Sir, Famines, causing widespread human mortality and suffering, are frequent and predictable in several Third World countries. They arise wherever there is an imbalance between the number of humans and the capacity of the land to support them. Constraints of soil, climate and purchasing power ensure that this imbalance persists.
Aid agencies, including our Government, ease their consciences by distributing food aid, almost always unaccompanied by commensurate provisions for contraception. Increasing immediate survival without facilitating population limitation guarantees that the sum total of human suffering will increase.
Donor agencies have long been urged to give prominence in their aid packages to the need for population limitation. Unfortunately, the subject of population limitation (entailing contraception) is politically sensitive and is obfuscated by vociferous proponents of entrenched positions. Isn’t it high time that we were honest with ourselves, not only to restore our self-respect, but also to give real help to those in dire need? I am unhappy to see the money I pay in tax being used to increase future suffering in deprived countries.
PHILIP CORBET
Professor Emeritus of Zoology
St Buryan, Cornwall