Population Problem is
Overwhelming
Rio De Janeiro, June 9th, 1992 (ips/luis
cordova) -- an unconventional clock has been
set up at 'riocentre,' the site of the rio de
janeiro earth summit. instead of measuring time, it
measures the planet's population and resources.
at monday's plenary session, the united nations
fund for population activities' (unfpa) director
nafis sadik confronted the representatives from
some 170 countries with the need to increase social
spending as a means of curbing overpopulation.
three people are born every second. with numbers
flashing by at a blur, the digital counter
registered 5,466,540,323 residents on the planet,
at 15:17 gmt.
meanwhile, in dramatic counterpoint, the same
clock ticks off the loss of the earth's arable land
- one hectare every eight seconds is lost to
desertification.
with more people and less land, the planet's
demographic problem has surfaced as a major concern
in many of the discussions and documents being
generated at the united nations conference on
environment and development (unced), running from
jun. 3-14.
chapter five of 'agenda 21,' a comprehensive
plan of action for improving and protecting the
environment in the coming century, specifically
addresses the population problem.
while chapter five is one of the least
controversial chapters of agenda 21, it still has
not been able to avoid being the target of debate,
especially the paragraphs on funding and birth
control.
according to agenda 21, some 4.5 billion dollars
annually are necessary to implement sane
demographic policies in developing nations, where
the population explosion is most pronounced.
it goes on to say that "to implement intensive
programmes and apply integrated strategies for
population and environment, a commitment of some 7
billion dollars is needed annually until the year
2000." however, the paragraph is in brackets,
indicating it is still under negotiation.
the other sticky point is the statement that
every couple, and in particular, every woman, has
the right to decide how many children they wish to
have, and when.
the statement is a direct reference to and
support of family planning and birth control, an
issue vehemently opposed by the vatican and other
organisations.
an argentinean association of large families has
been sending faxes to rio attacking agenda 21. "you
are trying to control our private lives by imposing
birth control in our countries," the fax
states.
unfpa's 1992 report states that 250,000 people
are born every day, 93 million every year. at this
rate, there will be 11 billion people living on the
planet by the year 2100.
at the same time, the world's natural resources
are disappearing at an equally alarming rate. the
big question becomes&emdash;how will we feed and
take care of everyone?
it is hoped that some answers and serious
commitments will come out of the earth summit.
still, sadik said it is not possible to address the
population problem by forcing the poorest people to
accept some international programme. instead, she
said, the answer lies in efficient, well-planned
sustainable development.
source: en.unced.general, 12 June
1992.
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