December 2020 West Coast Wildfires Worse Due to Population Growth President’S Note

Volume 52, Issue 4 December 2020 West Coast Wildfires Worse Due to Population Growth President’s Note

y iPhone died on Election Day. It was disorienting. Of course, the events of the day matter greatly. And this elec- I’d grown accustomed—even addicted—to endless tion in particular was critical. But we must keep thinking about micro doses of what passes for reality in these the next generation, the next century, even the next millennium, Mhyperkinetic times. Instead, as final figures trickled in, I followed which is no easy task in this instantaneous era. developments on a device descended from Philo Farnsworth’s image dissector (my television). By meeting the population challenge, we can set the table for a much brighter future. Over the past 50 years, we’ve gone from If there is one thing all Americans can agree on about this elec- about four nations at or below replacement rate in terms of tion, it’s that the outcome wasn’t entirely what anyone hoped family size to nearly 100 nations in that category. That’s still for. The dismal Trump era will thankfully end. Yet congressional fewer than half the nations on earth, but it provides a roadmap results were mixed. for a better future if we’re willing to persevere.

We were extremely heartened by the election of Joe Biden and One of the best ways to achieve a better, safer, less-crowded Kamala Harris. They are committed to taking decisive action future is by ensuring today’s young people understand the to repeal the Global Gag Rule and to reinvigorate an array of challenges posed by rapid population growth. We’re the only vital programs. There is no time to lose when we’re literally see- nationwide provider of K-12 Population Education. If we don’t ing the world set aflame due to our heedless ways. We were, do it, no one will. We adapted rapidly to training thousands however, dismayed to see the defeat of several stalwart House of educators remotely under the current COVID regime, since supporters of programs that help achieve population stabiliza- there is no time to lose. tion. While some great Senate candidates fell short of victory on Election Day, control of that body is still up for grabs. Recently, I’ve been scheduling conversations with quite a few of our longest-serving members. They’re deeply concerned about As I ineffectually poked at my phone, it almost seemed to be the need for a lasting legacy, as they understand the importance sending me a message of sorts. Maybe the lesson is that, even in of population stabilization. We’re grateful that they see the need fraught moments when we’re grasping for good news, we need for sustained action to curb overpopulation. to keep our eyes on the far horizon. We need to be less obsessed with the latest tweet or breaking news. Since the era of rapid If you’d like to have one of those “old fashioned” conversations population growth began around 1800, it’s taken more than two with me, just send me an email. I’m glad to report I’m now the full centuries for us to reach current overpopulation levels. Like proud owner of a fully-functioning refurbished iPhone. it or not, it’s going to take time and much sustained effort to restore balance. John Seager [email protected] Volume 52, Issue 4 December 2020

Features Board Chair Estelle Raboni, MPH, MCHES 14 Book Review: One Billion Americans Board of Directors By Marian Starkey Aaron S. Allen, PhD Rodrigo Barillas, MD, MBA 16 Climate Grief Is Burning Across the American West Andreea Creanga, MD, PhD Amy Dickson By Matt Simon Katie Ferman, MNA 22 California's Catastrophic Wildfires in Three Charts Bryce Hach, MS (Secretary) Mark Hathaway, MD, MPH By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas Padgett Kelly, PhD Bob Pettapiece, EdD (Treasurer) Dara Purvis, JD (Vice Chair) Mary Beth Weinberger Kevin Whaley, PhD Departments President and CEO John Seager [email protected] 2 Editor’s Note Editor 3 Letters to the Editor Marian Starkey, MSc [email protected] 4 Pop Facts Population Connection (ISSN 2331-0529) 6 In the News Population Connection is the national grassroots 8 The ZPG Society population organization that educates young people and advocates progressive action to 12 Membership Relations Cover Image: The Bobcat Fire burns stabilize world population at a level that can be through Angeles National Forest on sustained by Earth’s resources. 26 Washington View September 11, 2020, north of Monrovia, Annual membership ($25) includes a one-year California. California wildfires have 28 Field & Outreach subscription to Population Connection magazine, already incinerated a record 2.3 million 30 PopEd published quarterly. Population Connection acres this year and are expected to is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. As such, continue until December. The Bobcat 32 Cartoon contributions, bequests, and gifts are fully tax- Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres. deductible in accordance with current laws. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) 33 Editorial Excerpts Population Connection 2120 L Street, NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20037 (202) 332-2200 • (800) 767-1956 [email protected] populationconnection.org populationeducation.org popconnect.org/magazine-archives

popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 1 Editor’s Note

ever have I been gladder to see a year end—2020 has development into areas that should never have been inhabited by been a doozy, to put it mildly. A global pandemic, people. Our buildings create kindling for wildfires, making even racial unrest more heightened than we’ve seen in those that start through no fault of our own—each year, tens Ndecades, and a West Coast set ablaze, in part, by pyrotechnics at of thousands of fires are started by lightening strikes—worse. a gender reveal celebration. This year has been tragic, infuriating, And once people live in WUI regions, forest management and and embarrassing. wildfire containment become much more difficult, leading to burns that rage out of control for months, displacing and killing I’d love to be able to say, “Despite all that, we survived,” but, people, pets, livestock, and wildlife. sadly, many of us did not. The hostility toward science that the outgoing presidential administration has proudly displayed State-level population growth happens through births, internal/ has played a part in prematurely ending the lives of more than domestic migration, and immigration. Some people think we 230,000 Americans, many of whom—with better leadership— should increase all three, environmental consequences be wouldn’t have been exposed to COVID-19 in the first place. damned. Matthew Yglesias, author of One Billion Americans, is one such person. He believes that we need more population Starting fresh in January with a president who is committed growth in order to remain the world’s number one superpower. to ending the Global Gag Rule, rejoining the Paris Climate Fearing that China is going to overtake us because its popula- Accord, and tackling the coronavirus pandemic gives me hope tion of 1.4 billion is more than four times the size of ours, he that we can get our country and its priorities back on track wants the U.S. to aim for a billion people living in skyscrapers before too many more lives are lost. across the Rust Belt. I reviewed his very silly book on page 14.

This issue of our magazine looks at the devastating wildfires that As this dreadful year winds down, I’d like to propose a toast to have ripped across the American West since late July. We can’t better times ahead. To a return to respect for science, established directly blame Donald Trump and his political goons for the facts, and expert opinions. To an end to harmful policies like the devastation wrought by the wildfires in California, Colorado, Global and Domestic Gag Rules that contribute to unintended Oregon, and Washington these past four months, but this pregnancy and the population growth and poor health out- administration has undercut progress at every turn. It’s going to comes that result. To a commitment to reducing our greenhouse take considerable political will to reduce our emissions and slow gas emissions in order to keep the planet’s rising average tem- climate change, to prevent development in dangerous wildland– perature below the level that scientists say is the threshold for urban interface (WUI) regions, and to slow our population permanent devastation. And to a sense of care and concern for growth so that such development isn’t even a consideration. our fellow humans and the other species that share this planet. Cheers to a new year and a new America. As you’ll read in the two feature articles in this issue, popu- Marian Starkey lation growth in fire-prone states is responsible for sprawling [email protected]

2 Population Connection — December 2020 Send correspondence to

Letters to the Editor [email protected]. Attn: Marian Starkey Letters are also accepted via Population Connection postal mail. Letters may be 2120 L St NW, Suite 500 edited for clarity and length. Washington, DC 20037

Last year, I traveled with a group of fellow physicians to the reproductive agency that has to be declined because of local Philippines to perform anesthesia for a marathon of surgeries politics. Population Connection seems to be the best domestic in a region just north of Manila. On numerous occasions while organization doing the brave and necessary work of turning the I was preparing to induce anesthesia, our patient would stop tide on these problems. But if we are to prioritize real results, we me, pull me close to her face, and quietly ask if I could have the must be thoughtful with our strategy, heedful of ways in which surgeon tie her tubes during whatever unrelated operation was we may unintentionally spawn opposition, and humble in our about to be performed. In the shadow of the most densely pop- efforts to court any allies so long as they are willing to collabo- ulated city in the world, a city within which tens of thousands of rate on this one particular and most pressing of issues. abandoned “street kids” live, the capacity of a woman to choose not to have additional children has become so politicized that Joseph Schoenfeldt, MD her best hope is to whisper it into the ear of a foreign physician. I have just read the “Letters to the Editor” section in your When I returned home and found Population Connection, September magazine referring to the June issue. It was hearten- I was elated to find a well-run organization that was already ing to see that others appreciated your June issue as much as I dedicated to addressing what is not only a foundational cause of did, though I did not write you about it at the time. It is also much human suffering but an existential threat to our global civ- heartening to realize that there are others out there who feel ilization. In the first Population Connection magazine I received, similarly to me about the problems our planet is facing at this however, I was surprised to find such a large amount of atten- time, and the connection to human overpopulation and wildlife tion paid to the topic of abortion. While I am pro-choice and exploitation. participate in abortions myself, it struck me as an odd strategy to focus on a method of reproductive health that is contentious, In particular, one of the letters refers to the John Vidal article. I, reactive instead of preventative, and relatively resource ineffi- too, read that article with great appreciation for its honesty, con- cient compared to other options. ciseness, and synthesis of ideas and conclusions. I even referred to it on my Facebook page, sparking a fair bit of consensus (for a As is accurately noted in many other Population Connection change). I hope the article has been widely disseminated beyond articles, the most efficient and effective solutions to overpop- just your magazine. The more people who can be reached and ulation remain the least contentious: educate and empower informed and even changed by the concepts Vidal puts forth, women and make contraception readily available. Population the better. Connection should concentrate on these banal solutions. Thank you again for the work you continue to do. You tackle The costs of overpopulation are not political, abstract, or aca- some of the most important issues of our time in a careful, car- demic. They are as real as a street orphan, as impending as ing, and constructive way. Kudos! rising waters, and as heartbreaking as a whispered request for Marcia Kellam

popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 3

Young Activists and Environmental Activists Want Population Stabilization Summary of Key Findings—Value Statements

Overpopulation We need progressive Rapid population It is important to threatens action to stabilize world growth poses educate K-12 American the quality of population at a level problems for students about the life for people that can be sustained by people and our impacts of rapid everywhere. Earth’s resources. living planet. population growth.

