Controlling the population is a controversial topic for many. Why?• It touches on religion, especially those who think the reason for sexual relationships is for procreation only.• It touches on Rich Nations vs Poor Nations…people in rich nations tell the poor nations they are over populating the earth…poor nations tell rich nations it is all about consumption in which the rich are exploiting all the resources.
• And it very much also touches on women’s rights to decide when and if they choose to have children.
China has had massive problems with their overpopulation and decided to “fix” it by passing a one child law, which means that the State will support only one child per family except for parents of the under populated different racial groups. What has this meant? People with money have more children, and girls are being aborted or left to die at birth…because sons can take better care of the aging parents…and now there are 35 million men with no available female mates.
In poverty stricken countries people still have lots of children to ensure some will reach adulthood…can you even imagine? In wealthier countries when a child dies before a parent as that being the unnatural way…the wrong way of life but in poor countries many parents have buried their children…it is the norm, not the oddity.As we noted on Mother's Day, in Nicaragua the birth rate is dropping but teenage pregnancy is higher here than any other country in the Western Hemisphere and we have to ask, Why? Birth control is available and though the Catholic Church is strong here, religion plays some role but not much.*
What seems to be the largest factor for teen girls is hopelessness. They see no future, so they look for their future in older men and a baby.
Iran faced overpopulation and seemed to reduce their population by the most sensible way possible…the government and the religious leaders stressed family planning. Family planning is free…ALL types of modern family planning. MEN and women have to go to family planning classes BEFORE they are issued a marriage license. Women are encouraged to stay in school and that includes graduate school. Iran…is lauded for getting its population back under control and they did it through education and giving hope.
Becca and Jessenia, our health promoter, have started a group of teen girls with donations from the Mother’s Day alternative gift. They took the group last week to see the movie, Godzilla, and the horror of the afternoon was not the movie but hearing their stories as they traveled and had snacks…one is one of 12 children in a very poor family…one is part of the family that had 2 children to die a few years ago from pneumonia and the mother miscarried from grief because they were “saving” the medicine, thinking they might need it more later. A movie was a great way to get the group started, to get out, see more, see different possibilities, and have some long-awaited fun.
Free family planning, education for all, and above all hope for women…and girls…if you want to have a world less populated, that is what you work for. -Kathleen
*The Church does play a heavy role in policy on abortion, which has always been illegal in Nicaragua and in recent years therapeutic abortions (when the mother's life is in danger) have also become illegal.
