UK Catholics defy Church teachings on family planning

A survey of 1500 UK mass-goers by The Tablet found that most co-habited before marriage, used or had used condoms and the pill, and thought Church teachings on contraception should be revisited. BBC 27th July 2008

Population of Scotland highest for 25 years

The population of Scotland has risen to its highest level since 1983, according to government statistics.
The figures showed that the population had risen to 5,144,200 by June 2007, an increase of 27,300 compared with the previous year.
The increase was mostly due to the highest levels of migration to Scotland from other parts of the UK [...]

Wetlands a “carbon bomb”

Wetlands, like any other underexploited inch of planet earth, are subject to being developed for agriculture and other purposes.  This process contributes to releasing the carbon stored in wetlands, an amount equivalent to that currently in the atmosphere.  This is a similar story to the potential release due to climate change of methane and carbon [...]

Impact of migrants affects UK community cohesion

A survey by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation finds widespread concern in areas with a relatively high level of immigration about the effect on the provision of social housing, house prices and school places.  The number of people on council house waiting lists has risen from 650,000 to 1.7m since 1997.  Notably, the concern isn’t about [...]

Pope calls for restraint in exploiting resources

In a visit to Australia, the Pope expressed concern at the squandering of natural resources and the insatiable demands of consumer society.
“Reluctantly we come to acknowledge that there are also scars which mark the surface of our earth, erosion, deforestation, the squandering of the world’s mineral and ocean resources in order to fuel an insatiable [...]

UK teen abortions rising/ teen pregnancy report

The number of abortions in the UK is rising across all age groups.  The rise for teenagers comes at the same time as teenage pregnancy rates are falling, though we’re still the highest in Europe.  This suggests that teens are getting better access to abortion services, which is to be welcomed, given the impact births [...]

Climate change hits health, sealife: G8 outcome disappoints

Climate change is already causing 150,000 deaths each year, according to the WHO, and this is set to rise.
Up to one quarter of coral species face extinction reveals a study in Science, reported 10th July in BBC, Guardian, New Scientist and Reuters.
Still at sea, omission of small scale traditional fishing means that fish catches are grossly [...]

EU agrees new rules for illegal immigration

In a meeting in Cannes, EU nations agreed draft rules for managing illegal immigration in a more consistent way across the continent.  BBC 7th July.
In the UK, a committee of MPs has found that areas with high levels of recent immigration has low community cohesion and significant anxiety over pressure on public services. BBC 16 [...]

World Bank, UN Secretary General calls for greater commitment to family planning

A new World Bank study finds that there are 51m unplanned pregnancies in developing countries every year.  25m more are due to contraception that has failed or is used incorrectly.  A further 5m are injured each year through undergoing unsafe abortion.
The report notes that frequent and teenage childbirths carry significantly greater risks to the mother.
The [...]

Report challenges “Right” to have children

 
 
There is no unlimited right to have children, according to a study published today (Friday July 11, World Population Day) by the Optimum Population Trust. Despite the United Nations’ reassertion, for this year’s World Population Day, of the 1968 UN declaration that individuals have a basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and [...]

UK Fertility highest for 34 years

Live births
Fertility highest for 34 years

Total fertility rate (TFR) in England and Wales

The provisional Total Fertility Rate (TFR) for 2007 gives an average of 1.91 children per woman in England and Wales. This is an increase from 1.86 in 2006 and is the sixth consecutive annual increase from a low point in 2001 where the [...]

Under threat: trees, species, soil

13m hectares of forest are lost every year, according to the UN. Coverage here.
A report by the respected Rights and Resources Initiative predicts that rising demand for food and fuel will mean the loss of huge areas for tropical forest over the next few decades.  With little growth in agricultural productivity, soaring demand from rising [...]

People are already working longer

It seems to make sense that if people live longer, they can also work longer.  This challenges the idea that only an ever growing population can provide enough young workers to cover pension costs, an unsustainable notion.  There is evidence that longer work lives are already happening.

Climate change warnings multiply

UK emissions caused by UK consumers rose by one fifth between 1992 and 2004, after taking into account imports. (Indy 2nd July)
The McKinsey Global Institute say a tenfold rise in the ouput to emission ratio is required.
PWC says action is required now, in a major report (Guardian 3rd July)
Stern says situation has worsened: the cost [...]

Is a fertility stall a manger in Bethlehem?

Unfortunately not. Countries’ fertility rate typically falls as they become better off.  Neither is now happening in sub-Saharan Africa, leading to higher projections for population.  Hence the stall. Report here.
The Bush administration has responded by withholding UNFPA funds for the 7th year in a row. A record 181 countries contributed a record amount to the fund [...]