51 32 83 48 32 80 Strongly Agree 55 33 88 52 33 86 Strongly Agree

50 36 86 51 37 88 Somewhat Agree 57 33 89 54 33 88 Somewhat Agree

79 Please indicate how important Which of the following statements about rapid global population We commissioned the highly regarded rm Lake Research Partners to taking action is to you personally growth is closer to your own views, even if neither is exactly right? on overpopulation. 71 The growing world population will be a major problem because conduct two national surveys this past summer. We sought to determine of the food and resource strains such growth would bring. how 18–35-year-old progressive activists and environmental The growing world population will not be a major problem activists of all ages view the population issue. 32 Very because we will nd ways to stretch resources. Important 26 e results were quite encouraging and may help dispel the myth that people these days don’t care about population growth. With today’s endless Somewhat Important 48 30 79 Major Problem torrent of news and information (and misinformation), it’s good Feel Strongly to know that engaged citizens want to take action on behalf of population stabilization A Little . 53 30 83 Major Problem Important Feel Not So Strongly 23 We’ll be using what we learned to make our programs 45 48 17 5 10 15 even more focused and e ective. If you’d like to review Not Important Not Major Problem At All 16 79 Feel Strongly the full report, just email me at [email protected]. 13 4 9 12 –John Seager, President and CEO 6 5 No Not Major Problem 4 3 Opinion Feel Not So Strongly Note: Slight discrepancies in some totals are due to rounding.

Methodology – Young Activists Methodology – Environmental Activists • Lake Research Partners designed and administered this survey that was conducted online between August 25 and September 4, 2020. e survey reached a total of 500 • Lake Research Partners designed and administered this survey that was conducted online between August 25 and September 4, 2020. e survey reached a total of 500 younger activists (ages 18-35) nationwide. environmental activists nationwide. • e sample was drawn from an online panel of listed adults and screened to be ages 18–35, likely 2020 voters, not Republican or conservative, not planning to vote • e sample was drawn from an online panel of listed adults and screened to be likely 2020 voters, not Republican or conservative, not planning to vote for Donald for Donald Trump, who feel favorable toward Planned Parenthood and the Sierra Club, think climate change and environmental issues are “very important,” believe it is Trump, who feel favorable toward Planned Parenthood and the Sierra Club, think climate change and environmental issues are “very important,” report they have done “very important” to take action on access to reproductive health care worldwide and climate change or another environmental issue, and report they have done four or four or more political actions related to the environment and climate change in the last year, and self-identify as environmentalists. To ensure the data re ects attributes more political actions in the last year. To ensure the data re ects attributes of the actual population, the sample was weighted by education. of the actual population, the sample was weighted by gender, region, age, race, and education.

4 Population Connection — December 2020

Young Activists and Environmental Activists Want Population Stabilization Summary of Key Findings—Value Statements

51 32 83 48 32 80 Strongly Agree 55 33 88 52 33 86 Strongly Agree

50 36 86 51 37 88 Somewhat Agree 57 33 89 54 33 88 Somewhat Agree

popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 5 In the News By Marian Starkey, Vice President for Communications

Researchers at the satisfied. Doing so, according to the undercount could deprive people living University of Washington team, would result in a global population in these areas of funding and congres- Publish New Population of 6.29 billion in 2100. sional representation. Compounding Projections that possibility is the Trump administra- Projections are models based on assump- tion’s attempt to exclude undocumented The Lancet published new populations—therefore, we can’t say that one immigrants from this Census, despite tion projections by researchers at the set of projections is “right” and another the Constitution specifying that every- University of Washington in July, and is “wrong.” As long as research methods one living on U.S. soil be counted. The they are quite a departure from the are clearly laid out, we should embrace Supreme Court is expected to hear that United Nations projections. According the thought exercise that comes with case as early as December. to these new projections, the global pop- alternative projection scenarios, even if ICE Doctor Accused of ulation will peak in 2064 at 9.73 billion we think there’s little chance of said pro- Performing Unnecessary and decline to 8.79 billion in 2100. The jections bearing out in reality. Hysterectomies researchers project a world total fertility United States Census Ends rate (TFR) in 2100 of 1.66 births per Early Detainees at the Irwin County Detention woman, down from 2.5 births today. Center in Ocilla, Georgia, claim that The Trump administration ended the they were subjected to coerced and non- By contrast, the UN medium projection decennial U.S. Census more than two consensual hysterectomies after a nurse calculates a still-growing world popula- weeks early, after the Supreme Court ruled at the facility, Dawn Wooten, filed a tion in 2100 of 10.88 billion. The UN that it could. Justice Sonia Sotomayor was whistle-blower report in September. The projects that world TFR in 2100 will be the only member of the bench to dissent. doctor who performed the procedures, 1.9 births per woman. Dr. Mahendra Amin, is the detention The original deadline for collect- center’s primary gynecologist. The difference in the University of ing Census data was in August, but Washington projections comes from COVID-19 delays prompted an exten- Dr. Amin would have been paid thou- the methodology used. While the UN sion to October 31. A confusing legal sands of dollars for each surgery Population Division looks at current battle ensued, with the deadline being he performed with funds from the age-specific fertility rates, the University temporarily moved to September 30 and Department of Homeland Security. In of Washington researchers looked at then back to October 31, before data 2013, he settled in a civil case after being completed cohort fertility at age 50, collection was ultimately shut down on accused of over-billing Medicare and and modeled projections into the future October 13. Medicaid for unnecessary surgeries per- using educational attainment and con- formed on terminal patients. traceptive demand satisfied as the two Although 99 percent of U.S. residents factors that influence completed fertility. were counted before data collection Many patients who received hysterec- wrapped up, that final 1 percent primarily tomies from Dr. Amin said they had no The University of Washington represents harder-to-count populations gynecological problems leading up to researchers calculated a second projec- that are concentrated in Democratic- the surgeries and that the doctor’s notes tion, wherein the world achieves the majority areas, including immigrants, about massive cysts and heavy bleeding Sustainable Development Goals targets people of color, and lower-income resi- were fabricated. Many patients also said for education and contraceptive demand dents living in multi-family homes. This there wasn’t a translator in the room, so

6 Population Connection — December 2020 they weren’t able to communicate effec- Mexican Supreme Court U.S. Supreme Court Rules tively with Dr. Amin during their exams. Rules Against Abortion in Favor of Mail Order Ms. Wooten, the whistle-blower, said Liberalization Abortion Medication she was unable to explain to patients why they’d had their reproductive organs The Mexican Supreme Court ruled 4–1 In a 6–2 decision in October, the U.S. removed because she didn’t understand in July against decriminalizing abortion Supreme Court ruled that patients may the reasons either. in the state of Veracruz. An injunction continue receiving medication abortion issued by a judge in Veracruz last year pills through the mail during the pan- Dr. Amin is no longer seeing patients removed three articles from the state’s demic. In an effort to reduce the necessity at Irwin County Detention Center, and penal code, resulting in decriminaliza- of risky in-person health visits, the FDA an investigation by the Department of tion of abortion in the first 12 weeks relaxed requirements for many medica- Homeland Security’s inspector general of pregnancy, decriminalization for ter- tions, including opioids, that previously is ongoing. minations for health reasons, and the required patients to pick up the prescrip- WWF Living Planet elimination of time limits on abortions tions in person. The American College Report Shows Alarming of pregnancies resulting from rape. The of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Wildlife Decline Supreme Court ruled not to uphold the (ACOG) challenged that abortion pills injunction. should be among the medications per- Every two years, the World Wide Fund mitted for mail order. Maryland District For Nature (WWF) publishes its Living Mexican abortion rights advocates Judge Theodore D. Chuang ruled in Planet Index. The 2020 iteration, pub- had hoped that the case would go the favor of ACOG, and the Supreme Court lished in September, shows a 68-percent other way and open up the possibility ruled against the Trump administra- drop in the abundance of 20,811 moni- of nationwide decriminalization (abortion’s emergency appeal to block Judge tored populations of 4,392 vertebrate tion is already legal in Mexico City and Chuang’s order. species (mammals, birds, amphibians, Oaxaca, but nowhere else in the country). reptiles, and fish) between 1970 and Poland Abortion Unrest In September, 20 Republican senators 2016. sent a letter to FDA Commissioner In October, the 12-judge Polish Stephen Hahn thanking him for his The decline hasn’t been even across Constitutional Court banned nearly efforts in the case described above and the globe—Latin America and the all abortions, sparking massive protests asking that the FDA “classify the abortion Caribbean have experienced a 94-percent across Poland. As a result of the upris- pill as an ‘imminent hazard to the public decline in measured populations of ver- ing, the right-wing government delayed health’ that poses a ‘significant threat of tebrates, while Europe and Central Asia publishing the Court’s ruling, pausing it danger.’” The authors of the letter also had a decline of 24 percent and North from going into effect. wrote, “Pregnancy is not a life-threat- American had a decline of 33 percent. ening illness.” It may not be an illness, Poland already had one of the most but it is life-threatening all too often— According to the report, we are threat- restrictive abortion laws in Europe, but worldwide, around 300,000 women die ening wildlife populations by “overusing abortions due to fetal abnormalities were each year of pregnancy-related causes. the Earth’s biocapacity by at least 56 permitted—under the new ban, such In 2018, 658 women died of pregnancy- percent.” abortions would no longer be legal. related causes in the U.S. alone.

popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 7 Population Connection’s ZPG Society RECOGNIZING MEMBERS honors those who have included Population Connection in their estate plans, or who have established a Charitable Gift OF THE ZPG SOCIETY Annuity. We are grateful to ZPG Society members for their generosity and far-sightedness. Thank you!

