Re: Suggesting birth control to starving Africans against their human rights?

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
 "Mark Richardson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Counselling is not going to work. Something more effective, in terms of the
> culture of the people, is what is required. Right now, there does not appear
> to be any appreciation of "cause and effect". People know that having sex
> can result in having children, but that does not seem to register at the
> moment critique.

When women are given birth control and told how to use it, they do so 
and have smaller families. Many African women are not in a position to 
refuse sex (or to do it and live), so birth control that does not rely 
on the husband (like condoms) would be a terrific first step. Once women 
are able to control their fertility, they are better able to become 
economically independent. General education for women is another thing 
that lowers fertility rates, and I can't see any downside to that.

I am no expert, but everything I have read on the subject says that 
readily available contraceptives for women would not only be more 
effective than involuntary sterilization, it avoids the ethical quandry. 
Of course, voluntary sterilization should be readily available to anyone 
who wants it.

-- 
"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner." 
- Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather