U.S. policy threatens global population stabilization | by Joan Jones Holtz Worldwide, three billion people are under the age of 25. One billion of those are entering their reproductive years (14-25). The reproductive choices these young people make will have a tremendous impact on the future of our planet. Our planet is now home to 6.1 billion people doubled since 1960. In January 2001, two days into his administration, President George W. Bush reinstated the Global Gag Rule preventing over 70 countries from receiving U.S. aid if they, with non-U.S. funds, provide legal abortion services or advocate in favor of legal abortion services. This summer the administration withheld the $34 million appropriated by bipartisan efforts in Congress to aid the United Nations Population Fund, erroneously claiming that the fund supports forced abortions and sterilization programs in China. In the 1960s in the developing world, when less than 10% of people had access to modern family planning, women had about six children. Today with 40% having access to family planning, family size has been reduced to a little more than three children. The worldwide birthrate has been nearly cut in half. But family planning programs require funding. Bush supporters claim they want to prevent abortions. But withholding funding for family planning promotes the opposite. Providing access to family planning helps reduce unintended pregnancies and the incidence of abortions. Without U.S. funding, the United Nations Population Fund estimates that 800,000 more abortions will occur each year. Education and access to health and family planning services are the key to lower birth rates. When these services are available, women use them. > More information

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