unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/19/89)
Choices For Crowded Continent Of Africa Posting Date: 09/18/89 Source: UNITEX Network, Hoboken, NJ, USA Host: (201) 795-0733 ISSN: 1043-7932 Robin Lloyd Zimbabwe NBC Nightly News Thursday September 14, 1989 Africa, the second largest continent, should be rich and prosperous, but each year more and more people crowd onto the land that has been abused for centuries. Drought and food shortages grow more frequent. Over population has become African's greatest problem. Within 20 years, the population of 630 million will double, and experts fear famine will spread. JODI JACOBSON, Worldwide Institute, says unless we solve the problems, a catastrophe is inevitable. In a village in Kenya, for generations village elders have promoted large families, most women having 6 or 7 children. Some are now realizing they will be better off with fewer children. Some African leaders like Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe are urging women to have smaller families and a family planning program has reduced families from 6 to 5 children. The rural areas are less receptive to family planning. FLORENCE CHIKARA, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council, says the biggest problem is getting the men to appreciate the importance of family planning. People moving to the cities find life so difficult that most can't afford children, helping to slow the population growth. Dr. CANDICE BRADLEY (SP), University of California, says the population will go down, and things are already changing. Many fear the efforts to control Africa's population may be too little, too late. * Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501) --- Patt Haring | United Nations | FAX: 212-787-1726 patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | BBS: 201-795-0733 patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | (3/12/24/9600 Baud) -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-