WARNING: The population time bomb waiting to explode

That the population time bomb is relentlessly ticking in Ethiopia is a fact of our national life. Population growth rate outpacing the developmental achievements—i.e. what little we have been able to attain—is a real concern. Ethiopia has the dubious distinction of having one of the highest growth rates in the world. What this means to a country that is somewhere at the bottom of the list of the developing countries in terms of per capita income needs no further explanation here.
To date the warnings – from various quarters including the UNFPA - to slow down the country’s rapid population growth does not seem to impress the leaders of Ethiopia. Leaders of political parties, religious and civic organizations have not shown concerns with population-management issues. So far they all fail to see that the population problem has a very big impact on our economic development, food security, health, education, environment and housing.
The latest UNFPA report on population remains grim, disturbing and distressing. Late last year, the UNFPA warned, the population of Ethiopia – approximately 67 million people – is growing at around 2.7 percent—one of the highest in Africa and in the world. At that rate, the population could swell to 170 million in less than 30 years. It is a disturbing development in a country whose economy is already burdened by rampant poverty, HIV/AIDS and high maternal and infant mortality and worsened by the lack of funds to finance development projects designed to improve the lives of people, most of whom live in abject poverty in the countryside.
As the report puts it, the population surge will translate into more families falling into the poverty trap. In a country where a majority of the population does not have enough to eat, more mouths to feed are added every day at an inexorable rate. The available resources are simply not sufficient to give the newborn a life that can avoid deprivation. Population growth control being the important necessity that it is, family planning services are recognized as one of the most essential services that Ethiopians should have access to.
A more aggressive contraceptive promotion should be encouraged by the government, as opposed to the so called natural contraceptive methods like withdrawal, rhythm and the like which are endorsed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. People who want to reduce the number of their families should be supported by any means. Artificial contraceptive such as: the pill, intrauterine device and injectables (for women) as well as vasectomy and condoms (for men) should be pursued in defusing Ethiopia’s “population bomb.”
The Ethiopian Family Planning Association has been a key player in the scheme of the country’s family planning promotion. It runs its own programs, as complementary to the tiny, if not insignificant, governmental agencies’ family planning efforts. But it would be incorrect to say that it has fully lived up to the role expected of it, namely because of lack of government support and funds.
We believe this should be one of the top agenda of parties and candidates in this election year. Leaders should confront head-on the problem of a run-away population growth and its adverse impact on the economy and the nation.
If Ethiopia wants to become less dependent on foreign food aid, all appropriate means should be explored to stop the ongoing population explosion. Indeed, if we do not change our priorities, we will never move in the right direction.

A Christmas editorial

“Unto you is born a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”
The few words spoken by an angel at little Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago were virtually ignored at the time.
Yet, the messenger’s announcement to shepherds watching their flocks by night constituted the greatest news story and the greatest love of all time. Moreover the arrival of the three magi, those gift-bearing wise men from the East, is the world's first bit of multiculturalism. Christian tradition pulls these travelers from afar to say this is the Christ child for all humanity, of all colors and races.
Despite the electrifying pronouncement by the angels over Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus was unfortunately one of the best-kept secrets at the time. Caesar Augustus, mighty monarch of the Roman Empire, had no inkling of the arrival of the Prince of Peace.
Now, 20 centuries later, we look back to Bethlehem with full realization that the blazing star and the angel chorus that visited the shepherds and the Child in the manger marked history’s finest hour.
On January 7, many of us will celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar. It is good that the glory and influence of Christmas extend beyond Christianity and draw together into fellowship people of all faiths.
In the spirit of the holiday season, the Staff of Capital extends a very sincere:

Merry Christmas to all!