Population news from March
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POPULATION MATTERS SUPPORTERS' UPDATE
MARCH 2022
Dear John,
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, we hope you're enjoying the arrival
of Spring as much as we are.
This month brought four relevant global observance days (Wildlife Day,
Women's Day, Day of Forests and Water Day), and two worrying UN reports:
the latest assessment report [3] by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC), and the 2022 State of the World Population Report [4],
focusing on the troublesome fact that half of all pregnancies are still
unintended. Meanwhile, two of our team travelled to Kenya, Guatemala and
Colombia to attend key events and strengthen ties with local partners.
We're also excited to announce that we're looking for new trustees as well
as two new staff members! You can read the details below.
Wishing you all the best,
Olivia Nater
Digital and Communications Manager
NEWS FROM POPULATION MATTERS
New vacancies!
We're looking for new trustees to support the growth and development of our
charity! We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates located
in the Global South, as well as from people with a good level of financial
literacy and/or experience in communications and the psychology of change.
We are also hiring for a new Senior Campaigner and Fundraising Officer -
THESE TWO NEW ROLES WILL BE LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE ON MONDAY, SO BE SURE TO
CHECK BACK THEN.
Learn more [5]
One river, many tributaries: Talking population in Kenya
This month, Population Matters Director Robin Maynard attended the
Population Conversation Symposium in Kilifi, Kenya. This key event,
organised by local public health consultancy WellSense and supported by PM,
brought together diverse stakeholders to discuss the wide-ranging impacts
of rapid population growth and to identify the actions needed to mainstream
the crucial 'population conversation'.
Read more [6]
Conservation through education and family planning: Colombia
Between July 2021 and February 2022, our E2P programme supported Women for
Conservation in the provision of environmental education workshops and
family planning clinics in biodiversity hotspots of Colombia. E2P Project
Coordinator, Catriona Spaven-Donn, visited Women for Conservation over
International Women’s Day in March. In this field report, she reflects on
how the group is empowering women to protect endangered species and their
habitats as well as become decision and change-makers in their own lives.
Read more [7]
Green Match Fund
Following the success of The Christmas Challenge and all your generous
donations, we’re delighted to be taking part in The Big Give’s Green
Match Fund, which launches on Earth Day! Watch out for the launch email on
Friday 22 April, and don’t forget to donate during the week for your
donation to be doubled!
POPULATION & ENVIRONMENT
"Bleakest warning yet": UN climate report
A major new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
paints the direst picture yet of the impacts of climate breakdown. With the
UN Secretary-General calling it "an atlas of human suffering and a damning
indictment of failed climate leadership", the report reiterates the
human-induced nature of climate change. It also stresses that to avoid
mounting loss of life, biodiversity and infrastructure, the world needs to
undertake ambitious, accelerated action.
Read more [8]
Squeezing out the wild things
This year's theme for World Wildlife Day (3 March) was 'Recovering key
species for ecosystem restoration'. The celebrations drew attention to the
conservation status of some of the most critically endangered species of
wild animals and plants, and finding and implementing solutions to conserve
them. Senior Campaigner Andrew Howard looks at how human population growth
is impacting three iconic mammals: tigers, polar bears and African
elephants.
Read more [9]
Between the bedrock and a hard place: the future of groundwater
22 March marked World Water Day, a global observance day to raise awareness
of water-related issues and inspire action to preserve this most precious
of resources. This year’s theme was ‘Groundwater, making the invisible
visible’. Communications Manager Olivia Nater explores the facts around
groundwater use and what it means for global water security.
Read more [10]
Empower women, save the planet
The theme for this year's International Women's Day (8 March) was 'Gender
equality today for a sustainable tomorrow'. Showcasing how critical
advancing women’s rights is to solving our environmental crises is
something we do every day at Population Matters! PM's Olivia Nater
summarises the evidence.
Read more [11]
WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SEXUAL HEALTH
Reflections on Motherhood
On UK Mothers’ Day (27 March), Population Matters Communications Officer
Florence Blondel reflected on being a new mother, harmful social
expectations and pressures, her childhood in Uganda, and the power of
choice.
Read more [12]
One-in-three countries not making progress on women's rights
A new report has found that while most countries are making some progress
towards gender equality, this is happening much too slowly to meet the UN
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In addition, a third of
countries analysed have made no progress since 2015, or have moved in the
wrong direction.
Read more [13]
TAKE ACTION
Give the UK Government your views on protecting nature
The UK Government has just launched a public consultation on how it can
best contribute to addressing climate change and biodiversity loss
internationally. Find out more about the consultation and how you can take
part on our website.
Learn more [14]
Call on G20 leaders to fund global family planning
Reproductive healthcare provision, including contraception, is hugely
underfunded. Despite their wealth, many G20 countries donate very little to
global family planning initatives and 270 million women still have an unmet
contraceptive need. Ahead of the G20 ministers' meeting on 21-22 April,
urge the G20 leaders to step up and help end the unmet need of women and
girls!
Sign the petition [15]
Quote of the month
"Now is the time to accelerate, not retreat, to transform the lives of
women and girls and reach those furthest behind.
Preventing unintended pregnancies is a non-negotiable first step. When
individuals are able to exercise real informed choice over their health,
bodies and futures, they can contribute to more prosperous societies and a
more sustainable, equitable and just world."
- Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund
(commenting on the 2022 State of the World Population Report)
135-137 Station Road, London E4 6AG, UK
Registered company no 3019081, Charity 1114109
© 2022 Population Matters
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