Published: Jan. 27, 2023
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Dear Friends: I apologize for putting the following Friends in the position of needing to send you this message. -- Mary Klein
The Population Working Group of Quaker Earthcare Witness was pleased that Western Friend published two brief documents in its weekly news for January 21, 2023. However, use of the term “population control” in one of the headings made us less happy; we purposively never use those words together.
“Population control” is not in our witness for the following reasons: Unfortunately, there have been many examples of the abuse of reproductive health measures in China, India and even in the United States. Although family planning has had immense benefits for humanity across the globe, there is also a history of forced sterilizations and forced abortions in certain places and times. Sometimes this sort of control has been to slow population growth, often with racist or genocidal motivation. The Population Working Group decries this sort of control. We feel that family planning must be voluntary, where the individual has control over her or his own reproduction. We have recently labored over and approved a statement on Reproductive Equity, which is attached below. Please let one of us know if you have any questions.
Richard Grossman, Clerk: Richard[at]population-matters[dot]org
Stan Becker, Convener: sbecker2[at]jhu[dot]edu