Deanne Adams Mark Brucker Lyn DuMoulin David Hanna Ted & Larkelyn Keener Craig Mandsager Sharon Allen Sally Brunson Lee & Tharon Dunn Ann Harmon & Ben Lehman Barbara Keeton George & Sheila Marshall John Anderson & Joy Kaubin Leo Buckert Michael Ellett Gary Harrold Carol Ann Kell Christopher & Catherine Mathews Mahmood Anwar & Ricky Jackson Michael Burke Joanne Engel & Kenneth Valdes Harriet Hartstein Vicky & Grant Kemp T. D. Mathewson Phil Arndt John Burt Richard Erlich Anna Heath Douangmala Khounnavongsa David & Sandra Matteson Melissa Aronson Neil Burtness Douglas Estes Nancy Heck William & Marilyn Kincaid Elaine McAuliffe David Asch Leonard Butters Nancy Farrell-Rose Robert & Rosemary Heil Justine Kirk Gary McCormick Ginger & Fritz Bachem Diane Carlin Francis Farwell Dan Heisman & Shelly Hahn Hunt Kooiker & Linda Whinnery Landon McDonald Bill Baird David Chamberlin Kirsten Fearn Max Heppner Charles Kopp Bernadette McNulty Nancy Balch Harriett Clark Paul Finley & Lisa Foxwell Dianne Herman Mary Koziar Carol Mees Larry Barnhill Sarah Clark Robert Ford Jane Hinds Michael Kraft & Sandra Simpson-Kraft Anthony Van Eyck Miller Christopher Barry Audrey Clement Bill Foster Eric Hirst Richard Krawiec David Miller Robert Barry Robert & Patricia Coe Robin Friedheim Noel & Patricia Holmgren James & Leslea Kunz Robert & Eleanor Miller Drake Barton & Kathy Lloyd Melvin Cohen Doug Gardels Regina Holt James Larson Peter Mitchell Adrienne Moore Baxter Carl Coleman David Gaskell Elizabeth Hood William Latta & Linda Brooks Wayne Mitchell & Marie Galletti Bobbie Becker Kalya Cotkin Don Gentry Joel Horwich Stephanie Leaf Russell & Illa Moffett Catherine & Richard Becker Gene & Marilyn Cripe Susan Gerber Waleed Howrani Cheryl Lechtanski Roberta Moody Sally Beers Susan Curry & Gail Daniels Paul & Barbara Gerhardt Agnes Hughes Carol Lehmkuhl Marvin Moore Robert & Gayle Behm Janet & Charles Curtis Ivan Getting Karl Hunt Dorothy & Andy Leong Bill & Judith Moritz Katherine Berg Guy Dahms Armand Girard John Hutcherson Rebecca Yee Hun Leong Lau* Phillip Morse Keith Berg & Mary Hedblom Allan & Kendra Daniel Ken Goehring Michael Ihlenfeldt Jeff Lesak & Merrily Swoboda Eva Moseley Lynn Bertucci Jimmie & Gayle Darr Watson Gooch Dirk & Karen Iwema Revella Levin Mary Moses Mark Bickett & Jeanette Entwisle Ginny Darvill Steven Goodspeed Rosalie Jacobs Ellis & Cheryl Levinson Andrew & Linda Spagnoli Mossa Kenneth Bierman Leonard Davis Robert & Margaret Goodwin Jerry Jedlicka Ida Lindell Barbara Myers Tom Bimmermann Richard & Diane Dennison Eric Gordon Barbara Johnson John & Danielle Lochhead James Nelson Barbara Bird Robert Detjen Daniele Grasser Eric Johnson Lee Lockie Andre Neu Karen Bleuel Debbie Dill Ben Grego Heidi Johnson Douglas & Marilyn Longman Marcia Newﬁ eld James Botsford Raymond Dominick Julia Gregory Pierce Johnson Dwight & Kimberly Lowell Jerry Newsom Dorothy Bradley Julian & Katharine Donahue James & Phyllis Grifﬁ th Sheri Jones Doni Mae Willie Newton John & Dorothy Brandt Margaret Rose Draeger Peter Grylls Cheryl Jurrus Ronald & Amanda Mallory Michael Niebling William Bridges & Linda McManus Richard & Sylvia Dresser Bruce & Margaret Gundersen Paul Kaser Norman Mandelbaum James O’Callaghan Darrell Brown Richard Dubiel Joan Hagerman Ann Peckham Keenan * honorary member Dorothy Olson Population Connection’s ZPG Society RECOGNIZING MEMBERS honors those who have included Population Connection in their estate plans, or who have established a Charitable Gift OF THE ZPG SOCIETY Annuity. We are grateful to ZPG Society members for their generosity and far-sightedness. Thank you!

S Page Hermann Schmid Jennifer Thiermann Ronald Parker Betty Schmucker Roland Tozer What Will Your Legacy Be? Anthony Pasquarello Judith Scott Ray Unrath If you aren’t yet a member of the ZPG Society, have you considered William Peppler Marty Shannon Dinah Utah Bob Pettapiece Jamie Shaw & Christopher Cope Jan van Heurck becoming one? The simplest way for you to ensure that your dedication Frank & Judy Pezzanite Harry & Charity Sherrington Shelley Varga to Population Connection’s mission continues well into the future is Margaret Phillips Ron & Lucille Shissler David Von Seggern through a gift—a bequest—in your will. You can create a bequest by William Phipps Leon Siegel Donald & Dolores Vought Linda Plein JoAnn Sivley Ruppert Wesley Wahl adding just one sentence to your will. And that sentence can make the James Podanowski Bob Sizoo & Sue Turner Irene & Robert Wakeland difference of a lifetime! Zander Ponzo Lindley Sloan William Warburton Denise Powers Ken & Katherine Smith Robert Warner Gladys Powers Victor Soukup Sally Weathers Sample Bequest Language: Virginia Preston Margaret Sowerwine Robert Wehle After fulﬁ lling all other provisions, Penelope Purtzer Irwin & Martha Spiegelman David & Doris Weindorf Frederick Retzlaff Bella Starmountain-Sweet Ira Werner I give, devise, and bequeath ___% Peter & Mary Rhode Bob Starr Timothy Wernette & Carolyn Brown of the remainder of my estate Joseph Rice Steven Stegner Lisa Wersal [or $___ if a speciﬁ c amount] Curtis Ridling Richard Stein Jay West Jane Robbins Judith Stevens Jo Lynne Whiting to Population Connection Carrie Robertson Steve Stodola & Joyce Thompson Eugene Wigglesworth & Grace Teigen (Tax ID #94-1703155), a charitable Phil Rockey Linda Stokely Sharon Marie Wilcox corporation currently located at Larry & Alice Rodgers Guy & Ann Stoye Steve & Elizabeth Willey Monica Roy Lawrence Stueck & John Wilson 2120 L Street NW, Suite 500 Nancy Ryder Kathleen McQuiston Alice Wolfson Washington, DC 20037. Denis Rydjeski & Betsy Eldredge Lorraine Sumner William Wolverton Amy Sanders Elizabeth Swain Marti Worth Richard Santopietro Ed Sweisford Kenneth & Virginia Wright For more information contact: Sallie Ann Satagaj & Rowland Tabor Wayne & Veronica Wright Shauna Scherer or Jennifer Lynaugh Walter John Reinhard Gregg Taylor Douglas Young [email protected] or (877) 319-9880 Barry & Elizabeth Schiller Steve Taylor Cheryl Zabinski Virginia Schilz Jeffrey Terrill Lynn Zoch Fall Speaker Series WEBINARS and is past year threw We continued hosting experts in the elds of population, health, and reproductive rights by kicking o our Fall Speaker Series unprecedented challenges in September. Mark Hathaway, MD, of Jhpiego (originally into all of our activities WORKSHOPS known as the Johns Hopkins Program for International here at Population Connection, including Membership Relations. Our usual Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics)—and a member of our Board of Directors—gave an interactive and highly outreach events—tabling at farmers markets, hosting lm screenings, attending informative presentation titled “Contraceptive Mechanism of community festivals and marches, and sending sta speakers around the Action: In the Womb Where It Happens.” He outlined how country—haven’t been possible. So, we’ve pivoted to providing educational, di erent contraceptive methods work and the steps a health care Mark Hathaway, MD interactive events for our entire Population Connection community—all provider takes when counseling patients on available options. In October, we were honored to host Pape Gaye, President available virtually! Emeritus of IntraHealth International. A native of Senegal, Pape gave a presentation titled “Family Planning in Francophone West Africa: Progress and Challenges.” He explained how Population and Climate governments, civil society, and the donor community have boosted access to and usage of modern family planning methods Change Course throughout French-speaking West Africa. Following the November election, our sister organization, In August, Communications Manager Population Connection Action Fund, sponsored a panel Pape Gaye Hannah Evans hosted a four-part discussion with several members of our Advocacy sta , titled course that explored how population, “What Happens Next: A Discussion About Reproductive Rights health, and the environment intersect— Advocacy After the 2020 Election.” over 200 attendees joined one or more Finally, Carol Bliese, our Senior Director of Teacher Programs sessions! At the end of the course, for Population Education, wrapped up this series in December nearly 50 members who attended at with a presentation titled “Education for Earth’s Sake: How least three of these sessions received PopEd Supports Teachers and Inspires Future Generations.” certi cates establishing them as Carol’s talk o ered an inside look at PopEd’s teacher training “Population Ambassadors”—volunteers workshops and demonstrated some of our favorite classroom specially recognized for going above and activities. To view any of these recorded sessions, please visit our beyond in furthering their knowledge Carol Bliese website: popconnect.org/fall-speaker-series/. about population issues. If you’d like to view the recorded series, you can nd it on our website: popconnect.org/ population-and-climate-change-course/. We’ll continue to host virtual events like these into 2021. Keep an eye on our website for more information: popconnect.org/getinvolved. If you have questions, suggestions for virtual events, or would like more information on how you can deepen your involvement with Population Connection, please reach out to us at [email protected].

