[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WORLD POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK

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                         HON. MARTIN OLAV SABO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 7, 1998

  Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call World Population 
Awareness Week 1998 to the attention of my colleagues.
  October 25-31, 1998 marks the 13th annual celebration of World 
Population Awareness Week. More than 300 family planning, environmental 
educational, community and service organizations in 61 countries are 
co-sponsoring the week in an effort to raise awareness of the need or 
universal voluntary family planning.
  I commend to the attention of my colleagues the following 
proclamation, made by the Governor of Minnesota, the Honorable Arne H. 
Carlson:

           World Population Awareness Week Proclamation-1998

       Whereas world population stands today at more than 5.9 
     billion and increases by more than 80 million per year, with 
     virtually all of this growth in the least developed 
     countries;
       Whereas the consequences of rapid population growth are not 
     limited to the developing world, but extend to all nations 
     and to all people, including every citizen of the State of 
     Minnesota concerned for human dignity, freedom and democracy, 
     as well as for the impact on the global economy;
       Whereas 1.3 billion people--more than the combined 
     population of Europe and North Africa--live in absolute 
     poverty on the equivalent of one U.S. dollar or less a day;
       Whereas 1.5 billion people--nearly one-quarter of the world 
     population--lack an adequate supply of clean drinking water 
     or sanitation;
       Whereas more than 840 million people--one-fifth of the 
     entire population of the developing world--are hungry or 
     malnourished;
       Whereas demographic studies and surveys indicate that at 
     least 120 million married women in the developing world--and 
     a large but undefined number of unmarried women--want more 
     control over their fertility but lack access to family 
     planning;
       Whereas this unmet demand for family planning is projected 
     to result in 1.2 billion unintended births; and
       Whereas the 1994 International Conference on Population and 
     Development determined that political commitment and 
     appropriate programs aimed at providing universal access to 
     voluntary family planning information, education and services 
     can ensure world population stabilization at 8 billion or 
     less rather than 12 billion or more.
       Now, therefore, I, Arne H. Carlson, Governor of the State 
     of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim the week of October 25-31, 
     1998 as World Population Awareness Week, and urge citizens of 
     the State to take cognizance of this event and to participate 
     appropriately in its observance.

     

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