SIR: Despite all the good work done by the many organisations who contributed to BEN's One World Week feature last week, the number of people actually suffering from poverty is increasing. The main reason for this is the high birth-rates of people living in Third World countries.

Also on the increase is the number of refugees, now at an all time high of 50 million.

One area which is suffering more than others is Africa. 25 years ago Africa was self-sufficient in food. In the next 25 years its population will have doubled.

However, the increase of the human population of 98 million each year would be much greater if it wasn't for the 45,000 children who die each day. Attempts to increase food production by cultivating extra (marginal) land results in poor returns and loss of wildlife habitats which contributes to the continuing extinction of other species currently estimates at one species every five minutes.

Can we imagine what Britain would be like if our population doubled every 20 years?

Many of these poor people would like to limit their family size but lack the means. Family planning combined with appropriate health-care has been found to be the most cost effective way of reducing poverty both on a local and national level. By supporting the work of Population Concern you can help improve their future and the future of our One World.

Ken West

Population Concern Bolton Group

Carlisle Street, Bromley Cross

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