PUSH
JOURNAL MEDIA SUMMARY
June 16-30, 2007
POPULATION
More than Half of
World Population Will Soon Live in Cities: UNFPA, the United
Nations Population Fund, released its “State of World Population
2007: Unleashing the Potential of Urban Growth” report worldwide
on June 27. Several media outlets covered the key findings: by
2008, more than half the world’s population, or 3.3 billion
people, will live in cities. The majority of urban growth is happening
in small to medium-sized cities in the developing world, where
most people already live in extreme poverty.
The report warned that
without proper planning and policy change, this increase in urban
population will strain already limited resources like water and
health care and create more violence, disease and death. “The
poor settle in the worst living space, on steep hillsides or riverbanks
that will be flooded, where nobody else wants to live and speculators
haven’t taken control of the land,” said author George
Martin of UNFPA.
The report remained
optimistic, stating that cities can use their growth to create
significant economic development, and that they still represent
the best hope of escaping extreme poverty. "If we want to
capitalize on the potential of this urban migration, then we should
change our mindset," said UNFPA head Thoraya Obaid. "Policies
have to be changed and the proper investments and programmes have
to be made…Slums, poverty and violence exist because urban
growth has not been well managed." Read: The New York Times,
Associated Press, The Guardian, BBC News, Reuters, The Daily Times,
Manila Bulletin, The Guardian, The Daily Times, Daily News, Xinhua
General News Service, Jamaica Gleaner, The Nation, Times of India,
Yonhap News, AAP Newsfeed, The Toronto Star
SAVING WOMEN’S
LIVES
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Kill One Woman Every Minute: On June 27 and 28, Voice of America
and Newsweek reported on the number-one killer of women around
the world; childbirth. According to the World Health Organization,
childbirth is the leading cause of death and disability for women
worldwide. And for every childbearing death, 30 more women become
injured or ill. “The situation is particularly tragic because
solutions are simple and relatively inexpensive,” Newsweek
wrote. Read: Newsweek , Voice of America
Advocates Raise
Fistula Awareness: On June 17, the Washington Times reported
that activists, documentary filmmakers and members of Congress
have teamed up to raise awareness about obstetric fistula, a preventable,
treatable injury from prolonged labor during childbirth. The filmmakers
of “A Walk to Beautiful,” a film chronicling five African
women living with fistula, joined UNFPA, Rep. Michael Honda (D-CA)
and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) at a National Press Club event
to promote awareness. Rep. Maloney highlighted a bill she has
re-introduced that would provide UNFPA with $34 million to prevent
and treat the condition. "Surely we can all agree that this
devastating condition is worth everything we can do against it,"
she said. Read: Washington Times
New Vaccine 90 Percent
Effective Against Cervical Cancer: On June 28, Agence France-Presse
reported that a new cervical cancer vaccine, Ceravix, is 90 percent
effective against Human Papilloma Virus types 16 and 18, which
account for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases. Cervical cancer
is the second most common type of cancer among women, according
to UNFPA, with around 500,000 worldwide cases each year. If left
untreated, cervical cancer is almost always fatal and death rates
are expected to rise by 25 percent in the next ten years. Ceravix
is currently being tested and has yet to go to market. Read: Agence
France-Presse
Canada Denounces
Mail Order Gender-Testing Kits: On June 21, the Canadian Press
reported that The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of
Canada has publicly denounced the home use of mail-order fetal
gender-testing kits. Many physicians and advocates believe these
kits, which claim to determine a fetus’s sex at 5-6 weeks
of pregnancy, can and are being used to abort fetuses based solely
on gender. The group unveiled its position at a conference to
discuss, among other female health concerns, the world’s
alarmingly high maternal mortality of more than 500,000 deaths
per year. Read: Canadian Press
Canadian Doctor
Tackles Maternal Mortality in Uganda: On June 24, the Ottawa
Citizen reported on Canadian Dr. Jean Chamberlain, who set up
a master’s degree program in Public Health Leadership and
is a founder of Save the Mothers. In her work in Uganda, Chamberlain
has called on members of parliament to take action against maternal
mortality. Sylvia Ssinabulya, a Ugandan member of parliament and
star pupil in Chamberlain’s program, introduced legislation
to increase access to contraception and emergency obstetrical
services nationwide. "For the first time ever, we have truly
committed to reducing the rates of maternal mortality in our country,"
said Ssinabulya. Read: Ottawa Citizen
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH AND RIGHTS
House Approves Contraceptives
in Foreign Aid Bill: On June 22, several media outlets reported
on the battle between President Bush and the House of Representatives
over family planning and foreign aid. The House approved a provision
in its foreign aid bill that would provide contraceptives to organizations
denied funding for providing or promoting abortion. “Rep.
