DC Population Activists' Weekend, 2004
Group photo of all participants DC Population Activists' Weekend
Five members of Inland Planet journeyed to Washington, DC, this spring to participate in the DC Population Activists' Weekend, held jointly by the Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Population Connection (formerly ZPG). Participating members were Inland Planet co-founders Ladd Seekins, Drew Feldmann, Allen Mitchell and Jean Frederickson, and new member Bill Myerchin. The event was held at the Radisson Barcelo Hotel just off Dupont Circle, from Friday March 19th to Monday 22nd.
Friday was devoted just to having participants, about 130 people from 36 states and the District of Columbia, arrive and get settled, though there was a reception for those who got there before 7:00 pm.
Saturday was devoted to a series of workshops on the environmental and human problems that have resulted and will continue to occur as a result of the explosive growth of the world's population in the last hundred years, and on efforts to promoting international family planning and stabilizing global population. Workshop topics included:
UNFPA Overview
USAID and Global Gag Rule Update
International Conference on Population and Development 10 Years After Cairo
Population, Water and Wildlife: Facing Water Scarcity
November 2004: Ever Wonder What Non-Profits Can and Cannot Say in Election Years?
The Impact of the Global Gag Rule: Educate Yourself and Educate OthersSunday was devoted to sessions on how to lobby for three pieces of legislation that will promote voluntary international family planning:
1. Support the funding levels for international family planning that the United States promised it would spend at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo (about $600 million to USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, a part of the State Department).
2. Ensure funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) $34 million.
3. Repeal the Global Gag Rule, which prevents agencies that receive US funds from even mentioning that abortion is a possible way to end a pregnancy, even to patients who are not yet pregnant.
Sunday afternoon was set aside for free time, and most of the Inland Planet participants took the opportunity to tour the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum.On Monday, participants fanned out to the Congressional office buildings on Capitol Hill (some of which had been closed for a while as a result of the anthrax scare). We are not aware of any of the participants who was actually able to meet with their representative. The usual procedure for people who stop into the Congressional offices is to meet with a member of the representative's staff who is responsible for the issue in question and present their views to the staff member.
California Delegates meet at Hart Senate Office Bldg
On Monday morning, Drew and Allen visited Congressman Joe Baca's office and spoke to Zev Kanter, a Legislative Assistant, while Jean, Ladd, and Bill visited Congressman Jerry Lewis's office and spoke briefly to J. Spencer Freebairn, his Legislative Assistant for international and environmental issues. Jean was able to go back in the afternoon for a longer meeting with Lewis's assistant J. Spencer Freebairn. Congressman Baca is already a co-sponsor of the bill to repeal the Global Gag Rule, and Kanter indicated that Baca would likely support the other two issues raised. Freebairn, however, was more equivocal about Lewis's position, though it should be noted that Congressman Lewis has voted for some of these issues in the past.
After the meetings with representatives' aides, the entire California delegation of about 10 people then visited Senator Boxer's office and spoke to Legislative Correspondent Josh Andrews.
Discussing policy in Senator Fientsein's Office
Drew Feldmann concluding the meeting with Josh Andrews
After we visited Feinstein's office and spoke to Legislative Correspondent Austin Stoub. Both Senators' aides were very supportive of the measures, and in fact Senator Boxer is a co-sponsor of the measure to repeal the Global Gag Rule.
Discussing key points with Austin Stoub, in Senator Boxer's office
After the meetings, most of us made our way to our flights' back home, though Jean stayed an extra day to meet with the staffs of some of our allied organizations.
The DC staff of the Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Population Connection all felt the weekend to be a success, as did we the participants.
Home What is Inland Planet? / What you can do / Why should we care? / Who to Contact 34 Million Friends / Impact of Population / Partners and Allies Inland Planet Schedule of Events/ Previous Events Site Map /Contact Us / News Terms and Conditions © Copyright 2005 Inlandplanet.org, All Rights Reserved. All contents of this site covered by registered copyrights. COPYRIGHT by Inland Planet.org. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED