I have recently read The No-Nonsense Guide to Overpopulation. Like all of the No-Nonsense Guides, it is a concise overview of issues facing our world today.

This book discusses a number of reasons for overpopulation, and suggests some practical solutions. The book’s author suggests that overpopulation is partly caused by the role of women, particularly in Third World, or “Majority World” countries.

In some developing countries women are encouraged to have lots of children, to become “baby machines”, to keep the family name strong. As a result, contraception is frowned upon, and in some cases illegal, meaning that as well as the increasing risk of developing AIDS, women are more likely to have lots of children.

This in part is caused by lack of education: in many countries women are not educated beyond primary level, if at all. This means that they are not well-informed about the dangers of having lots of children. Worth bearing in mind: in some countries 1 in every 30 women dies in childbirth, and the number who die having unsafe abortions is even higher.

This book also discusses how some countries have attempted to deal with the perceived problem of overpopulation. In many countries, forced sterilisations are commonplace. Just in places like China, one would think. No. During the 1950s, the USA encouraged sterilisation, and sanctioned people who refused to comply. Interestingly, another restrictive country, Iran, had a policy to address overpopulation, much like the one-child policy in China. The difference being that in Iran the policy was implemented by education and empowering people to make their own choices.

So what are the causes of overpopulation? I would argue that they are varied. Lack of education, particularly for women, is a key factor, along with lack of information about contraception, but also some advances in education: medical advances mean that people live longer, and are less likely to die in childhood.

This book is definitely worth a read, like the other No Nonsense Gudies it offers bite-sized chunks of information, which can be used to argue your point to sceptics.

Workers Rights means Liberation not just for workers but for all groups! A sentiment shared by The Workers’ Rights Consortium, which states it is against all forms of discrimination; gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, or social or ethnic origin.

Why women’s day??? well studies show that women are amongst the three most vulnerable groups in the work place along with ethnic minorities and foreign born. Not mention 90% of the workers in sweatshops are women.

And there are some outstanding abuses of women’s rights goings such as companies requiring pregnancy tests upon applying for employment, forcing workers to take contraceptives, paying women less, demoting or firing for maternity leave.

The worker rights consortium pushes this code of conduct regarding women’ rights

“Women’s Rights:

1. Women workers will receive equal remuneration, including benefits, equal treatment, equal evaluation of the quality of their work, and equal opportunity to fill all positions as male workers.

1. Pregnancy tests will not be a condition of employment, nor will they be demanded of employees.
2. Workers who take maternity leave will not face dismissal nor threat of dismissal, loss of seniority or deduction of wages, and will be able to return to their former employment at the same rate of pay and benefits.
3. Workers will not be forced or pressured to use contraception.
4. Workers will not be exposed to hazards, including glues and solvents, that may endanger their safety, including their reproductive health.
5. Licensees shall provide appropriate services and accommodation to women workers in connection with pregnancy.

The Workers Rights Consortium protects and aids women’s liberation movements. Take a look at the story of these five women who formed Bangladesh’s first non-politically-aligned, women-led, trade union and where imprisoned for it. http://www.workersrights.org/freports/Sunman.asp

Yes the Workers Rights Consortium is not perfect; it doesn’t give a direct voice to Women activists… however compared other models, which take funding from the companies causing the abuse, who don’t always act on complaints, it’s certainly a positive step. If you had been pressured into an abortion by your employer would you go an organisation you didn’t trust to be on your side? The Workers Rights Consortium Fosters close ties to independent labour organizations and its independence puts it in a position to win the trust of all groups in a community.

Birmingham People and Planet has teamed up with Women’s Rights activists on campus to fight for equal rights in the supply chain, on March the 8^th international Women’s day. We delivered our massive petition, which was symbolically written on T-shirts, to the Vice chancellor to protect women and women’s rights in our supply chain.

Only this rather bad photo unfortunately….