Nita M. Lowey (D-N.Y.), sponsor of the amendment and chairman
of the Appropriations subcommittee on state and foreign operations,
sought to reassure Republicans that the contraceptives provision
does not shake the core antiabortion portion of the policy,”
The Washington Post reported. “‘What I did was put in
a very narrow provision that will reduce abortion, unintended
pregnancy and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS,’ Lowey said.”
Read: Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Reuters
Against Church,
Brazil Offers Free Emergency Contraception: On June 26, the
Associated Press reported that the Brazilian government is expanding
its newly liberalized family planning program to include distribution
of the “morning-after pill,” despite opposition from
the Vatican. Emergency contraception is part of the government’s
plan to curb unwanted pregnancies and dangerous illegal abortions.
An estimated 800,000 illegal abortions occur in Brazil each year,
making abortion the fourth leading cause of death for Brazilian
women. Prevention has become a government priority. Read: Associated
Press
Abortion Up Four
Percent in England, Wales: On June 20, The Guardian (London)
reported that abortion is up four percent in England and Wales
among women age 15-45. It is also occurring earlier in the gestation
period, with 68 percent of abortions taking place at under 10
weeks of pregnancy. Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British
Pregnancy Advisory Service, said women increasingly expected to
be able to plan their families and cannot do so through contraception
alone. "Becoming a parent is increasingly viewed as a significant
social responsibility, and although abortion can be a difficult
choice, we know that increasingly society is more understanding
of the compelling reasons why a woman may need to end a pregnancy."
Read: The Guardian
U.S. Lawmakers Want
Condoms for Border Control: On June 22, Reuters reported that
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) is pushing legislation to provide free contraception
to Mexico as a means of border control. "A slower rate of
growth of Mexico's population would improve the economy of Mexico.
It would also reduce the environmental pressure on Mexico's ecosystem.
But a slower rate of growth would also reduce the long-term illegal
immigration pressure on America's borders," he argued. The
suggestion was narrowly approved in the House amid protests from
Republicans who prefer abstinence-only sex education and family
planning methods. Read: Reuters
EMPOWERING WOMEN
Pending Moroccan
Elections Make Women Uneasy: On June 18, Women’s Enews
reported on impending elections in Morocco and their effect on
women’s rights. In 2000, Morocco passed liberalizing reforms
for women, but a change in parliament and nationwide Islamic revivalism
worry women’s rights advocates. "Everyone says the Islamists
will win," said Aicha Ech-Channa, founder of Feminine Solidarity,
a Casablanca-based group that assists single mothers. "On
behalf of democracy, they [the Islamists] may get power. But I'm
scared they will withdraw women's rights." Read: Women’s
Enews
Taliban Targets
Women in Afghanistan: On June 20, the BBC News reported that
despite significant advances in women’s equality in Afghanistan,
the newly resurgent Taliban is now targeting women to stop a shift
to Western values. Prominent women, members of parliament, teachers
and activists are being threatened with violence and even death.
Ms. Tooarpekay, an Afghan teacher and community and health worker,
said government officials are insincere about simple demands of
local people, unemployment is prevalent and there are few schools.
"All this drives people into the arms of the Taliban. And
the women become the worst sufferers again," she said. Read:
BBC News
Egypt Bans Female
Circumcision: On June 28, BBC News reported that Egypt has
announced a countrywide ban on female circumcision following the
recent death of a 12-year-old girl after the procedure. A partial
ban has existed in Egypt for ten years, with exceptions, but an
estimated 90 percent of women have endured the procedure. Egyptian
first lady Susanne Mubarak and prominent religious leaders have
come out against female circumcision to help increase public support
and compliance with the ban. Read: BBC News
HIV AND AIDS
HIV Rates Same in
War Zones: On June 28, Reuters reported that a new study by
The Lancet medical journal contradicts a common belief that armed
conflict raises HIV infection rates. In a seven-country study
in Africa, Lancet found no evidence that HIV infection rates rose
during conflict. Some advocates like Gopa Kumar Nair, Save the
Children's HIV and AIDS adviser, said the data may not be accurate
for a real-life situation. "Our experience from the field
clearly shows that there is a huge link between vulnerability
to HIV and conflict. We have seen community-based health systems
breaking down," Read: Reuters
Marketing Condoms
to Fight HIV/AIDS: On June 18, NPR’s Morning Edition
reported on two international nonprofit organizations that use
social marketing to sell condoms in developing nations. Both DKT
International and Population Services International (PSI) sell
low-cost health products such as condoms in developing nations
to fight HIV. Using advertising campaigns that highlight local
celebrities and music as well as cultural and historical references,
both organizations sell condoms as opposed to distributing them
freely. Sally Cole, Senior Vice President for PSI, “We sell
things and not give them away. We think if you buy it, you're
much more likely to use it.” Read: NPR- Morning Edition
Senate Passes AIDS
Foreign Aid Bill: On June 28, the Associated Press reported
that the Senate had approved is own foreign aid bill, lowering
funds for economic and political reform, the State Department
budget and foreign aid. It did, however, raise funding to combat
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Read: Associated Press
HIV Rates Soar in
Nepal: On June 20, Xinhua General News Service reported that
according to new data managed by Family Planning Association Nepal,
HIV infection rates have risen 100 percent among women and 200
percent among children in an alarmingly short period of time.