12 Population Connection — December 2020 Fall Speaker Series WEBINARS and is past year threw We continued hosting experts in the elds of population, health, and reproductive rights by kicking o our Fall Speaker Series unprecedented challenges in September. Mark Hathaway, MD, of Jhpiego (originally into all of our activities WORKSHOPS known as the Johns Hopkins Program for International here at Population Connection, including Membership Relations. Our usual Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics)—and a member of our Board of Directors—gave an interactive and highly outreach events—tabling at farmers markets, hosting lm screenings, attending informative presentation titled “Contraceptive Mechanism of community festivals and marches, and sending sta speakers around the Action: In the Womb Where It Happens.” He outlined how country—haven’t been possible. So, we’ve pivoted to providing educational, di erent contraceptive methods work and the steps a health care Mark Hathaway, MD interactive events for our entire Population Connection community—all provider takes when counseling patients on available options. In October, we were honored to host Pape Gaye, President available virtually! Emeritus of IntraHealth International. A native of Senegal, Pape gave a presentation titled “Family Planning in Francophone West Africa: Progress and Challenges.” He explained how Population and Climate governments, civil society, and the donor community have boosted access to and usage of modern family planning methods Change Course throughout French-speaking West Africa. Following the November election, our sister organization, In August, Communications Manager Population Connection Action Fund, sponsored a panel Pape Gaye Hannah Evans hosted a four-part discussion with several members of our Advocacy sta , titled course that explored how population, “What Happens Next: A Discussion About Reproductive Rights health, and the environment intersect— Advocacy After the 2020 Election.” over 200 attendees joined one or more Finally, Carol Bliese, our Senior Director of Teacher Programs sessions! At the end of the course, for Population Education, wrapped up this series in December nearly 50 members who attended at with a presentation titled “Education for Earth’s Sake: How least three of these sessions received PopEd Supports Teachers and Inspires Future Generations.” certi cates establishing them as Carol’s talk o ered an inside look at PopEd’s teacher training “Population Ambassadors”—volunteers workshops and demonstrated some of our favorite classroom specially recognized for going above and activities. To view any of these recorded sessions, please visit our beyond in furthering their knowledge Carol Bliese website: popconnect.org/fall-speaker-series/. about population issues. If you’d like to view the recorded series, you can nd it on our website: popconnect.org/ population-and-climate-change-course/. We’ll continue to host virtual events like these into 2021. Keep an eye on our website for more information: popconnect.org/getinvolved. If you have questions, suggestions for virtual events, or would like more information on how you can deepen your involvement with Population Connection, please reach out to us at [email protected].

popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 13 No, the U.S. Is Not "Extremely Undercrowded" Tripling the American Population to Compete With China Is Not Thinking Bigger, It’s Thinking Dumber. Book review by Marian Starkey, Vice President for Communications

hat a simpler world this would be if old school economics were our only concern—if we didn’t need to worry about natural resource availability or the earth’s capacity to absorb ourW various forms of waste. Reading Matthew Yglesias’ new book One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger might lead you to believe that we live in such a world.

We don’t.

The premise of the book is that in order to hold onto the title of world’s Published by Portfolio biggest superpower (USA! USA! USA!), we need to compete in popu- September 15, 2020 lation size with China. And since China has over a billion people, we Hardcover | $28.00 need a billion people too. The author sees no problem with tripling 288 Pages | 6 x 9 the American population—since, according to him, we’re currently ISBN 97805931 “extremely undercrowded” and “many American cities and increasingly their suburbs are clearly underpopulated”—as long as all of that people power keeps us in the top spot of global economic powers.

The author’s ideas for accommodating another 670 million people include tearing down existing homes (including historic ones) and build- ing high-rises where they’re currently not zoned, widening roads and investing in German-style city rail systems to cut down on the inevitable traffic jams more people would create, and training workers whose jobs could be automated to become childcare providers for the millions of additional babies people would have if only there was better paid parental leave and affordable after-school care.

The author admits that he has only one child and lives in a historic town- house in DC. He assures the reader that different people have different preferences. Of course they do, but it’s hard not to think he’s suggesting a different way of life for other people but not for himself. (“We can and should stay number one forever, but it’s going to mean knocking down some old buildings …” Just not the one he lives in, one presumes.)

Investing in better commuter rail service in order to get cars off the road is a great idea. Many of Yglesias’ policy ideas are of this variety—items

14 Population Connection — December 2020 we should prioritize in order to improve quality of life and reduce per capita pressure on the environment. Where he loses me is in pushing for these policies in order to cram hundreds of millions more people into our cities, suburbs, and wildlands. Yglesias even In hashing out all the intricate details of how we could make cities denser, encourage “Americans and … those who would like to become Americans” to settle in Rust Belt cities whose populations have declined says that the (one of his ideas: add more frequent flights to major cities, but don’t worry—in this fantasy, planes are electric!), and restructure our tax code U.S. “not only and public services to enable people to have the number of children they say they ideally would like to have*, Yglesias almost completely ignores the environmental repercussions of tripling the American population has lots of (in fact, he repeatedly warns against “ecopessimism” and says, “There is plenty of room out there for big houses and big lawns”). The environment is almost an afterthought—with the only real discussion relegated land that could to the final chapter of the book, and even then, he nonsensically tries to refute environmental limitations one by one, painting a picture of an accommodate eco-conscious utopia where American individuals, corporations, and politicians take benevolent care of our environment despite the widespread lack of will to do so in real life. He urges us to avoid “going overboard in more people, describing our environmental problems,” when considering how many children to have. Yglesias even says that the U.S. “not only has lots of it has lots of land that could accommodate more people, it has lots of land that would clearly benefit from more inhabitants.” The very idea of there being any wild land anywhere that would benefit from human habitation is absurd. land that would

If the entire book is a fantasy thought experiment, that’s his right. But if One Billion Americans is a real policy prescription, we should ignore it clearly benefit as naïve, harebrained and even dangerous should people in power take a liking to Yglesias’ ideas. from more

Matthew Yglesias co-founded Vox.com and is currently a senior correspondent focused on poli- inhabitants.” tics and economic policy. He has written two other books: The Rent Is Too Damn High: What To Do About It, And Why It Matters More Than You Think and Heads in the Sand: How the Republicans The very idea Screw Up Foreign Policy and Foreign Policy Screws Up the Democrats. of there being any wild land * The U.S. has a higher fertility rate than almost any European country, many of whom have implemented the very infrastructure anywhere that improvements the author recommends. Women may report that their ideal fertility is 2.7 children, on average, but there’s a big difference between abstractly imagining three children as ideal would benefit and actually trying to conceive a third child once raising two is already a lived reality. And many women simply wait too long to start their childbearing to have the number of kids they say they from human want. Helping people in their twenties to be more financially secure would likely help a bit with this, but money isn’t the only reason habitation is people are waiting until later to have kids. Starting a career, finding the right partner, and having life experiences that are more difficult once children come along also play a part. Does he have policy absurd. prescriptions for those things as well?

popconnect.org 15 Climate Grief rief has settled over the western U.S., along with the thick haze of smoke pouring from dozens of massive Is Burning Gwildfires up and down California, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington. It’s grief over the thousands of structures and at least 33 lives lost Across the so far; grief over another villain conspiring with COVID-19 to lock people indoors; grief that the American orange-hued dystopia of Blade Runner is now a reality in smoky San Francisco; grief over losing West any sense of normalcy, or indeed a clear future. Enveloping all of those emotions—packaging them into an overwhelming feeling of doom—is climate grief, as psychologists call it, the dread that humans have thoroughly corrupted the Climate change is planet, and that the planet is now exacting its making wildfires bigger, revenge. Wildfires were around before human- made climate change, but by pulling a variety fiercer, and deadlier, of strings, it’s made them bigger, fiercer, and fueling a new kind of ultimately deadlier, creating what fire historian Steve Pyne has dubbed the Pyrocene, an Age despair on the West of Flames. By burning fossil fuels, we’ve primed Coast—and beyond. the landscape to burn explosively, and by pushing human communities deeper and deeper into what was once wilderness, we’re provided plenty of opportunities for ignition—and plenty of opportunities for grief as these forces catastroph- ically combine.

