[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WORLD POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JAMES C. GREENWOOD

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 13, 2002

  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, the world's population is currently 
growing at a rate of 77 million people per year. By 2050, the United 
Nations estimates that the world's population will reach 9.3 billion. 
While the impact of this population growth will be felt throughout the 
world, it is the lesser-developed nations that will bear the greatest 
burden unless poverty alleviation and long-term economic and 
environmental sustainability become a priority for the international 
community. Without a higher standard of living in these impoverished 
areas, one-fifth of the world's population, including children, will 
continue to suffer malnutrition, disease, and illiteracy.
  It is without question that young people all over the world are the 
potential of a country's future, and if their needs and demands of 
today are not addressed, they are in danger of jeopardizing that 
future. Risks of dying from complications of pregnancy or childbirth 
are 25 times higher for girls under the age of 15 and two times higher 
for women aged 15-19, yet 17 million women between the ages of 15 and 
19 give birth every year.
  It is impossible to tackle the issue of overpopulation without 
addressing the devastating burden this growth would have on the 
environment. It is evident that overpopulation can result in water 
shortages, soil degradation and air and water pollution. As a 
responsible society, we cannot afford to allow the erosion of our 
precious natural resources to continue any further.
  It is therefore important for us to recognize the problems associated 
with rapid population growth amongst young people. Governor Schweiker 
has proclaimed the week of October 20-26 of this year as World 
Population Awareness Week in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and I 
would like to support the Governor in this effort by entering his 
proclamation into the Congressional Record.

            Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Governor's Office

             Proclamation--World Population Awareness Week

                          October 20-26, 2002

       Whereas, the 21st century offers enormous environmental and 
     societal challenges for governments at all levels; and
       Whereas, these challenges call for innovative leadership to 
     ensure resource conservation, protection of open space, waste 
     prevention, sanitation management to provide quality of life. 
     These challenges are inextricably linked to patterns of 
     considerable demographic change; and
       Whereas, world population is projected to increase by 
     almost 80 million per year with 98 percent of population 
     growth projected to occur in the least developed countries of 
     the world. This growth can lead to disease, hunger and 
     starvation; and
       Whereas, demographic problems are not limited to the under 
     developed nations. These problems are also a reality in the 
     United States and other industrialized nations.
       Therefore, I, Mark S. Schweiker, Governor of the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim October 20-
     26, 2002, as World Population Awareness Week In Pennsylvania. 
     I encourage all citizens to reflect upon these challenges and 
     seek rational, humanitarian and community-based solutions.
       Given under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the 
     City of Harrisburg on this twenty-fourth day of July in the 
     year of our Lord two thousand and two and of the Commonwealth 
     the two hundred and twenty-seventh.
                                                Mark S. Schweiker,
                                                         Governor.

     

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