Infection rates also rose among recipients of blood donations,
organ transplants, intravenous drug users and clients of sex workers.
Read: Xinhua General News Service
Laura Bush Tours
Africa to Assess PEPFAR: On June 22 and 25, NPR and the Associated
Press reported that First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna
traveled to southern Africa for a four-nation tour to assess the
President’s Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR began with
$15 billion in 2003 and President Bush recently asked Congress
for $30 billion more in funding through 2011, PEPFAR is by far
the largest monetary commitment that any nation has made to fight
AIDS outside its own borders. Critics are asking Congress to remove
PEPFAR restrictions that allot one third of funding for abstinence-only
sex education, saying that more comprehensive prevention methods
are needed to fight HIV. Read: NPR, Associated Press
EDITORIALS and COLUMNS
Several media outlets
published commentary about the newly released UNFPA, the United
Nations Population Fund report, “State of World Population
2007: Unleashing the Potential of Urban Growth.” Media nationwide
reacted to the UNFPA recommendations on the policy changes needed
to unleash the potential of widespread urban growth and fight
poverty:
A Dallas Morning
News editorial focused on escaping the world’s already
overridden slums by connecting workers with the global economy
in responsible and sustainable ways. The report states “Though
cities concentrate poverty, they're also poor people's best hope
of escaping it.” Dallas Morning News concluded “In a
business sense, this is the equivalent of concentrating resources
to get the most return on investment.” Read: Dallas Morning
News,
A Seattle Post-Intelligencer
editorial discussed the opportunity for healthy, clean and
prosperous cities if governments enact policies to ensure land
for the poor, build sewers, invest in healthcare and more importantly,
expand women’s rights. “But many cities, especially
in Africa and Asia, have the chance to become healthier places
as they grow. City life, with its greater educational and work
opportunities for females, can promote population control.”
Read: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
On June 29, a column
by Jack Smith, of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, compared the
misplaced priorities of the Bush administration with the UNFPA
recommendations to fight widespread poverty. Smith examines what
could happen if the U.S. spent more money waging peace than war.
Only a fraction of the Iraq war budget could provide housing,
fix roads, provide safe water, healthcare and family planning
for many of the world’s poor. “It's [the UNFPA report]
sobering. But it also sheds light on the many opportunities that
we embattled earthlings have to make the planet a better place
to live if we'll just start thinking and acting more rationally,
compassionately, unselfishly and peacefully.” Read: Fort
Worth Star-Telegram
On June 29, the
Palm Beach Post published a column by Steve Gushee about the
effects of population growth on the environment and the role religion
plays. Gushee concludes that family planning is essential in combating
overpopulation and all its associated problems although the Roman
Catholic Church, most Muslim groups and many Protestants refuse
to accept the use of contraceptives in family planning. Although
the AIDS death rate is perversely checking population growth it
has not lead to a change in contraceptive teachings by these religious
groups. Evangelical President George Bush gives money to underdeveloped
countries but denies money for family planning to these same countries.
“The biblical world that once welcomed a growing population
and invited development is long gone. No longer need we be obedient
to the biblical imperative to populate the Earth. Now we need
to save it from our too numerous selves.” Read: Palm Beach
Post
On June 18, The
New York Times published an editorial about the recent G-8
summit pledge of $60 billion to fight HIV and other diseases,
saying the amount falls short of expectations. Activists say tens
of billions of dollars are needed over the next five years for
treatment, care and prevention of AIDS alone. “As Congress
wrestles with the fiscal 2008 appropriations bills this year,
it ought to provide the full $1.3 billion being sought by congressional
health advocates as the American contribution to a global fund
to combat the three diseases — not just $300 million as proposed
by the administration or the $850 million approved by the House
Appropriations Committee.” Read: The New York Times
The above summary
is produced by the Communications Consortium Media Center, 401
Ninth Street, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20004, 202.326.8700.
Redistribution is encouraged with credit to CCMC.
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