“So much is out of our control,” says Adrienne Heinz, a research psychologist at the Stanford University School of Medicine, who studies the effects of disasters like wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. “We lose our sense of personal agency over how we will live—the decisions are made for us.”

“It shifts from grief over what’s happening with our climate—can we feel safe in our own communities?—to despair, the differentiator being that you don’t feel like tomorrow is going to be any better than today,” Heinz adds. “That’s where it gets really dark.”

For the people of Northern California, an By Matt Simon | Originally published exhausting parade of massive wildfires have by WIRED on September 14, 2020 marched across the landscape over the past

16 Population Connection — December 2020 Left: Smoky skies from the northern California wildfires cast a reddish color in San Francisco on Wednesday, September 9, 2020. (Photo by Ray Chavez/ MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images)

popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 17 several autumns, with many people having to evacuate several years in a row. Last October, the Kincade Fire burned 120 square miles. The November before, the Camp Fire destroyed the town of Paradise and killed 86 people. And in October 2017, the Tubbs Fire obliterated 5,600 structures and killed 22.

“The catchphrase—kind of with a bitterness around here—is, ‘This is the new normal,’ ” says Barbara Young, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Healdsburg, north of San Francisco, who had to evacuate last month. “And so, with that, I think it’s implied that this isn’t going away—our climate is changing. These aren’t flukes, this is the trend. And I think everyone is very clear that this is not a one-off. This is every year now.”

Year after year of such stress is taking a toll on Americans in the West, Young says. Even if someone isn’t forced to evacuate, the mere whiff of wildfire smoke can be an emotional trigger for survivors of previous blazes. “It’s a tremendous amount of fatigue,” she says. “Mental fatigue, freak thunderstorm system and fueled by record physical fatigue, emotional fatigue. And that’s heat and brutal winds, California’s fires over the long-term.” past month have grown into conflagrations of astounding size and intensity. About halfway California’s wildfires are also chewing through between the Bay Area and the Oregon border, iconic destinations, like Big Basin State Park, the August Complex—a “complex” is a grouping bringing a sort of anthropomorphized grief as of blazes—has ballooned into California’s big- people mourn for a place they’ve bonded with. gest wildfire on record, at 877,000 acres, or 1,370 “Places just have a lot of emotional significance square miles. That nearly doubles the previous for us,” says psychologist Susan Clayton of the record set just two years ago by the Mendocino College of Wooster, coauthor of an extensive Complex, which burned 459,000 acres. Two report on climate change and mental health. other complexes currently burning, the SCU “And when they’re gone, in some cases people Lightning Complex and LNU Lightning have even talked about it being like losing a fam- Complex, are now the state’s third- and fourth- ily member—for example, a favorite tree that biggest fires ever, respectively. Across the state, you’ve known for a long time is destroyed.” over 3.2 million acres have burned.

To be sure, wildfires are a perfectly natural and “The hots are getting hotter, the dries are getting indeed beneficial component of the Western drier,” said California governor Gavin Newsom landscape, periodically clearing out an envi- in his Democratic National Convention speech ronment and resetting it for new plant growth, on August 20, recorded a mile from one of hun- which feeds herbivores, which ultimately feed dreds of wildfires burning in the state. “Climate carnivores. But these recent fires in the American change is real. If you are in denial about climate West are far from perfectly normal. Sparked by a change, come to California.”

18 Population Connection — December 2020 Left: Gina Santos cries in her car after evacuating the LNU Lightning Complex Fire in Vacaville, California, on August 19, 2020. She moved into her “dream house” several months ago and was distraught that it might have burned down. (Gabrielle Lurie/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

In Oregon, a plague of wildfires has blackened the landscape is hydrated, so there’s less fuel load a million acres and forced tens of thousands to to burn in the dryness of summer and fall. But evacuate. Ten people are dead, and dozens more to burn safely, crews have to ensure there aren’t are missing. “We have never seen this amount of people downwind, especially with the continued uncontained fire across the state,” Oregon gover- spread of COVID-19, a disease that attacks the nor Kate Brown said last week. In Washington, lungs. wildfires have burned 600,000 acres. Still more Above: Marcia Ritz fires across Colorado have burned hundreds of The patterns of how fires burn in a given area, looks through the thousands of acres—crews got a better handle on known as wildfire regimes, are changing as rubble of her home in Lake Berryessa, these last week when extreme heat suddenly gave human populations expand and the climate California, on way to snow. grows hotter and drier. “The populations within August 27, 2020. these wildfire regimes are increasing so rapidly The Hennesey Fire, Climate change is but one of several co-conspir- that forest management becomes almost impos- part of the LNU Lightning Complex ators in the West’s fiery reckoning. Part of the sible,” says climate scientist Zachary Zobel, Fire, tore through problem is that the region has long embraced a who studies wildfires at the Woodwell Climate the area on August policy of squelching fires quickly, so underbrush Research Center. “Controlled burns get very 18. Ritz and her husband, Jerry builds up as fuel year after year. Part of that challenging when there are population centers Rehmke, rode out problem is that fire crews have ever more peo- around where you’re trying to cleanse the for- the fire with nine ple to protect, as the West’s population expands est, because one misstep and it burns down the other people aboard a pontoon boat as and we build farther into forests. More people entire neighborhood. I mean, that’s a little bit flames surrounded also means more opportunities for accidentally bleak—that’s the truth.” Plus, things have been Lake Berryessa. sparking fires. Plus, bigger populations make it so generally hot and dry that crews have less of ( Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times harder for fire crews to do controlled burns— a window during the spring to even think about via Getty Images) small, manageable blazes set in the spring when doing burns. popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 19 Overarching all of these problems is climate by the time they arrived, California at least change. Swaths of the western U.S. literally had experienced a little rain, which greened up being on fire may seem like an obvious symp- the vegetation. But climate change is pushing tom of a world figuratively being on fire, but those rains later and later in the year, giving the there are some surprising dynamics at play. Yes, parched landscape more time to combust. And the West has been extremely dry in recent years, it isn’t done pushing yet. “Just the raw length of which desiccates mountains of vegetation into the wildfire season, what we’re expecting over the mountains of tinder. And yes, on a hotter planet, next couple decades is for that to very much be the atmosphere sucks what little moisture is left extending later into the year,” says Zobel. And out of those plants more greedily. The West has because of climate change, the landscape is drier gotten so dry and hot, in fact, that areas usually for longer and wildfires burn more intensely. too wet to burn, like northwest Oregon, are right now consumed by flames. But the collision of But here’s a great irony of climate change: Parts climate change and the West’s wildfires is also of California are getting very heavy rains during a matter of timing, and oddly enough, it’s about the winter, because the warmer air on a warmer the abundance of water during a certain time of planet holds more moisture. Come spring, the year. hydrated landscape explodes with new vegetation, which then shrivels during ever hotter summers. In other words, the wet winters are leaving the landscape with fuel to burn in the autumn when speedy seasonal winds arrive. Instead of burning naturally and less intensely every so often, parts of the western U.S. are now in a regular cycle of blooming, getting obliterated “The populations within by massive wildfires, and blooming once more.

these wildfire regimes are “If we were just dry all the time, at some point, increasing so rapidly that we would run out of things to burn, essentially,” forest management becomes says Zobel. “The inverse of that is actually probably worse.” almost impossible,” says climate scientist Zachary What makes the resulting grief so painful for the Zobel, who studies wildfires people who live in the West are the dueling cer- tainties and uncertainties of wildfires: Residents at the Woodwell Climate know how climate change has exacerbated these Research Center. fires, and know that the Western landscape will grow more dangerous from now on, but they don’t know where the next Camp Fire or Tubbs Fire will break out, or when whole towns and dozens of lives may be lost in a matter of hours. We can characterize this hellish new reality, but we can’t predict the firestorms. The certainty of climate grief interfaces with the uncertainty of Having so many intense fires arrive in the sum- climate anxieties. mer is odd, actually. California’s biggest blazes tend to break out in the autumn, when seasonal “I think that’s one of the things that charac- winds tear in from the northeast. In decades terizes this response to climate change,” says past, these winds weren’t so dangerous, because Clayton of the College of Wooster. “For those

20 Population Connection — December 2020 “We see pictures of farm workers who are working in really horrible air quality that’s bad for their health,” says Elizabeth Sawin, co-director of Climate Interactive, a nonprofit that focuses on the intersection of climate change and ineq- uity. Indoors, too, the poor are at greater risk: To keep its equipment from sparking fires when winds kick up, the California utility PG&E has been preemptively cutting power to hundreds of thousands of people. And while power cuts affect everybody in a region, the wealthy are more likely to have resources like solar panels, or to be able to recover from losses. “We could go down the list of people who are likely to lose their power, and with it all the food in their freezer, when replacing the food in their freezer is an economic hardship,” says Sawin.

