February 2023 Update

Unsubscribe [1]

View in your browser [2]

FEBRUARY 2023

Dear John,

In this month's update we report on some unsettling UN numbers relating to
worldwide child education and female genital mutilation (FGM), as well as
yet more disturbing news from Afghanistan. Recent developments in Spain
bring something more positive.

We look at the practice of greenwashing and there's an inspiring guest
blog from a Nigerien activist telling his story. We explain the findings of
a new report on European contraception access and our colleague Florence
Blondel tackles the question, _Is population growth yesterday's problem? _

- The PM team

NEWS FROM POPULATION MATTERS

78 million children being left behind

While a UN education conference in Geneva called for greater investment, it
was revealed that 222 million children worldwide experience broken
education, while 78 million don't go to school at all due to conflict,
climate disasters and displacement. 

_“No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter what
barriers stand in your way, you have a right to a quality education.”
- ___UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Read more [3]

Clear European divisions in access to contraception

A new European contraception access report shows a clear distinction
between Eastern and Western Europe. Whereas in general, access to
contraception, counselling and information is good and improving in Western
European countries, the opposite is true in the East. 

The best three performing countries are the UK, France and Belgium while
the bottom three are Poland, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Hungary.  

Read more [4]

Some good news from Spain!

 

Spain have introduced new legislation that will help to protect abortion
rights, will make Spain the first European country to introduce menstrual
leave and ensure that all children will receive comprehensive sex
education, in what's described as an _"ambitious agenda for social
progress"_. 

 

Read more [5]

POPULATION & ENVIRONMENT

There are no climate change sceptics here!

Sani Ayouba is the head of a youth climate activism network in Niger, one
of the world's poorest countries. In a powerful guest blog for PM, he talks
about the challenges he faced growing up, the day-to-day realities of
climate change and the important work he’s engaged in today.

Read more [6]

Greenwashing: do you know what it means? 

Greenwashing. You’ve almost certainly heard of it, but what exactly does
it mean and what is being done about it? Digital and Communications
Manager, Ben Stallworthy, looks at the practice, why we should be vigilant
and outlines some tips to avoid falling for it. 

Read more [7]

Is population growth yesterday’s problem?

 

At Population Matters, we’re often told that population growth is no
longer a concern and, much worse, those, like us, who talk about it are
racist and being “anti-human”. Our Communications Officer, Florence
Blondel responds.

_"Population growth is a driver of critical environmental and resource
challenges and is incompatible with planetary health and long-term
sustainability."_

 

Read more [8]

WOMEN'S RIGHTS & SEXUAL HEALTH

We look set to miss the target of ending FGM by 2030

The world will miss the target of ending FGM by 2030 without urgent action,
with the number of girls at risk projected to reach 4.6 million, rising
from 4.3 million this year. It's curious that the UN statement fails to
mention population growth as a factor, considering that in 2020 they
explicitly referenced "the number of women and girls subjected to it is
growing because of population growth" [9]_._ 

Read more [10]

Taliban ban contraception calling it a “western conspiracy”

The Taliban has stopped the sale of contraception in two of Afghanistan's
main cities, claiming it to be a western conspiracy designed to control the
Muslim population. 

_"...the Taliban has been going door to door, threatening midwives and
ordering pharmacies to clear their shelves of all birth control medicines
and devices."_

Read more [11]

TAKE ACTION

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN RAISE FUNDS FOR POPULATION MATTERS WHEN YOU SHOP
ONLINE?

Sign up to EasyFundraising [12] or Give As You Live [13] today to support
our campaigns while you shop with many leading online retailers.

Quote of the month

_“There are reasonable ways to slow [population] growth. For one, women
and girls should have greater access to education. Studies show
opportunities to learn are an effective means to slow population increases.
Focusing on that goal - which has many other benefits - most likely will
produce the fresh energy and ideas that we need across the globe. It is
much more realistic than fatuously assuring listeners that in the future,
somehow, all will be well.” _

- Naomi Oreskes, from her February 2023 Scientific American article, Eight
Billion People in the World Is a Crisis, Not an Achievement [14]

Manage your communication preferences here [15].

The Chandlery, 50 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7QY, UK
Registered company 3019081, charity 1114109
© 2023 Population Matters

  [Facebook] [16]   [Twitter] [17]   [Web] [18]   [Instagram] [19]



Links:
------
[1] /[link removed]
[2] /[link removed]
[3] [link removed]
[4] [link removed]
[5] [link removed]
[6] [link removed]
[7] [link removed]
[8] [link removed]
[9] [link removed]
[10] [link removed]
[11] [link removed]
[12] [link removed]
[13] [link removed]
[14] [link removed]
[15] [link removed]
[16] [link removed]
[17] [link removed]
[18] [link removed]
[19] [link removed]