Nonprofit Says Condoms Highlight Need for Reproductive Rights to Combat Wildlife Extinction, Unsustainable Human Population Growth
By Leigh Moyer, biologicaldiversity.org
As Americans mark the end of 2016 and prepare for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, the Center for Biological Diversity will distribute 10,000 free Endangered Species Condoms nationwide. At a time when concern is growing about reproductive rights under the new administration, the condoms highlight the connection between unsustainable human population growth and the wildlife extinction crisis — and the need for universal access to reproductive healthcare and education.
“Many women are already worrying about what life under President Trump is going to mean for access to affordable birth control. It’s a very real possibility that the Affordable Care Act will be gutted and contraception costs will skyrocket,” said Leigh Moyer, the Center’s population organizer. “Human population growth drives the majority of environmental problems, so making it harder to prevent unplanned pregnancy isn’t good news for women or for wildlife.”
According to new census data released in late December, the US population grew to more than 323 million in 2016. Scientists agree that the planet is experiencing its sixth mass wildlife extinction. While previous extinction periods were driven by geological or cosmic factors, consensus is that the current crisis is caused by human activities. Western states such as Utah, Nevada and Idaho, as well as Florida, experienced the largest population increases in the past year — all places where wildlife is already being crowded out by rapid sprawl and population pressure. The condoms will be handed out by more than 100 volunteers at holiday celebrations and on college campuses across the country.
“I hope to shed some light on some issues I feel are important to me, like the environment and reproductive rights,” said Gusty Pohlman, a volunteer condom distributor in Terrace Park, Ohio. “I plan on distributing these condoms while at home over winter break to my family and friends.”
On Monday the Center kicks off a 16-city roadshow of resistance against Trump, called Earth2Trump. The free shows will feature national and local speakers, live music and an opportunity to join a growing movement of resistance to all forms of oppression and all attacks on reproductive rights and our environment. Destinations include:
- Seattle, Washington
- Portland, Oregon
- Reno, Nevada
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Denver, Colorado
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Chicago, Illinois
- Oakland, California
- Los Angeles, California
- Tucson, Arizona
- Silver City, New Mexico
- Houston, Texas
- St. Petersburg, Florida
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Norfolk, Virginia
- Washington DC (January 18, 20 and 21, 2017)
The Center’s population and sustainability program uses creative media to promote a range of common-sense solutions like access to family planning and reproductive health services, as well as education, opportunity and equal rights for women and girls.
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. Their website is www.biologicaldiversity.org.
Latest Census Bureau Report on Earth and US Human Population
As our nation prepares to ring in the new year, the US Census Bureau released projections December 28, 2016. The projected US population will be 324,310,011 on January 1, 2017.
This represents an increase of 2,245,347, or 0.70 percent, from New Year’s Day 2016.
The combination of births, deaths and net international migration will increase the US population by one person every 17 seconds.
The projected world population on January 1, 2017, is 7,362,350,168, an increase of 77,849,375, or 1.07 percent, from New Year’s Day 2016.
During January 2017, 4.3 births and 1.8 deaths are expected worldwide every second.
