DC Population Activists' Weekend 2005
Group photo of DC Activist Weekend, April 1-5, 2005
Governmental attempts to implement population, environmental and health-care policies have caused much disagreement between economic and political contexts, and intervention has been viewed as both necessary and unproductive. But, despite contentions, these involvements have reflected an overall need to address an ethical factor, and international family planning is the issue at hand. As population increases, natural resources are threatened and causing deforestation, soil erosion from over-cultivation, water/air pollution, food scarcity, higher demand for fossil fuels (contributing toward global warming and ozone depletion), increased poverty and spreading of fatal diseases. Although the U.S. judiciary systems and agencies have put forth effort and support to address such concerns, funding is always the underlining theme. Like economist, William F. Baxter points out "The costs of controlling pollution are best expressed in term of the other goods we will have to give up to do the job."
Meeting at the Hart Senate Office Building
Since the Bush administration continues to reject funds to the UNFPA for the
third consecutive year and reduce spending toward USAID, dire financial support is needed from our federal government to promote and distribute quality standards of life into lesser-developed countries.
Back Tegan Haack, Neeraj Singh, Bill Myerchin Front Jane Roberts, Matt Rivkin discuss strategies before meetings
From April 1st to the 5th, five constituents (Bill Myerchin- Inland PLANet, Jane Roberts- 34 Million Friends, Tegan Haack, Matt Rivkin and Neeraj Singh- Students) from the 41st district advocated for increased funds toward UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and USAID (US agency for International Development) in Washington D.C.
Discussing policy with Jerry Lewis' Assistant Spencer Freebarin
After attending an intensive weekend seminar regarding the interconnected issues of population, environment and health-care, a meeting with J Spencer Freebairn, the Legislative Assistant to Jerry Lewis followed. The efforts to express concerns about maternal fatality, AIDS, unwanted teenage pregnancy and family planning were successful, but the downfall proceeded to be suggestions toward financial assistance. The questions at hand, "where monies would be derived from in order to put forth more aid into such charitable causes?"
Meeting with Senator Barbara Boxer's Senior Assistant Sean Moore
The most effective approaches to such concerns still reside with national agencies and NGOs (Inland PLANet, 34 Million Friends, the Audubon Society and Sierra Club), but collaborated efforts from IOs (international organizations) such as the UN, work internationally to collaborate efforts that provide education, clinics, hospitals and effective sustainable development. While more agreements, principles and treaties are being stressed globally, national governments and agencies must address special interests and public concerns locally. As a global leader, the U.S. must put priority toward financing grassroots organizations who are willing to put precedence toward humanitarian morale.Tegan Haack
JANE GOODALL
As a concluding activity for the Activist's Weekend, Jane Goodall gave a presentation discussing the relationship of population and the environment. She emphasized the impact of human development and the loss of chimpanzee habitat in Africa.
Jane Goodall, April 2005 DC Activist Weekend The Jane Goodall Institute
Jane Goodall with college students attending the DC 2005 Activists Weekend
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