Population news from August
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POPULATION MATTERS SUPPORTERS' UPDATE
AUGUST 2020
Director's message
PM supported the Global Footprint Network (GFN) in marking Earth Overshoot
Day, which this year fell on August 22nd – several weeks later than
previous ones due the economic slow-down enforced by Covid-19. A negative
driver, rather than a positive shift towards sustainability. But what that
showed is that it is possible to slow our current relentless depletion of
our planet’s resources and ecosystems. GFN identified five positive
‘solution pillars’ for doing so, addressing population being one: if
every other family had one fewer child than currently projected and if we
delayed parenthood by just two years, then Overshoot Day would be moved
back by 49 days by 2050.
Polemicist and pundit George Monbiot clearly didn’t acquaint himself with
those facts before writing his recent opinion piece in The Guardian
attacking any individual or organisation raising the issue of population as
one of the key factors driving our global ecological crisis. The latest in
a series by Monbiot making serious allegations against what he derides as
‘population obsessives’, including PM. We’ve responded (see below),
rebutting his offensive insinuations. Monbiot seems unlikely to change his
position – he’s never replied to our numerous, polite requests to meet
and better understand each other’s perspectives. In that, he fulfils
William Blake’s wonderful epigram, _“The man who never alters his
opinions is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.”_
Hence, like GFN, we must focus on building the evidence base underpinning
our concerns, ensuring our arguments are robust and stand up to reasonable
challenge. The research we’re seeking to commission with the Centre for
the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) at Cambridge focuses on that. CSER
will examine whether it’s possible to bend down the population growth
curve from the projected c. 11 billion people on Earth by 2100 to a smaller
number than currently through positive, ethical solutions. We believe it
is. Having solid evidence from a respected academic body will hugely
strengthen our case with policy makers, and those striving to enable a
greater proportion of people to enjoy better, sustainable lives within our
planet’s boundaries.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE ALREADY DONATED TO OUR APPEAL [3] TO FUND
THIS RESEARCH. IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY, THEN PLEASE DO CONSIDER SUPPORTING
THIS VITAL WORK.
- Robin Maynard, Director, Population Matters
NEWS FROM POPULATION MATTERS
It's time to end harmful population denial
In our latest blog post, Population Matters Director Robin Maynard debunks
writer George Monbiot's claims that addressing the population issue is
"blaming the poor" and "racist", and explains why population denial hurts
everyone, especially the world's most vulnerable.
A short version of this response was published as a letter [4] in The
Guardian.
Read more [5]
POPULATION
How smaller families shrink our ecological footprint
Earth Overshoot Day was on 22 August. This means that for the rest of the
year, we are effectively in ecological overshoot, leading to resource
depletion and destruction of nature. Population Matters Senior
Communications Officer Olivia Nater explains how empowering people to
choose a small family size helps us live within our planetary boundaries.
Read more [6]
Small island, big population: Why the UK needs a Sustainable Population
Policy.
With the United Kingdom already considered one of the most nature-depleted
countries in the world, unabated population growth poses a real threat to
remaining ecosystems and human health and wellbeing. Robin takes a look at
a UK politician’s new proposal to set up a governmental body tasked with
monitoring national population trends and developing policy
recommendations.
Read more [7]
ENVIRONMENT
Earth Overshoot Day: Five ways we can move the date
Global Footprint Network CEO Laurel Hanscom lays out the five steps we must
take to move back Earth Overshoot Day and achieve a world where all thrive
within the means of our one planet.
Read more [8]
My work as a young population activist
Stella Wright, a member of the Population Matters London Local Group, is
one of an increasing number of young people around the world concerned
about the impact of global population growth. Here, she explains what
motivated her to become an environmental activist.
Read more [9]
WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SEXUAL HEALTH
Investing in contraception would save billions of dollars
A new report by the Guttmacher Institute estimates that fulfilling the
unmet need for modern contraception in developing countries would save $16
billion a year in maternal healthcare by reducing the number of unintended
pregnancies.
Read more [10]
International Childfree Day: Childfree stories
To mark this year’s International Childfree Day, we selected some of our
favourite testimonials from Population Matters supporters who have made the
choice to live their lives without having children.
Read more [11]
Quote of the month
_"In 1974, I led the Indian delegation to the World Population Conference
in Bucharest, where my statement that 'development is the best
contraceptive' became widely known and oft quoted. I must admit that 20
years later I am inclined to reverse this, and my position now is that
'contraception is the best development'."_
- Karan Singh, Indian politician
TAKE ACTION
Help us map a better future
We are delighted many of you have already contributed to our summer appeal!
With your help and generous match-funding, every gift we receive will help
commission landmark research that will identify realistic, positive policy
measures to set us on a path to a sustainable population future.
Donate [3]
135-137 Station Road, London E4 6AG, UK
Registered company no 3019081, Charity 1114109
© 2020 Population Matters
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