International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Commemorated every year since August 9, 1995, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples celebrates the 476 million Indigenous people living across 90 countries. The people of these 5,000 unique cultures make up less than 5% of the world’s population, but they account for 15% of the world’s poorest people on earth. (UN) COVID-19 is […]
Population Is a Hidden Factor in the News
A recent University of Washington study indicated that world population may peak sooner than most forecasts project, and at a lower level. Of course, all projections are suspect, including this one. The report triggered the usual round of comments from some quarters that population growth is an issue of the past. What rubbish! To understand […]
Sustainable Swaps That Sometimes Save Money
Sometimes the fight against climate change can feel overwhelming. The huge corporations that refuse to adapt can feel untouchable, and policy changes are happening too slowly. One small way to exert some control is to make everyday lifestyle changes that contribute to a more sustainable future. For me, making small changes in my home helped […]
On World Population Day, One Incredible Organization Working Toward Access to Family Planning for All: WINGS Guatemala
As part of Population Connection’s Summer Speaker Series, on July 9th we were delighted to be joined by two members of WINGS Guatemala’s Executive Team, Drs. Rodrigo Barillas (Executive Director) and Michelle Dubon (Medical Director), to discuss their organization’s vital work, along with the ways it has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Women’s International […]
Supreme Court Expands Employers Who Can Refuse to Cover Contraception in Health Plans
Earlier this week, we found out that employers’ religious beliefs are more important to the highest court in the country than individuals’ ability to manage their own reproductive health and lives. The Supreme Court decided, 7–2, in favor of allowing bosses and universities to omit contraception from their employee and student health insurance plans based […]
High Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa
The African continent is home to approximately 1.34 billion people, and that number is about to get much larger. Because of high fertility rates in many African countries, the continent has the highest rate of population growth in the world: 2.5% per year. Though fertility rates are high throughout the continent, they’re highest in the […]
COVID-19 Baby Boom or Bust? Or Both?
This spring, COVID-19 stay-at-home orders have meant that couples across the country—and the world—have spent months cooped up inside and looking for ways to pass the time. Soon enough, some were speculating that we could see a baby boom in nine months or so, similar to popular anecdotes of mini baby booms that have occurred […]
COVID-19 Exposes More Women to Gender-Based Violence, Including Reproductive Coercion
“Home sweet home” is a commonly used phrase to denote our appreciation for the familiar and comfortable. However, this sentiment towards home is not shared by all. For some women, home is the most dangerous place for them to be. Amid the various global COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing restrictions, more women are stuck inside […]
We Can’t Fight for Reproductive Rights Without Confronting Racial Injustice
Over the past two weeks, we have witnessed an incredible outpouring of highly justified protest against racial injustice following the brutal murders by police of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. These crimes are stark reminders that despite progress, the world we live in is still profoundly unjust. As a white global health student at Duke […]
COVID-19 Lockdowns Clear Skies
People hate to take the heat. We are masters of deflection and somehow always find a way to put the blame on someone, or something, else. And then, when there’s no one else to blame, we resort to sheer denial. Take climate change, for example. On an episode of “Good Morning Britain” in 2019, Trump […]
