The world population situation

Population experts appear to be reaching a consensus that there has been a perceptible decline over the last decade in the growth of the world's population. The decline is accounted for by the "new demographic transition" in the less developed countries (LDCs). The decline in fertility rates began in the 1950s in some LDCs and became more widespread during the 1970s. The process has not yet begun in many of the LDCs. During the 1960s it was observed that the declines in birth rates (to levels of 30 of less per 1000) were occurring mostly in small countries. Many of these countries were islands with levels of social and economic development above the developing country average. The key question is whether the recent downward trend in fertility in LDCs will continue, stabilize at the current level, or rise again. A primary concern about the future is that the poorer and less developed countries will end up with an increasing share of the world's population, with the share of the developed countries declining from 34% to 22% over the 1950-2000 period. Considerable differential exists in demographic growth patterns among various regions. The 12 largest LDCs (China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Mexico, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey) contain 55% of the current world population, and the fertility decline of these nations is expected to have the maximum impact. 7 of these countries have had fertility declines of 14-35%. The force of the "population momentum" must also be considered. Most developing country populations have a young age distribution with considerable potential for population growth even after the fertility level reaches a replacement level and the net reproduction rate equals 1.     

Old Ideas die slowly

Many women in Cape Verde are actively working to upgrade the status of women in the country and are playing a major role in development programs. The small country of Cape Verde, 455 kilometers off the coast of Senegal, obtained its independence from Portugal in 1975. Even before independence many women were politically conscious and women's rights were a part of the program of Cape Verde's liberation movement. In 1978 the National Women's Organization was formed. The organization places a high priority on education for women and is promoting a large scale literacy campaign. During the colonial period most of Cape Verde's land was destroyed and the country's economy was ruined. A large proportion of the Cape Verde's male population emigrates to other countries in order to obtain work, and the women are left behind to raise their large families on their own. There is a great need to intensify efforts to restore the land's fertility and to control erosion. The country also needs schools, clinics, and transportation and communication networks. Many women are involved in a large water and conservation program supported by Oxfam and other international agencies. Women are encouraged to work on construction jobs, drive trucks and build dikes. Old attitudes are hard to change, however, and there is a need to involve a larger segment of the female population in the women's rights movement. In December, 1980 the Women's Organization will hold its 1st National Conference. The organization will map its future strategies for upgrading the position of women in Cape Verde society and for increasing support for the women's movements.     

The dominant male

I must agree with Ms. Taylor's conclusion that "a couple's equality in bed is likely to reflect their social and economic equality" (Sex and the 3rd world woman, June issue). My discomfort with the article arose partly from being among the mass of male sexual oppressors, but mainly from the shallowness of her report (more rhetoric than reporting). It may satisfy an appetite for feminist literature but let us think more clearly. What % of 3rd world women actually have their sexual organs tampered with? Female circumcision in Kenya, for instance, traditionally had nothing to do with this. Opportunities for women are fewest in strict Muslim societies. Ms. Taylor narrow-mindedly expects us to believe that this is entirely due to the dominant male. New Internationalist should reconsider publishing articles with so little substance as they will not aid in any real understanding of the fate of women in the 3rd world.     

The ordinary and the extraordinary in institutional litigation

Institutional litigation, in which courts are requested to oversee the operation of large public institutions, has been frequently attacked as a departure from the traditional model of litigation. In this Article, Professors Eisenberg and Yeazell argue that the procedures and remedies employed in institutional litigation are not unprecedented but have analogues in older judicial traditions. Nor, they assert, do the doctrines of separation of powers and federalism present any obstacles to institutional litigation. They conclude that the novelty lies in the newly created substantive rights which courts are asked to enforce.