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POPULATION MATTERS SUPPORTERS' UPDATE

JUNE 2020

Director's message

Just over a year ago, despite offering a pioneering public service for
nearly 90 years and without much comment or notice taken in the media or
from politicians, the UK’s Family Planning Association (FPA) went into
liquidation.

Founded in 1930, the FPA’s original stated purpose was, reflecting the
social mores of the time, to enable ‘married people’ to “space or
limit their families and thus mitigate the evils of ill health and
poverty.”

FPA developed into an effective, courageous campaigning organisation
promoting and verifying safe, modern contraceptive methods and the rights
of women to access them, including, where such choice had been unavailable
or had failed to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, championing the right to
abortion.

Not surprisingly, as for any organisation working on population and choice
issues anywhere in the world, the FPA came under attack from religious,
political and pro-life groups – with its Belfast office frequently
subject to protests by anti-abortion campaigners. Those, no doubt, will not
mourn its demise. The organisation has survived in part as a commercial
company, but offering a more limited range of services. Services that are
certainly still needed. Although UK teenage pregnancies (defined as for
girls under 18) have more than halved over the last decade, they remain
twice as high in the more deprived areas of England. 2017 figures from
England and Wales show a spike in teenage pregnancies resulting in
abortion, the highest for 25 years.

Proactive support and advice are clearly still needed to reduce unwanted
teenage pregnancies and abortion, which reflect a failure to provide
information, advice and support earlier. That’s why PM continues to
support grassroots projects, such as Jiwsi [3] and You Before Two [4],
working with vulnerable women and teenagers in North Wales and the English
Midlands.

The fate of the FPA is a warning that access to sexual and reproductive
health and rights cannot be taken for granted anywhere. After marking World
Population Day 2019 [5] in London, Lagos and New York, this year we are
highlighting the importance of these rights – and the other ethical,
empowering measures that will help us end population growth – online.
Please join and support us if you can.

- Robin Maynard, Director, Population Matters

NEWS FROM POPULATION MATTERS

Wherever you are, join us on World Population Day!

World Population Day, on July 11th, was set up by the UN to raise global
awareness of population issues. Due to the pandemic we are marking it
digitally this year, focusing on the link between population and the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Make sure you don't miss our
countdown on social media and please join us for a live discussion with
different experts on our Facebook page at 5pm BST, 11 July! We will also be
releasing a new report and video so stay tuned.

Learn more and RSVP [6]

POPULATION

Addressing population challenge is not impossible

In this article for _YaleGlobal_, Joe Bish at Population Media Center
explains the population problem and how effective long-term population
solutions are within reach and benefit everyone.

Read more [7]

New documentary shines spotlight on population

Endgame 2050, a new film that is free to view, clearly lays out how
unsustainable population growth fuels our environmental crises and calls
for empowering solutions. It features PM patrons Paul Ehrlich and Malcolm
Potts.

Watch [8]

ENVIRONMENT

Easing our impact on nature

Conservationist and forestry expert Dr Edu Effiom explains why protecting
biodiversity requires improving access to sexual and reproductive
healthcare alongside more sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Read more [9]

Human-caused mass extinction still accelerating

A new analysis shows the sixth mass extinction is accelerating, with more
than 500 vertebrate species at risk of becoming extinct in less than 20
years – as many as were lost over the entire course of the last century.

Read more [10]

WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SEXUAL HEALTH

Can relationships & sex education help save the planet?

Population Matters Campaigner Katrina Dixon lays out why quality sex
education is key to protecting lives and the environment.

Read more [11]

Iran reins in family planning as population ages

In an alarming move, the Iranian government has restricted access to
contraception as part of an attempt to boost birth rates.

Read more [12]

Quote of the month

_"We keep being fed the idea that somehow population and consumption can
keep expanding without any consequences. They can’t. As population grows,
the pressure on our planet is heightened. One of the many changes needed to
give my generation a chance of a healthy future is for people to recognise
that choosing to have fewer children helps relieve that pressure. We should
and must be talking about population and family size."_

- Bella Lack, youth activist

TAKE ACTION

Share our WPD countdown!

In the run-up to World Population Day, we are sharing an infographic or
video every day explaining the link between population and each of the UN's
17 Sustainable Development Goals. Please follow us on Facebook [13],
Twitter [14] and Instagram [15] if you aren't already and help spread the
word by sharing our posts! If you're not on social media, you can help by
forwarding this email to friends and family.

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Registered company no 3019081, Charity 1114109
© 2020 Population Matters

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