[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12908-S12909]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WORLD POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK

 Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to call World Population 
Awareness Week 1998 to the attention of my colleagues. October 24-31st 
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 Tommy G. Thompson's proclamation to the attention of 
my colleagues. I am pleased to note that Jeannette Bell, Mayor of West 
Allis has agreed to proclaim World Population Awareness Week as well.
  I ask that the proclamation be printed in the Record.
  The proclamation follows:


           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 
     Wisconsin 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;
       Whereas the 1994 International Conference on Population and 
     Development determined that political commitment and 
     appropriate

[[Page S12909]]

     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 Tommy G. 
     Thompson, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, 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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