Population news from November

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POPULATION MATTERS SUPPORTERS' UPDATE

NOVEMBER 2020

Director's message

If you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend reading our new Annual Report
[3], which highlights our activities and successes between July 2019 and
June 2020. I’d also like to draw your attention to our new video [4] on
our fantastic evolution as an organisation over the last few years. On this
Giving Tuesday, if you feel as inspired by what we have achieved together
as I do, please consider joining us as a member and support our work from
just £2.50 per month (see Take Action below).

The UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a cut in the UK’s
overseas aid budget from 0.7% of total GNI to 0.5% rightly drew strong
criticism from many quarters. Former Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt
articulated the dismay, “To cut our aid budget by a third in a year when
millions more fall into extreme poverty will make not just them poorer but
us poorer in the eyes of the world.” His colleague, Andrew Mitchell, who
headed up what was once the Department for International Development,
(itself cut earlier in the year and merged into the Foreign Office), warned
that the decision, “will be the cause of 100,000 unpreventable deaths.”
Liz Sugg, Minister for Sustainable Development, whom PM met earlier in the
year in London and Nairobi, resigned in protest.

Compared to other high-income countries, the proportion of UK overseas aid
dedicated to family planning and contraceptive needs has been significant,
although still only standing at around 3% of that 0.7%. Yet these
relatively small sums made and make a big difference: the UN has calculated
that every $1 spent on family planning in developing countries delivers a
return of $120 in increased economic benefit. Here in the UK, £1 spent on
family planning saves the NHS £12.50. Whether at home or abroad,
supporting access to and provision of family planning makes great sense and
represents real value for money. The cuts are short-sighted, irrational and
ultimately will harm not just the UK Government’s standing in the world,
but through the linked consequences of economic regression, greater
inequality, and social unrest, will impact upon all of us – not least
those 270 million women who do not have their contraceptive needs met. Read
our full statement below.

- Robin Maynard, Director, Population Matters

NEWS FROM POPULATION MATTERS

Our statement on the UK overseas aid cuts

Overseas aid is not just an act of charity or humanitarianism, but an
investment in safe and secure futures for everyone. The UK’s decision to
cut foreign aid by almost a third means some of the world’s most
vulnerable people will suffer very greatly very soon.

Read more [5]

POPULATION

The population debate: Are there too many people on the planet?

What do our growing numbers mean for economic security, climate change,
environmental destruction and the likelihood of pandemics? We were pleased
to see this reasonable discussion of the population issue in the _New
Scientist._

Read more [6]

Climate ‘apocalypse’ fears stopping people having children –
study

A new study shows 60% of survey respondents are very concerned about the
carbon footprint of procreation, and 97% about the well-being of existing
or hypothetical children in light of the climate crisis.

Read more [7]

ENVIRONMENT

Biden's victory: What does it mean for women and the environment?

Sexual and reproductive health and rights and the environment saw several
significant setbacks under the Trump administration. Now that Joe Biden and
running mate Kamala Harris have won the US presidential election, what is
likely to change? Senior Communications Officer Olivia Nater takes a look
at key international policy issues.

Read more [8]

Population must play a role in the climate conversation

How does population growth affect climate change? For London Climate Action
Week, PM Board Member and Director of Flight Free UK, Anna Hughes, reflects
on her decision not to have children to reduce her carbon footprint.

Read more [9]

WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SEXUAL HEALTH

The Shadow Pandemic: Gender-based violence

One in three women around the world experience physical or sexual violence.
During the 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women, Population
Matters Campaigner Katrina Dixon takes a sobering look at one of
humanity’s oldest diseases.

Read more [10]

An Act of Love: Vasectomies and positive masculinity

This November marked the 8th annual World Vasectomy Day, with close to
1,000 participating physicians in 30 countries committed to doing 10,000
vasectomies – WVD is now the largest male-oriented family planning event
in history. Co-founder Jonathan Stack reveals what motivates them and
recounts their inspiring journey so far.

Read more [11]

Quote of the month

_"There are too many middle-class and rich people who consume too much. And
on the other side of the coin is, at least from my ethical standpoint, the
whole bunch of people, a couple of billion at least, that need to consume
more."_

- Prof Paul Ehrlich, Population Matters Patron

READ HIS RECENT INTERVIEW [12] IN _NEW SCIENTIST_!

TAKE ACTION

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delighted to offer new members the chance to win one of three signed copies
of our Patron Chris Packham's new book, _Back to Nature_, written with
Megan McCubbin – because never has the wonder and solace of nature been
more needed this wintertime. Click below to become a member from just
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