‘Anthropocene’ campaign to get population
included in the ongoing discussions around the Convention on Biological
Diversity.

- Robin Maynard, Director, Population Matters

NEWS FROM POPULATION MATTERS

COVID-19: stay safe and look out for each other

We've set up a coronavirus page on on our website, featuring a statement
from Robin, our Director; a video message from our Patron Dr Jane Goodall;
information on how the pandemic affects sexual and reproductive health as
well as gender issues; and a list of simple actions everyone can take to
help humanity through this crisis.

Read more [3]

A seat at the conservation table

Following a lengthy application process, we're very pleased to have been
granted membership of the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN), the largest conservation network and convenor of the World
Conservation Congress. As IUCN members, we will have key opportunities to
push for positive, choice-based population solutions to be included in
global conservation agendas.

Learn more about IUCN [4]

POPULATION

Population growth and destruction of nature fuel deadly diseases

In this blog post, PM Communications Officer Olivia Nater investigates how
relentless deforestation, habitat encroachment, wildlife trade, consumption
of animals, and increasing urban population density are facilitating the
emergence and spread of diseases like COVID-19.

Read more [5]

Preference for small families rubs off on others

As highly social creatures, much of what we say and do is influenced by the
people close to us. A new study examines this effect on family size and
consumption behaviour and concludes that smaller families and sustainable
lifestyles could be achieved by encouraging the evolution of 'less is more'
mindsets across society.

Read more [6]

ENVIRONMENT

Seeing past and beyond ‘population versus consumption’

This article in _Independent Australia_ outlines why it is
counterproductive to create a false opposition between population and
consumption. We clearly need to tackle both and all environmentalists
should rally behind the empowering solutions that allow people to make more
sustainable choices and live better lives.

Read more [7]

Virus which causes COVID-19 threatens great ape conservation

This interview by the UN Environment Programme explains why human diseases
like COVID-19 could have devastating effects on our closest living
relatives. All seven great ape species are already classified as Critically
Endangered or Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Read more [8]

WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SEXUAL HEALTH

World still largely hostile to girls

Despite some progress over the past 25 years, girls under age 18 around the
world continue to face unacceptable discrimination and violence driven by
deeply entrenched gender inequality, according to a new UN report.

Read more [9]

Condom shortage looms after coronavirus lockdown

The world's biggest producer of condoms has been forced to temporarily
close its factories due to COVID-19, creating fears of a global shortage.
Production is expected to restart soon, but at reduced capacity.

Read more [10]

Quote of the month

_"As supply chains are strained by the COVID-19 response, we must do all we
can to ensure the continued provision of family planning commodities.
Reports of global condom shortages are alarming. When crisis strikes, the
availability/accessibility of contraceptives is crucial."_

- Dr Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director

TAKE ACTION

Help clear up misconceptions

People concerned about human population growth often get misunderstood,
which can be extremely frustrating. If this happens to you, we advise
calmly presenting the scientific evidence [11] that population is a problem
and that its best solutions [12] advance human rights and make the world a
better place for everyone. We also recommend sharing our 'What We Want'
page which tackles the most frequent misinterpretations of population
concern:

Read and share [13]

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Registered company no 3019081, Charity 1114109
© 2020 Population Matters

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