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World Population Day 2008:
Plan Your Future, Plan Your Family
 July 11, 2008, marks the nineteenth annual World Population Day, created by the United Nations to give people around the world an opportunity to reflect upon the impact that over 6.7 billion people have on our planet. This year, world population will increase by more than 73 million people. Environmental dilemmas such as water scarcity, deforestation and biodiversity loss are exacerbated by rapid population growth.
This year's theme, "Plan Your Future: Plan Your Family" is a chance to build awareness of the importance of voluntary family planning to a wide range of development issues, including gender equality, poverty, maternal health, human rights and environmental protection. When women and men can choose the size and spacing of their families, they tend to have smaller, healthier families. This has a ripple effect that benefits communities socially, economically, and environmentally.
By increasing funding for international family planning programs to $ 1 billion in FY 2009, the United States can help bring an end to the rise of poverty, hunger, environmental degradation, and gender inequality that comes with poor health care and rapid population growth.
Take action today!
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs is expected to mark-up their appropriations bill on July 16th. Sierra Club, along with other colleague organizations, is targeting subcommittee members, House and Senate leadership, as well as all Congressional members. Timing for the Senate to mark-up their spending bill is unclear. They are likely to take action after the House bill goes to the full Appropriations Committee in July. However, it is possible that the Senate will not take any action until after the August recess.
Voice your support today!
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