Tell Congress we've got to plan for the future

Protecting women's health and promoting women's empowerment can help protect the earth and our environment. Unfortunately, not everyone gets it. Use the EarthNet Action Center to urge the congress to start planning for the future. TAKE ACTION NOW!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Support HR 2506: fund planning for the future

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am disappointed to find out that the congressional leadership is delaying approval of the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill (H.R. 2506) in hopes of blocking contributions to the United Nations Population Fund. The UNFPA has played a crucial role in improving the situation for women and communities all over the world including those in Afghanistan. The UNFPA can drastically improve the health and wealth of communities around the world.

As you are no doubt aware, the reproductive choices women make today will have a tremendous impact on the planet for generations to come. But many women across the globe are unable to access the necessary counseling and support programs to make this happen. UNFPA -- with the proper funding -- is poised to help these women make informed choices about their lives. Further, the UNFPA also assists women in gaining education, credit, land, and equal protection under the law. Study after study has shown that when women are given these opportunities their families as well as their communities benefit.

Please pave the way for the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill's approval, fully fund the UNFPA and give women and families in developing countries an opportunity for a healthy family and a better life. Let's start planning for the future.

Please inform me of your actions on this matter.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
December 14, 2001

Background Information

Protecting women's health and promoting women's empowerment can help protect the earth and our environment. The growing population -- and our consumption patterns -- have profound consequences for the global environment, including species extinction, deforestation, desertification, climate change, and the destruction of natural ecosystems. These global environmental impacts pose a significant threat to the earth's sustainability and our quality of life. Women have a lot of control over the world's population, so we should give women more control over their lives. Seems logical, right?

Unfortunately, not everyone gets it. The congressional leadership is scuttling the very important Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill because it funds one of the most significant family planning and women empowerment programs in the world -- the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

In many developing countries, women and children are the most affected by environmental degradation. But -- in a strange twist of fate -- they are also the ones who can most affect these issues. Study after study shows that when women are given reproductive guidance and social opportunities their families, their communities and the environment benefit.

That's what UNFPA is all about. They know that promoting women's empowerment -- granting them educational opportunities, credit, land, and equal protection under the law for starters -- everyone wins. Now all we have to do is convince congress of that.

Please urge the congressional leadership to look beyond partisanship and support strong families, strong communities and a healthy environment. Now is the time to plan for the future.

TAKE ACTION NOW:

Use the EarthNet Action Center to urge the congress to start planning for the future.

FOR MORE INFO: Zero Population Growth: http://www.zpg.org Negative Population Growth: http://www.npg.org UNFPA: http://www.unfpa.org