The rich can also afford to stay one step ahead of climate change, moving away from rising seas and fire-prone landscapes. “We’re starting to hear around the country and around the world, the term climate gentrification,” says Sawin, “which is the idea that the places that are saf- est will soon become unaffordable except to the of us who are absolutely sure that it’s happen- elite. So whether that’s high ground in a place ing, that it’s going to be bad, you still don’t know that’s prone to flooding or fire-safe areas in the exactly what impacts might be felt in a particular West, I think it’s the same underlying dynamic.” area and when they’ll happen. And I think with This is particularly acute in California, as low- wildfire, that’s just especially true. It can be so income residents flee expensive coastal cities and random. Such small things can have an impact settle in less expensive towns near the moun- on where it starts and how much it spreads.” tains. They’ve been displaced not by disaster, but toward disaster. As with climate-fueled disasters in general, the West’s wildfire crisis is hitting the least fortunate Thus inequities, wildfires, and climate change the hardest. Researchers from several California collide. Each massive problem on its own is dif- universities reported last month on how they ficult for the human mind to parse, much less all used smartphone location data to show that poor three together. “I am doing a lot of work with Above: Austin Americans have had to travel more than the people on really increasing psychological self- Giannuzzi embraces family working-from-home wealthy during the pan- care, spiritual self-care, physical self-care, and to members at the demic, likely to get to their essential jobs, putting help that fatigue,” says Young, the therapist in burned remains them more at risk of contracting COVID-19. Healdsburg. “And I do think that is connected of their home Similarly, while many of the rich are able to with climate grief. Finally, maybe we are forced during the LNU Lightning Complex huddle safely at home behind double-paned to see how interconnected everything is.” fire in Vacaville, windows with air purifiers humming, essential California, on workers labor outdoors in the West’s choking August 23, 2020. (Photo by Josh Edelson/ wildfire smoke, braving a virus that attacks the AFP via Getty Images) lungs. popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 21 California's Catastrophic Wildfires in Three Charts Article by Isabella Isaacs-Thomas | Charts by Megan McGrew Originally published by PBS on September 14, 2020

he devastating wildfires wildfires burned more slowly that droughts and heat waves— tearing across California, in that state over the weekend, both factors that paved the way TOregon, Washington, and smoke created unhealthy to haz- for this year’s catastrophic fires— several other Western states are ardous air quality that is forcing will only intensify with time. an increasingly familiar scene, as residents across that state and the blazes have become larger and broader Pacific Northwest to stay The effects of climate change are more destructive over the past inside. At least 35 deaths have already being felt, but that’s not several decades. been confirmed across California, to say that a future marked by Washington, and Oregon, and regular, widespread devastation Seven of the top 10 most destruc- officials have said the toll is of communities and ecosystems, tive fires in California’s history expected to grow. in addition to loss of life, is com- have occurred since 2015, and this pletely unavoidable. year’s fires have already burned Annual wildfires occur naturally an unprecedented 3.1 million in multiple states, but highly pop- Ninety-five percent of wildfires in acres in that state so far, driven in ulated California has a lot to lose California are caused by human part by lightning storms and an when fires burn widely and out of activity. Although we can’t control extreme heat wave. control. A 2019 report from the the yearly winds that fuel those company CoreLogic found that fires in the fall, or the droughts The autumn winds that typically California’s metropolitan areas that regularly choke the region, fuel the bulk of destruction dur- “dominate” a list of the top 15 we can address the daily human ing California’s wildfire season regions most at risk for wildfire decisions that have a direct impact have already begun to blow, con- damage, due to its “high density on how and why wildfires break tributing to dangerous conditions of homes located in wildfire-sus- out in the first place. like low humidity and dry veg- ceptible areas.” etation that have helped fuel fires Here are three charts to help you including the yet-uncontained Given the ongoing destruction, understand those fires, and what August Complex, now the largest oppressive air, and ominous skies experts say we need to keep in fire in California history. turned orange by the smoke, mind if we want to reduce the risk many are once again drawing a of future disaster. Meanwhile, about 10 percent of connection between the changing Oregon’s population were placed climate, extreme weather events, For a sense of how wildfire sea- under some level of evacuation and wildfire season. As the planet son is worsening in California, notice last week, and although continues to warm, experts predict Lynne Tolmachoff, who serves

22 Population Connection — December 2020 A similar phenomenon occurred back in 2008 when a severe thunderstorm system in Northern and Central California caused more than 6,000 lightning strikes that met “record dry conditions” and sparked more than 2,000 fires, according to CalFire. At the time, that season was considered to be one of the most severe on record.

What has made 2020 unusual, Tolmachoff noted, is the fact that the lightning struck not just the mountains, but also flatland areas and parts of the state that are more populated. Two complexes, or groups of fires, caused completely or in part by lightning as chief of the CalStats program because they’re seeing wildfires strikes in the Bay Area this year at the California Department year-round.” have already been named two of of Forestry and Fire Protection the 10 most destructive fires in (CalFire), points to how long that This year’s fires, which have California history. season lasts now, compared to already broken state records in previous years. terms of total acres burned, were Although lightning fires cause largely caused by the more than immense damage, they account When Tolmachoff started at 14,000 lightning strikes that hit for just a fraction of the annual CalFire two decades ago, seasonal California during the month wildfire devastation in California firefighters were expected to work of August in combination with during most years. The rest is about five months out of the year, severely dry conditions. Although caused by human activity and from around mid-July to early lightning accounts for just 5 per- infrastructure like arson, power October. Now, she said, some cent of wildfires in California, lines, and, recently, the use of a firefighters are working as many Tolmachoff said the fires it sparks pyrotechnic device at a gender as nine months out of the year, tend to burn more acreage than reveal party, which sparked the as the season has begun to start those caused by humans. yet-uncontained El Dorado fire earlier and end later than it has in that began in early September. the past. That’s due in part to where lightning tends to strike—usually, in This year’s heat wave—in addition “Now we’re seeing it starting mountainous regions with high to years of intense drought—has in May and going occasionally elevations where, if a fire does made California’s dried out veg- into November, and even a cou- start, it can be harder to contain etation particularly effective fuel. ple years ago, we had to go into due to the inaccessible nature of Annual fall winds may continue December,” Tolmachoff said. the terrain. “Dry thunderstorms” to exacerbate this already disas- “Sometimes, Southern California, occur when storms cause thunder trous fire season—a possibility depending on what happens and lightning, but most or all of Tolmachoff is particularly con- with their weather patterns, may their precipitation never actu- cerned about. When humidity is never even go out of fire season. ally reaches the ground, allowing low, even when temperatures cool They may have to stay staffed, flames to smolder. down, those wind gusts can both popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 23 The landscape varies widely across California, and different parts of the state have different terrain and conditions that can sustain wildfires. But one thing that remains constant is the fact that humans are responsible for the vast majority of the blazes that occur every year. Keeley argues that the role of human activity should be emphasized when it comes to addressing root causes of massive wildfires, and points to both the practice of fan fires and spread them into Jon Keeley, a research scien- fire suppression and California’s different areas, historically bring- tist with the United States increasing population as ing the “largest, most devastating Geological Survey, noted that fires.” the major, multi-year drought primary factors. that hit California between 2011 “Until we get some significant and 2019 killed off an immense rain, we will remain in fire season. amount of vegetation in the state. Even if the temperatures cool, He said that more than a million we’ll still see fire,” Tolmachoff trees in the Sierra Nevada died said. “So that’s probably our big- over the course of that drought, human activity should be empha- gest concern, is the fact that we’ve providing ideal fuel for the fires sized when it comes to addressing already burned over [3 million] that are devastating that region root causes of massive wildfires, acres and yet we still have prob- now. and points to both the practice of ably two good months at least of fire suppression and California’s fire season to go.” Keeley acknowledges that climate increasing population as primary change “almost certainly” exacer- factors. The infamous 2018 Camp Fire, bates fire-friendly conditions in which killed 85 people, was California, but says that’s only “The bottom line is this is a mul- caused by “electrical transmission part of the story. tifactor problem. It’s not just lines owned and operated” by the climate change, it’s not just the utility company Pacific Gas and The landscape varies widely across drought, it’s not just dieback. It’s Electric (PG&E) and exacerbated California, and different parts of management activities that have by the usual fire-friendly forces the state have different terrain and suppressed fires for over a cen- of dry vegetation, low humidity, conditions that can sustain wild- tury—a lot of things going on,” and strong winds. That year’s fire fires. But one thing that remains Keeley said. “The way I see the cur- season held the title of the most constant is the fact that humans rent situation in California, this is destructive on record until this are responsible for the vast major- the perfect storm. Everything is year unseated it, and it’s still con- ity of the blazes that occur every coming together at once.” sidered the most deadly. year. Keeley argues that the role of

24 Population Connection — December 2020 Keeley emphasized that California’s population has grown by 6 million since the year 2000.

