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“I think in the stories, it carries issues and problems that we are facing Population Media Center (PMC) works worldwide using entertainment-education for social change. NEWSLETTER // WINTER // 2013 now in our government or families and PNG as a whole. In order to sort PMC’s programs encourage positive behavior change among the audience. it out, we listen to the program, it brings some changes in our lives and SEXYSEX CAMPAIGN REACHES THE US ideas on how to tackle these problems.” POPULATIONMEDIA.ORG - Reuben, Port Moresby, (Listener of “Echoes of Change”) This psychological thriller delivers engrossing, sometimes scheming Fan us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter characters, endless suspense, and romance while addressing some of www.populationmedia.org the most pressing social issues facing teens and young adults today, “Your programme has enriched people including teen pregnancy, STD prevention, domestic violence, and cyber with information, including me talking bullying, among other realities. to you. It has educated us on things that Último Año represents the first partnership between MTV and happen in our houses and community PMC to develop a highly engag- ing novela (dramatic series) that and on family planning.” deals with an array of social issues pertaining to MTV’s target audience. - Moses Alpha, Kenema Town, Eastern ( Listener of “Saliwansai”) PMC worked closely with expert advisers in such as United Na- tions Population Fund Mexico (UNFPA- Mexico), the government of Mexico (CONAPO), MexFam, APIS (a domestic “I think in the stories, it carries issues and problems that we are violence organization), BALANCE, and SIPAM to develop storylines, dialogue, facing now in our government or families and PNG as a whole. and key sexual and reproductive health Sextumismo, which provides information about birth control methods In order to sort it out, we listen to the program, it brings some and domestic violence resources, which and STDs. All content on the site is available in English and Spanish. link viewers to services in Mexico and Other US based organizations working with PMC to provide services changes in our lives and ideas on how to tackle these problems.” throughout Latin America. The 70-epi- and information on the issues addressed in the novela include The Na- sode novela was produced in Mexico City tional Campaign to End Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy (Stayteen.org - Moses Alpha, Kenema Town, Eastern Sierra Leone ( Listener of “Saliwansai”) and aired in 18 countries in Latin America and Bedsider.org), Get Schooled.org, the National Domestic Violence in 2012. Hotline, LoveisRespect.org, Sex.etc, Planned Parenthood, the National In February 2013, Último Año started airing Latina Institute, and It’s Your Sex Life. in the US on Tr3s, a contemporary Spanish In addition to bringing Último Año to the US market, PMC is pleased language entertainment brand targeting young to announce the second run of Último Año, which started in February Hispanics in the US. The novela will air 5 days a 2013 on Cadena 3 in Mexico, one of the most popular free-to-air chan- week with repeats on Saturdays until the end of May. It is also nels in Mexico. CHANGING THE WORLD, available for free on Tr3s’s website with English subtitles: www. Check out SexySex in Spanish: http://sexysex.tr3s.com/SPA/ and in tr3s.com/shows/featured/ua/videos. English: http://sexysex.tr3s.com/ENG/ To further the impact of the novela, PMC has adapted the highly PMC is grateful to Fred and Alice Stanback and MTV for making this ONE SOAP OPERA AT A TIME successful ‘SexySex’ campaign it launched in Latin America initiative possible. for US audiences. The multi-faceted campaign includes PSAs featuring cast leads, which provide important information about HELP CHANGE THE WORLD, MAKE A DONATION TODAY : WWW.POPULATIONMEDIA.ORG/DONATE services related to issues in the plot and are aired after key INSIDE THIS ISSUE: episodes. The campaign also includes a complete digital experi- ence on MTV’s website that offers sexual health trivia powered Upcomming new programs are highligted • Life on the Brink book review by StayTeen.org, video clips highlighting important dialogues • London Summit on Family Planning • Q & A with PMC’s new Sierra Leone country about social issues, and exclusive photos from the novela. representative• Joe Bish’s Opinion Piece • Listener feedback SexySex features a wide array of resources, such as Planned Design by: Melissa Montemagni • Contributing writers: Joe Bish, Megan Boylan, Ally Conchieri, Melissa 5 Parenthood’s Find a Clinic Widget and Get Tested Widget and Montemagni, Annalise Voss • Edited by: Cecelia Angelone, Megan Boylan, Wendi Stein Obstructed Labor: The Birth of the Low & Featured News From Around the Globe NEW PROGRAMS IN THE NEWS IN MY OPINION ... Fertility Crisis Sham by Joseph Bish POPULATION: 10.5 MILLION POPULATION GROWTH RATE: 1.8% of 1.74. Thirty five years ago. In 1976. Today, we’re going to begin contracting ... and that “host” families in exchange PROVIDING 120 MILLION WOMEN WITH CONTRACEPTIVE ADDRESSING CHILD SLAVERY IN HAITI PROJECTED 2050 POPULATION: 14,178,400 Joseph Bish it’s at 1.9, fairly close to the replacement is a VERY BAD THING.” for food, shelter, and