| Tears and snot - a universal image of dying children |
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| Written by Daniel Steinmann | ||||
Page 2 of 2 I accept the reality of globalisation and I realise there is no turning
back on this wave. But I have to admit the side-effects are just as
powerful as the advantages, and they are invariably disastrous.
Schumacher’s vision of self-contained independent industries serving a
network of inter-dependent regional entities is maybe not as
far-fetched as it was then made out to be. His observations on the
limitations of the earth’s resources, is now almost self-evident.If we are to find a solution to poverty in the next fifty years, one of the pivotal aspects is to reduce population growth rates. In practise, this means we must have fewer children. Since the number of children in poor and extremely poor household is rarely a consideration, it shows us that vast sums will have to be invested in health and education. The reality is that poor people will continue having unwanted children and end up with large families for which they inevitably cannot provide. Their main concern is their own survival, not their offspring’s. Just saying everybody must have fewer children is not a solution. People must on their own motivation want to have fewer children. Parenthood must be planned and not accidental because the only people that suffer in these accidents are the unwanted children. There actually exists in Namibia an association that advocates Planned Parenthood. I have not heard from or about them in several years, but groups like these will become very important in the future education mix to ensure that poor people can also afford family planning and that they want it. If we do not start planning now, before we can realise Vision 2030, we will be overrun by a wave of unwanted children for whom we cannot care. |
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