[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WORLD POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HAROLD E. FORD, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 1998

  Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call World Population 
Awareness Week 1998 to the attention of my colleagues. October 24-31 
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 for universal voluntary family 
planning.
  I call Governor Don Sundquist's proclamation to the attention of my 
colleagues and ask that it be submitted for the Record.

                  The State of Tennessee Proclamation

       Whereas, more than half of the world's population will live 
     in urban agglomerations by the turn of the century; and
       Whereas, the growth of cities provides opportunities, but 
     also portends risks that could intensify poverty, pollution, 
     disease, social disintegration, violence and human misery; 
     and
       Whereas, urban poverty is already as high as 60 percent in 
     some metropolitan areas, more than one-third of the urban 
     population has substandard housing, and 40 percent lack 
     access to safe drinking water of adequate sanitation; and
       Whereas, in all regions of the world--north and south, rich 
     and poor--rabid urbanization has spawned a number of common 
     problems including unemployment, a shortage of adequate 
     housing, traffic congestion, declining infrastructure, and 
     lack of funds to provide for basic services; and
       Whereas, urban crises, stemming from high population 
     density and activity is expected to be among the major 
     challenges of the 21st century,
       Now therefor, I Don Sundquist, Governor of the State of 
     Tennessee, do hearby proclaim the week of October 24-31, 
     1998, as World Population Awareness Week in Tennessee and 
     urge all citizens to join me in recognizing this worthy 
     observance.

     

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