education. FERTILITY RATE: 3.4 INFORMATION AND SERVICES BY 2020 level of 2.1. On February 25, 2013, PMC held a training However, only a small percentage of these Population Outreach Of course, PMC begs to differ. Population Nonetheless, like the proverbial pebble stabilization is an essential component of an for scriptwriters for a 78-episode radio serial children are well-cared for. The majority On July 11, 2012, the UK government and The Bill and Melinda Gates Manager OF MARRIED WOMEN DO NOT USE dislodged from a mountaintop, the notion that ecologically sustainable future and is a VERY drama set to broadcast in Creole throughout are subject to harsh living conditions, brutal 76 % Foundation co-hosted the London Summit on Family Planning. The the was suddenly in danger GOOD THING. Haiti. It will run over the course of 20 months physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, MODERN CONTRACEPTIVES • Summit brought together representatives from national governments, of a “birth dearth” gained credence – and including several heads of state, the private sector, the research and The Global Network of Science Academies beginning later this year. The drama is funded and forced slavery. 225,000 CHILDREN ESTIMATED TO BE Joe Bish holds a Masters of Science in mainstream media attention of disturbing by Fred and Alice Stanback and will be development community, and other civil society members from around (IAP) has our backs on this issue. This PMC has been gathering formative research Environmental Advocacy and Organizing proportions. planet spanning organization, comprised of produced in partnership with the Restavek RESTAVEK the globe to support a woman’s right to decide when and how many on Haitians’ daily lives, such as their attitudes, from Antioch University New England. He has First came conservative columnist Ross 105 national science academies, issued a Freedom Foundation and the production (15% OF ALL CHILDREN, AS HIGH children she has. Together, they established the goal of providing an behaviors, and needs, to better understand the worked in environmentally themed non-profit Douthat, writing in the NY Times “More statement on population and consumption in AS 40% IN SOME AREAS) additional 120 million women with access to contraceptive information company SCreaM. ramifications of child slavery and other social administration settings in Massachusetts, New Babies, Please!” Next up was Rick Newman, the summer of 2012. They noted that national and services by 2020. With 80 million unintended pregnancies a year Hampshire and Vermont on issues ranging from and health issues within their communities. of the US World and News Report, with and international policy should “encourage and a world population of over 7 billion, this issue is more pressing ocean conservation to alternatives to nuclear Using this knowledge, PMC trainers will than ever. “Why a Falling Birth Rate Is a Big Problem”. development strategies that help to reduce power. Slate Magazine hopped on the bandwagon population growth. Programs that promote assist the scriptwriters in developing realistic PMC President Bill Ryerson was fortunate enough to be among the with Jeff Wise’s “About That Overpopulation education, in particular of women and girls, characters and storylines that captivate the attendees of the Summit. He expressed that the most inspirational On October 3rd, 2012 the U.S. National Problem” (according to Wise, there is none). should be central to these strategies.” audience, while seamlessly weaving in social moments for him were when the British Prime Minister Cameron Center for Health Statistics released a study Not to be outdone, Time Magazine’s online issues for maximum impact. and Rwandan President Kagame each made speeches about the Though Mr. Last clearly did not get the titled “Births: Preliminary Data from 2011”. It Lifestyle section printed an article titled need for family planning support and the commitments made by their memo, PMC couldn’t agree more. Through the drama, the audience will follow promote small-family norms, thus decreasing Women in Papua New Guinea waiting at a Health Clinic. showed that the crude birth rate of the United “Overcrowding? Nah – World Population governments towards meeting that goal. the characters as they struggle through tough the number of children at risk of becoming States – annual births per 1,000 women of May Actually Be Declining”. But, of course, scientific analysis rarely Scriptwriters Training Workshop. Ryerson commented “The leadership by Melinda Gates and childbearing age – had registered at 63.2 per meshes with political agendas – and “birth decisions and evolve into positive role models, restaveks. With these goals in mind, PMC Many at the Summit recognized PMC’s role in emphasizing the The lonely pebble had quickly turned into In the drama, PMC will be addressing critical Department of International Development in support of family planning 1,000 for the year 2011. A record low. dearth alarmism” is no exception. Look no which will prompt them to transform their own along with their scriptwriting team will begin importance of overcoming the informational and cultural barriers an avalanche of “low fertility alarmism”. social issues in Haiti, such as restavek is a real game changer. It is wonderful to