Unquestionably, over- population is a serious problem. Every ecology has a finite carrying capacity for any given species. The earth is reaching its limit with regard to homo sapiens. As we seek to address this concern in a constructive manner, however, several things should be kept in mind. First and foremost, it has been demonstrated that in societies where people’s lifetime needs for health and welfare are reliably provided for, the population problem takes care of itself. This is true even in very poor countries such as Cuba. Second, the earth’s carrying capacity for extremely wealthy individuals is much less than it is for individual’s with more modest incomes. Third, the legitimate concern for reducing population growth must be balanced by an equally valid concern for respecting the self determination of people.

• Cairo Declaration on Population and Development