News from March

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POPULATION MATTERS SUPPORTERS' UPDATE

MARCH 2021

Director's message

One of PM's longstanding calls to action is that every country should have
a 'Sustainable Population Policy'. You might expect me to be delighted that
Scotland's devolved administration has further demonstrated its independent
thinking by publishing the country's first national population strategy.

Unfortunately, there is a disconnect between Scotland's other distinctive,
progressive policy positions and that on population. Almost uniquely
amongst developed countries, Scotland is close to having enough nature,
natural resources and ecosystem services to balance out the ecological
footprint of its citizens. Instead of celebrating being on the brink of
sustainability, Scotland’s population policy is characterised by
conventional economic thinking. The policy is carefully worded but there is
little to distinguish it from the pro-natalist policies popping up across
the world. You can read my blog about it here [3].

This month we focused on countering this all too prevalent and harmful
pro-growth narrative (see ‘Baby Drought?’ and ‘Handmaid’s
Reality’ below) and we were delighted to feature a guest blog by Dr
Yasmeen Qazi, Senior Advocacy Advisor on Family Planning for the Gates
Foundation in Pakistan, urging world leaders to ramp up investment in
empowering population solutions.

- Robin Maynard, Director, Population Matters

NEWS FROM POPULATION MATTERS

New vacancy: Social Media Intern

Are you a recent graduate with expertise in social media and a passion for
population issues? Population Matters is looking for a part-time Social
Media Intern to help populate our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn) and develop new social media initiatives! The
deadline for applications is Sunday 11 April 2021.

Learn more [4]

POPULATION

'Baby drought'? Let's focus on the real crises

Mainstream media is rife with alarming headlines about how the world may
soon run out of babies. Not only does this paint declining fertility rates
as a threat instead of the hugely beneficial development they represent –
it also distracts from the real crises exacerbated by COVID-19, including
gender inequality and poverty. Population Matters Senior Communications
Officer Olivia Nater explains.

Read more [5]

Troubled Waters: Population growth and climate change

The theme of this year's World Water Day was 'valuing water'. The impact of
the climate crisis and population growth alongside lack of progress towards
Sustainable Development Goal 6: 'Water and sanitation for all' shows we
have a long way to go to learn the true value of the world’s most
invaluable resource, writes Population Matters Campaigner Katrina Dixon.

Read more [6]

ENVIRONMENT

Five ways we can help forest species

World Wildlife Day, falling on March 3rd every year, is a UN initiative
that aims to celebrate wild species and raise awareness of their plight.
This year’s theme focused on humanity's dependence on healthy forest
ecosystems. Senior Communications Officer Olivia Nater examines the
critical state of global forests and lists five actions we can take to help
protect them and their inhabitants.

Read more [7]

African elephant species now Endangered and Critically Endangered

The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species brought
predictably depressing news, with both African elephant species moving into
a higher threat category. The number of African forest elephants fell by
86% over 30 years, while the number of savannah elephants decreased by at
least 60% over the last 50 years.

Read more [8]

WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SEXUAL HEALTH

The Handmaid's Reality

Across the world, reproductive rights and women's rights are being
increasingly curtailed by governments which want to boost birth rates. Head
of Campaigns Alistair Currie looks at the disturbing linkages between
nationalism, "family values" and panic over population loss.

Read more [9]

Women's rights key to slowing population growth

Dr Yasmeen Sabeeh Qazi, Senior Advocacy Advisor to the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation, explains why empowering women and girls is key to
accelerating sustainable development in her country, Pakistan, and
globally, and calls on world leaders to invest in the advancement of
women's rights.

Read more [10]

Quote of the month

_"When girls are educated and when they stay in schools, they get married
later in their lives, then they have less children and that helps us to
reduce the impacts of climate change that the population increase brings."_

- Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Prize laureate

TAKE ACTION

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