November 2011's Edition of
POPULATION ONLINE
Brings you stories on...

• Winners of the 32nd Annual Global Media Awards Announced
  The winners of the 32nd annual Global Media Awards (GMAs), which honor excellence in population reporting, have been announced! This year, the GMAs will be honoring achievements in ten categories and the winners include the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, a Kenyan newspaper report on the 7 billion mark, and an Ethiopian serial drama. The awards dinner will be held in New York City on January 12, 2012
• Population Institute Cited in Nicholas Kristof Editorial
  In his November 2 op-ed piece for The New York Times titled, "The Birth Control Solution," columnist Nicholas Kristof asked, "What if there were a solution to many of the global problems that confront us, from climate change to poverty to civil wars?" Kristof says there is a solution: family planning, along with girls' education, women's rights, and an end to child marriages in developing countries. In his column, Kristof cited the Population Institute's new report, From 6 Billion to 7 Billion, on the critical role that gender equality plays in reducing birth rates.
• Population Institute Organizes "Speak Out" on 7 Billion Mark
  In conjunction with the 7 billion population mark that was officially reached on October 31, 2011, the Population Institute organized a special Global Population Speak Out (GPSO). The campaign was entitled, "7 Billion: It's Time to Talk," and featured the launch of a new website to engage and inform the activist community in building support for universal access to family planning and reproductive health services. As part of the GPSO, representatives of the Population Institute participated in nearly two dozen radio and television shows, and authored several opinion (oped) pieces for publication in newspapers and on-line publications.
• Sounding Off on the World at 7 Billion
  According to estimates from the United Nations, world population crossed the seven billion mark on October 31, 2011 – a scant 12 years after reaching six billion in 1999. The landmark prompted a variety of reactions all around the world, from celebratory to cautionary. Common among the remarks was a call for serious reflection and consideration on where we go from here. Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of United Nations Population Fund, emphasized the need to educate young girls; Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University discussed the importance of reducing worldwide fertility rates in order to achieve sustainable development; and Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, called for the world to "unite, seven billion strong, in the name of the global common good."
• Grist Comic Talks about 7 Billion
  Among the myriad articles and commentary covering the seven billion landmark in world population, online environmental magazine Grist came up with a different approach: an illustrated web comic. In a very straight-forward manner, the six-page comic covers a variety of topics, including population growth in developing countries, the challenges and successes of family planning, and what slowing population growth can mean for everyone. The comic also provides helpful suggestions on what each of us can do to increase public awareness and support.
• UN Warns of Food Insecurity
  The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization released its annual report on the world food situation in October. The report warned that, "Food price volatility featuring high prices is likely to continue and possibly increase, making poor farmers, consumers and countries more vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity." The report indicated that, "Small, import-dependent countries, particularly in Africa, are especially at risk. Many of them still face severe problems following the world food and economic crises of 2006-2008." The report, "The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2011" also warned that rising food prices and droughts in place like the Horn of Africa, "are challenging our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by half in 2015."
• UNDP Releases New Report on the Environment and Global Development
  On November 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) launched its 2011 Human Development Report, titled Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All. The report warns, "Development progress in the world's poorest countries could be halted or even reversed by mid-century unless bold steps are taken now to slow climate change, prevent further environmental damage, and reduce deep inequalities within and among nations." With the Rio 20 Conference fast approaching, the Report urges world leaders to understand the "critical" links between environmental sustainability and equity.
• UNFPA Releases 2011 State of World Population
  Just in time for the world to greet the birth of its seven billionth inhabitant, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has released its annual State of World Population report. The report emphasized that, despite declines in fertility (women are now averaging 2.5 children during their lifetimes), global population is still growing at a rate of 80 million per year. The report noted that, "In many parts of the developing world, where population growth is outpacing economic growth, the need for reproductive health services, especially family planning, remains great."
• The War on Women Continues in Congress
  2011 is turning out to be a challenging year for women's reproductive health as Congress moves to cut funding both domestically and internationally. The House’s proposed FY 2012 budget for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education would slash or eliminate funding for the Title X Family Planning Program, Planned Parenthood, the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, and the President's health care reform law. U.S. funding for UNFPA funding has also come under fire. And in the latest assault, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 358, the so-called "Protect Life Act." Supporters of the bill say it will prevent federal funding from being used to provide abortions, but the measure would endanger women's health by allowing hospitals to refuse treatment to a woman even in a life-threatening situation. The bill will face stiff opposition in the Senate, and President Obama has promised to veto the legislation should it reach his desk.

For more information visit: http://www.populationinstitute.org