“That 6 million increase in population means more people pushed out into areas of urban sprawl, of dangerous fuels, increased ignition sources, increased potential for people getting killed, an increase in the electric grid,” Keeley said. “So if there’s anything that can

While this summer’s fires were opportunity for disaster. Keeley explain the increase in fires in fueled by lightning storms in emphasized that California’s pop- the last 20 years, my feeling is addition to human activity, Keeley ulation has grown by 6 million noted that the fires fueled by since the year 2000. it’s population growth.” yearly autumn winds are “always” started by people, whether by “That 6 million increase in popu- accident or on purpose. He said lation means more people pushed that power line failures have been out into areas of urban sprawl, of responsible for the majority of dangerous fuels, increased ignition large-scale fall fires in the state sources, increased potential for This year’s wildfires aren’t the over the past two decades. people getting killed, an increase only natural disasters or extreme in the electric grid,” Keeley said. weather events to devastate com- Inadequate maintenance is partly “So if there’s anything that can munities over the past several to blame, courts have found. explain the increase in fires in months, renewing attention on According to The New York Times, the last 20 years, my feeling is it’s the global need to mitigate the PG&E’s electrical network— population growth.” growing climate crisis. But given which serves approximately 16 the magnitude of that task, in the million people in Central and In addition to infrastructural context of the California wild- Northern California—has been issues like power grids, mitigating fires, Keeley argues that looking linked to multiple destructive human error on an individual level toward tangible, human solutions fires, and regulators have deter- is key to preventing future disas- to human-caused problems can mined that the company “violated ter. That’s why one of CalFire’s offer some degree of hope. state law or could have done more goals is to educate as many to make its equipment safer” in Californians as possible about “It’s a positive view that we don’t several cases. how wildfires work, what causes just have to feel like we’re doomed them, and the fact that they can to climate change,” Keeley said. Power grids have also expanded to affect communities in any part of “We can change our outcomes, accommodate growing communi- the state—urban, rural, or any- in part due to how we deal with ties in the state, creating more thing in between. these situations.” popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 25 w

ie Joe Biden Wins the White House, V January Runoff for Senate Control By Stacie Murphy, Director of Congressional Relations ashington W

fter four years of fury and the Trump administration remains in Supreme Court Tips Further to frustration at the Trump charge, and that its members plan to the Right administration’s attacks on continue their fight against reproduc- On September 18, the clerk of the reproductiveA rights and family planning, tive health and rights to the very end. Supreme Court announced that Justice advocates have cause to be optimistic in On September 14, the administration Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died of the aftermath of the election. Former published a new proposed rule that complications of metastatic pancreatic Vice President Joe Biden defeated would further expand the Global Gag cancer. The 87-year-old justice, who had Donald Trump to become the 46th Rule. Until now, all versions of the Gag previously survived multiple bouts of President of the United States. Biden Rule have applied to grants and coop- cancer, dictated in a final statement to has pledged to repeal the Global Gag erative agreements. If enacted, the new one of her granddaughters that her “most Rule. He is also expected to support rule would include contracts, potentially fervent wish” was that she would not be robust funding for bilateral international impacting an entirely new category of replaced until after the inauguration of family planning programs and restore global health programs and organiza- the next president. the U.S. contribution to the United tions. The Kaiser Family Foundation Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), estimates that nearly 40 percent of global Less than 24 hours later, with early which had been prohibited by the Trump health funding flows through contracts. and absentee voting already under- administration. way in multiple states, Senate Majority Because this expansion is being done Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Control of the U.S. Senate will hinge through the regulatory process, rather announced that Donald Trump’s nomi- on a pair of January runoff elections in than through legislation, it is subject to nee—whoever it was—would receive Georgia, where no candidate in either a “notice and comment” period, during not only a confirmation hearing, but race met the 50-percent-plus-one-vote which any interested party may submit also a vote on the Senate floor before threshold required by state election a question, comment, or other concern November 3, defying the precedent he rules. In the House of Representatives, it about the proposed rule, to which the himself set in 2016 with his refusal to appeared that family planning support- administration must respond before it consider President Obama’s Merrick ers would maintain a majority, though at can finalize the regulation. The public Garland nomination during an election our press deadline there were more than comment period closed on November 13, year. On September 26, Donald Trump a dozen seats that remained uncalled. and the hope is that the Trump admin- nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett, istration will not have time to respond who he had previously appointed to New Global Gag Rule to all submitted comments and begin the United States Court of Appeals for Expansion Proposed implementing the rule before President- the Seventh Circuit in November 2017. Even as we look to the future, we cannot elect Biden takes office and withdraws it Barrett, who once clerked for the late afford to forget that, for the time being, from consideration. Justice Antonin Scalia, has an extensive

26 Population Connection — December 2020 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg March 15, 1933 – September 18, 2020 history of extremely conservative view- leaders—including Donald Trump— A giant has fallen. In the wake of Justice points. She has called for the repeal of sent pre-recorded speeches to mark Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing, this Roe vs. Wade, ruled that the use of the the occasion. Trump used his time nation is poorer. For all of her 87 years, n-word in the workplace did not con- to praise himself for his handling of Justice Ginsburg never shied away from stitute a hostile work environment, and the COVID-19 pandemic (which he the battles that needed to be fought—on the contrary, she went looking for them. criticized the 2012 Supreme Court rul- referred to as the “China virus”), and In the parlance of the current day, she ing preserving the Affordable Care Act extol U.S. support for human rights, persisted. (ACA). specifically mentioning “the unborn” on a list of vulnerable groups the U.S. Through advancing age and infirmity, After four days of hearings in the Senate seeks to protect. His administration through the death of the beloved husband who supported and encouraged Judiciary Committee, the committee also continued its long-running effort her throughout her remarkable career, voted 12–0 to send the nomination to to use international organizations to through multiple bouts of cancer, she the floor, with all 10 Democrats on the undermine sexual and reproductive persisted. And now we must as well. committee having boycotted the vote. health and rights. Along with Brazil, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was always worth On October 26, the Senate confirmed Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, and admiring—for her unapologetic ambition Barrett to the Supreme Court by a vote Uganda, the U.S. co-sponsored the (at a time when, even more so than now, of 52–48. Every Republican senator Geneva Consensus, a non-binding women were punished for it), for her keen except Susan Collins (R-ME) voted international anti-abortion declaration. mind, and for her understanding that the to confirm her, including Alaska’s Lisa law must be not only an instrument of Murkowski, who had earlier voted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and power, but also of justice. against the nomination on procedural Health and Human Services Secretary Her loss is all the more crushing because grounds. The ideological balance of the Alex Azar participated in the virtual of where we find ourselves today: Court is now 6–3, in favor of conser- signing ceremony on October 22. At fighting against those who have ambition vatives. By the time this issue reaches the ceremony, Pompeo reiterated the without ideals, cunning without wisdom, your mailbox, the Court will already position that “there is no international and a will to power utterly lacking in compassion. have heard cases that could overturn right to abortion,” and said that the both the ACA and Roe. Geneva Consensus promotes women’s She was a bulwark, and now she is gone. health, “defends the unborn, and reiter- But the torch has not been extinguished; Trump Attacks Reproductive ates the vital importance of the family.” it has been passed—to all of us. Rights at the UN There has apparently been significant May her memory be a blessing. May her In late September, the United behind-the-scenes lobbying to con- memory be a revolution. And may her Nations General Assembly held its vince other countries to sign on, as well. memory inspire us all as we continue to first-ever virtual convening. World fight for the rights and dignity of people everywhere.

popconnect.org A New President, a New Congress, and a New Supreme Court Keep the #Fight4HER on Its Toes

utreach By Rebecca Harrington, Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach & O ield F

Summer of HER Summits of his commitment to reproductive 954,806 impressions and 2,741 engage- Against the backdrop of the ongoing rights for everyone, everywhere, built ments on Twitter. coronavirus pandemic and a national upon his experience as a doctor, a for- reckoning on race, our virtual Summer mer public health professional, and a In her video, Sen. Shaheen shared her of HER program chugged on success- father of a daughter. He rightly noted commitment to fighting for health, fully throughout the summer with our that “you can’t empower women if you empowerment, and rights: “As the only organizers and fellows recruiting and don’t empower them to control their woman on the Senate Foreign Relations engaging volunteers remotely. The pro- own reproduction,” highlighting this as Committee, I’ve led efforts to advance gram culminated with an exciting day a “fundamental right.” women’s rights across the globe. But the of summits—on both the east and west fight for women’s health care depends on coasts—at the end of August. Reps. Beatty and Bera are both original all of us—all of us across New Hampshire co-sponsors of the Global HER Act and and the country.” The summits brought together our have been long champions of interna- fellows, staff, and key champions in tional family planning and reproductive As the fall months progressed, we con- Congress to talk about fighting to ensure health and rights for people around tinued to utilize the best tools at our a future that includes reproductive health the world. Our #Fight4HER teams in disposal to continue educating and acti- and rights for everyone, everywhere. Ohio and California have formed strong vating people about the #Fight4HER. relationships with the offices of both Relational organizing—drawing from At the eastern summit, Rep. Joyce representatives, who are enthusiastic and personal networks to recruit new peo- Beatty (D-OH-3) gave a rousing speech outspoken supporters of our campaign. ple—proved to be a very successful tactic about fighting for reproductive rights for engaging people virtually, at a time and women’s rights, and about the To further engage activists online, we when everyone is leaning on their com- power within all of the young organiz- hosted a very successful Twitter rally as munities like never before. ers brought together by #Fight4HER. part of the summit agenda, asking par- She emphasized that “our vote is our ticipants to share videos of themselves Fight for the Supreme Court voice, and it is our power, and it speaks explaining why they are #Fight4HER On September 18, Justice Ruth Bader to our values,” while encouraging activ- voters. The rally featured Sen. Jeanne Ginsburg passed away from cancer, leav- ists to “think about the women whose Shaheen (D-NH), one of our longstanding behind a rich legacy of fighting for shoulders we stand on, when we think of ing champions, and Rep. Chris Pappas gender equity, pay equity, reproductive celebrating the 100th anniversary of the (D-NH-1), another strong advocate of rights, and civil rights. The very next day, 19th amendment.” the #Fight4HER. Our staff, volunteers, Donald Trump nominated Amy Coney and fellows also shared their thoughts, Barrett, a judge of the U.S. Court of In the western summit, Rep. Ami Bera and these messages collectively had Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, as her (D-CA-7) talked about the evolution replacement.

