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been on the side of the Vatican in deemphasizing the importance, and
even denying the existence, of the population explosion. At the Rio
Conference on the Environment, for example, the question of popula–
tion was played down, in comparison with matters of great but still sub–
ordinate significance such as the state of the rain forests. The destruction
of the rain forests and so much else in the environment is a direct result
of the still-continuing population explosion. Yet the United States,
throughout the last three presidential terms, has helped the Vatican and
other interested parties to block the dissemination of contraception and
abortion information.
I believe women may already be beginning to alter those priorities,
but the need for change is urgent, and there are small signs of it so far.
Most of the great and growing evils of the post-Cold-War era around
the globe arc connected in some way with this, the greatest of all human
problems. South Africa is a major case in point. While most discussion of
South Africa's future still tends to center on race relations, problems
connected with the population explosion such as mass unemployment, a
great increase in violent crime, and destruction of the environment pose
greater threats to the future of South Africa than even any form of
racism docs. By giving a clear, consistent lead on the population explo–
sion, the United States could do far more to help the human race, in–
cluding the West, than with an indefinite number of well-intentioned
but unsustainable - and often counterproductive - local, piecemeal
military and quasi-military interventions.
I have noted that there have indeed been small signs of positive
change in the attitude of the United States toward the population ex–
plosion. As it happens, the largest sign of such change that has yet come
to my notice is one reported in the
Wall Street Joumal
of April 8, 1994:
"Washington is seeking revisions in a U.N. draft document on stabilizing
global population growth, with the U.S. hoping to include stronger
language on the importance of access to abortion services. The draft is
already under attack by Roman Catholics and antiabortion activists."
If
the United States maintains its position in relation to that United
Nations document, it is likely to find itself in confrontation with the
Vatican during the relevant international conferences. This would be a
most healthy development and an overdue one.
It
would lead to an
open and sustained debate on this great matter and eventually to a
much-expanded allocation of resources toward checking the population
explosion. The Vatican, with the aid of the pro-life lobby in the United
States, will try to get the Clinton administration to back away from the
position it has taken in relation to that draft document. But if the
