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By withholding U.S. money from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Bush administration has yet again thwarted one of the organizations leading the way to promote voluntary family planning and women's advancement. It has turned its back on a program that saves the lives of women and children, improves the quality of life for families around the world and ultimately protects the environment. Rapid population growth sits at the root of many environmental problems threatening our planet. Increased air and water pollution and stress on depleted natural resources are but a few of the environmental consequences of population growth. The best way to address the pressures population growth places on the environment is through increasing access to voluntary family planning. UNFPA gives women choices about the size and spacing of their families, ultimately slowing population growth. U.S. funding for UNFPA was initially frozen based on claims that UNFPA promoted forced abortions and sterilizations. However, when President Bush sent a team to China to investigate these claims -- the team found no evidence to support the President's allegations. To date, the Administration has withheld $127 million in funds already appropriated by Congress. One year’s withheld funding of $34 million could prevent as many as 2 million unwanted pregnancies and 4,700 maternal deaths in developing countries.
Write your own message to Secretary Rice and let her know that as an environmentalist and an advocate for women's rights, you believe the U.S should fund UNFPA's life- saving work! Click here to read Sierra Club's joint statement to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. (doc file) Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club |