28 Population Connection — December 2020 Over the next month, a hard-fought battle to prevent Coney Barrett’s confirmation before the inauguration of the next president was waged. We worked in coalition with a broad range of groups, including Planned Parenthood, People for the American Way, and Alliance for Justice, under the leadership of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

The central message of our fight—that it was wholly unconscionable for the Senate to ram through a Supreme Court nominee while neglecting to pass a sub- Post-Election Above: Rep. Joyce Beatty, #Fight4HER stantial COVID relief package during an With the election of Joe Biden as the staff, and fellows at the ongoing pandemic—resonated strongly 46th U.S. President, and the election or East Coast Summer of with people around the country. re-election of pro-family planning can- HER Summit didates to both houses of Congress, we Over the course of this month-long look forward to engaging our activists effort, we urged our supporters to call in a push to make international family their senators, sign our petition, and let planning a priority. As the transition to it be known that they did not support the next administration moves forward, this rushed process. In addition to sup- we’ll be advocating for a quick repeal porting and amplifying the work of our of the Global Gag Rule, an end to the partners with digital rallies and Twitter longstanding Helms Amendment, and storms, we collected 1,846 petition sig- an increase in our international fam- natures, and our supporters made 298 ily planning investment, to $1.6 billion, calls to Senate offices, urging their sena- including $111 million for UNFPA. tors not to vote in favor of a confirmation until after Inauguration. Our activists and volunteers are excited about the possibilities 2021 holds.

popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 29 PopEd Applies New Tools for Virtual Teacher Workshops d E o p P

eriodically, our staff share snippets of their experiences traveling around the U.S. and Canada, facilitating PopEd workshops for current and future teachers. This fall, rather than Pmeeting with educators in person, we’ve had to do it virtually through Zoom and other platforms. With our commitment to provide engaging experiences, even from afar, we’ve created a host of digital tools to adapt our popular teaching activities for our socially distanced reality. Here are some staff highlights of using those tools in over 150 teacher virtual workshops this fall.

Carol Bliese Lindsey Bailey Laura Short Senior Director of Teacher Programs Senior Teacher Training Manager Education Program Associate

Power of the Pyramids, our lesson on Panther Hunt is one of our most popu- Adapting our census modeling activities age structure diagrams, is a classic used lar lessons, and a powerful way to explore to a remote learning environment was by many high school teachers. Luckily the concept of carrying capacity and food particularly challenging. Both activities for us, one of our trainers, Dr. Merryn chains. Students pretend to be panthers, require students to collect demographic Cole of the University of Nevada, Las amassing prey—paper cups representing data from classmates, which they ana- Vegas, reached out with a solution for squirrels, rabbits, porcupines, beavers, lyze in small groups. For People Count facilitating the lesson virtually. She and deer—in their classroom habitat. (grades K-5), we built a census-like enu- created a template in Google Sheets, With the help of Google Slides, we cre- merator’s form in Google Sheets that enabling students to “draw” population ated a digital hunting simulation that is several students can work on at once. In pyramids and also see their classmates’ just as captivating as the in-person ver- real time, they enter household infor- work during discussion and debriefing. sion. Students “hunt” prey by dragging mation (name, age, sex, etc.), and the We’ve since been using this tool in webi- small circles from the digital habitat to form automatically populates a graph to nars, and sharing online, to rave reviews. their “den,” a labeled area on the screen. visualize the data. Everything Counts Another trainer, Anthony Zanin, found As the prey get snatched up, students (grades 6-8) also gives students practice that his AP students in Texas “were more realize there’s not enough for every pan- with various math and science popula- engaged using the Google Sheet than ther to survive. You can feel the tension tion estimation techniques employed they were last year when I did the activ- rising through the screen. Engagement is by wildlife biologists. Using an interac- ity in person.” high, and the content discussions remain tive Google Slide worksheet, students rich. recreate the experience of catching and releasing mice into the wild.

30 Population Connection — December 2020 “I have to say the webinar was absolutely amazing! I was originally concerned with the virtual approach to the training. However, the lessons and activities were very well structured for the online environment. It was impressive, and the students were amazed with the resources. This is such an impactful and meaningful professional development. Keep doing the amazing work. I’m a huge fan and will keep reaching out to you all as long as I am teaching!

–Cristina Viera, University of South Florida

Abby Watkins Pete Bailey Rafael Woldeab Education Program Associate Professional Development Associate Education Program Associate

A few of our fall workshops have been In addition to live and recorded webi- One of my favorite virtual workshops hybrids (remote/in-person), like the one nars, PopEd now offers one-hour, this fall was for Suzanne Gulledge’s Carol and I presented for Dr. Shirley online courses to teachers-in-training graduate students at the University of Disseler and her grad students at High through the Canvas Instructure platform North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Laura Point University. The professor had to (also used for PopEd’s online graduate and I presented For the Common conduct her live class in North Carolina, course). I’ve created a number of these Good, which includes two simulation while also managing camera angles and “mini-courses,” consisting of several les- games, where students try to determine passing a microphone around so her son demonstration videos, followed by individual short-term consumption students could respond to our questions questions about the lessons’ content and strategies that will maximize resources from DC. We had to pick activities that pedagogy. The platform allows professors for the entire group. We used a digital would be both lively and allow these to monitor their students’ progress, view platform that allowed students to engage future elementary teachers to stay socially their responses, and submit a final grade. with each other using a shared board distanced—all while running the activity Feedback from the mini-courses has game. After several rounds of trial and remotely and through a proxy. One of been overwhelmingly positive from pro- error, they arrived at a sustainable con- the most successful activities was Green fessors, who are excited to offer PopEd sumption strategy to ensure their shared Spaces, where participants measure out sessions that students can do on their renewable resource did not run out. In individual squares of space (represent- own time. discussion, the group drew parallels ing parcels of grassy, oxygen-producing between overconsumption in the game land). Students have a much more intui- and the overuse of renewable resources tive understanding of five feet of distance in society. than they ever had in the past. popconnect.org December 2020 — Population Connection 31 Cartoon

Dave Granlund, Courtesy of Cagle Cartoons

32 Population Connection — December 2020 Editorial Excerpts

In a strikingly clear message to those who would erode abor- …Clearly, [Amy Coney] Barrett is personally opposed to abortion rights in this nation, nearly 59 percent of Colorado voters tion. While she was a law professor at Notre Dame University, struck down a proposed ban on abortions after 22 weeks of she was a member of an anti-abortion faculty group and was gestation. one of hundreds of female professionals who signed an open letter to a meeting of Catholic bishops in 2015, expressing their Women and doctors should be making these medical decisions, belief in “the value of human life from conception to natural not politicians. … death.” In 2006 she was among a long list of signatories who declared in an anti-abortion ad in a South Bend, Ind., newspa- Women from across the nation come to Colorado seeking per that they “oppose abortion on demand and defend the right abortion care when their home state denies them the medical to life from fertilization to natural death.” The more provoca- care they need. … tive second page of the ad, next to the signatures, said in part, “It’s time to put an end to the barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade.” Opponents of abortion should take this loss for what it is and … refocus their efforts on supporting pregnant women, especially teens, promoting access to birth control and comprehensive Taking away a woman’s right to decide for herself what she will sexual education, and boosting adoption programs and foster do with a pregnancy before the fetus is viable would constitute care services. There is so much need. a profound injustice and an upheaval in the lives of millions of women of child-bearing age. Nothing has changed medically And U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett should since Roe that argues for taking away a woman’s control over reconsider her position about abortion and stare decisis. her own body while a fetus is not viable. Roe v. Wade is now a decades-old decision that laid the foundation for women’s rights in a country that at the time was ruled The alarming thing is that the landscape for abortion availabil- by men. Women for generations have relied upon the guaran- ity even with Roe is bleak. Women who live in any of the states tee that the government (local, state, or federal) will not and with just one abortion clinic face a daunting task of getting to can not interfere with their personal medical choices. To rip them. And it is always poor or low-income women who face that foundation out from under women now, would erode this the most difficult obstacles to getting an abortion. nation’s commitment to freedom and our faith in time-honored institutions like the Supreme Court. Yes, Justice Coney If Roe goes away, there will be states where abortion will be Barrett, Roe v. Wade is a super precedent that should remain legal and states where it will be outlawed. And in the states in place. When states bring ill-conceived restrictions on abor- where it’s outlawed, there will probably be more so-called self- tion, our justices should follow the lead of Colorado voters and managed abortions—either through illicitly obtained pills for a strike them down. … medication abortion or from some other self-induced method.

Colorado has spoken and our justices should listen. At this point, abortion is part of women’s health care in the U.S., and it should stay that way. Seemingly every major medi- – November 4, 2020 cal organization supports access to safe and legal abortion. So should the Supreme Court. – October 11, 2020

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