have their outspoken further that the fact that US births in 2011 attitudes and behaviors to improve the lives of to address these health and human rights to the use of family planning methods and services. PMC fully Unfortunately, this single data point soon Everywhere you looked, someone else was support, which has brought the need for family planning back into numbered 3,953,593 -- only 1% less (or 45,793 servitude, family planning, reproductive countless children. The program also aims to issues within Haiti. supports the goals made at the London Summit and will continue to became the impetus for dramatic media worried about a dearth of babies. popular discourse.” This leadership is among the top reasons the aid in their realization by providing education and information that fewer) births than in 2010 -- and just 362,407 health, and HIV/AIDS. Restavek children have increase family planning services and headlines stating some variation of “US been sent by their parents to serve wealthier Summit was so influential. empowers women and girls to reach their full potential. faces low fertility crisis!” Enter Jonathan V. Last, a conservative writer shy of the absolute record-high set in 2007 of for the Weekly Standard and author of a 4,316,000 births. This exceeded the 2,493,600 Expert demographer Carl Haub quickly new book, “What to Expect When No One is deaths in 2011 by about 1.46 million, not to LIFE ON THE BRINK: ENVIRONMENTALISTS CONFRONT pointed out the technical inaccuracy of Expecting: America’s Coming Demographic mention net immigration of over 1 million per such phrases and emphasized that birth rate Disaster”. Last began shouting “Baby Bust” year. This brings annual growth in the U.S. be conducting interviews and focus group PMC DEVELOPING TWO NEW DRAMAS OVERPOPULATION trends are best analyzed by the measure from the pages of the Wall Street Journal, to about 2.5 million. The world’s population discussions with local community members to POPULATION: 170 MILLION called “total fertility rate” (TFR) – the misinforming hosts of CBS This Morning, is growing by about 85 million per year. In IN NIGERIA assess their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs POPULATION GROWTH RATE: 2.6% Life on the Brink (University of Georgia Press, average number of children a woman will and even lecturing viewers of The Weather all their hand-wringing, Last and his cronies about the issues addressed in the dramas in 2012), a newly published anthology, sparks bear in her lifetime. The United States TFR, Channel that the planet is heading towards never seem inclined to mention this data. Through funding from the Ford Foundation, the PROJECTED 2050 POPULATION: 402,426,000 order to develop culturally relevant storylines a powerful discussion of global population PMC is proud to annouce our 4-star rating on Charity noted Mr. Haub, had indeed hit a record low “a peak population of 9 Billion or so and then MacArthur Foundation, and the United Nations FERTILITY RATE: 5.6 and characters. issues among environmentalists, scholars, Navigator for sound fiscal management and commitment Birth dearth indeed! Population Fund, PMC is developing four new policymakers, and the general public. to accountability and transparency. Receiving four out of radio serial dramas in Nigeria as a follow up 92 % of married women do not use modern Many leading authorities in the American four possible stars indicates that we consistently adhere to to the overwhelming success of the previous environmental movement, including PMC good governance and other best practices that minimize the SPOTLIGHT: motherhood, and women’s status, which WHAT ARE SOME IMPORTANT programs, Ruwan Dare (“Midnight Rain”) and contraceptives • Infant Mortality Rate: 77 per President Bill Ryerson, emphasize that chance of unethical activities and execute our mission in a entails the production and broadcast of a ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO Gugar Goge (“Tell It to Me Straight”). These 1000 live births population growth is the major factor behind fiscally responsible way. NEW PMC STAFF 208-episode radio serial drama. SEE ADDRESSED? new programs each consist of 156 15-minute the most serious social and ecological With only a quarter of the charities on Charity Navigator episodes that will be broadcast twice a week problems of our time. Fistula, a lot of women who are stigmatized receiving this highest rating, PMC is clearly outperforming over the course of two years, scheduled to The radio dramas will address pressing issues Ryerson proposes solutions to these problems in his contributing Q&A or suffering in silence now have the most other charities in America. begin airing later this year. PMC is building throughout Nigeria, with an emphasis on chapter: “How do we solve the population problem?” On a planet opportunity to come out and be helped. As WHERE ARE YOU FROM? a studio equipped with the latest in sound adolescent sexual and reproductive health, suffering from human-induced climate change, species extinction, Check out Population Media Center’s rating on Charity Sonia " Vicky " Johnson a mother I believe HIV/AIDS education will technology in their new office in downtown gender-based violence, family planning, and and ocean acidification, global population stabilization should be a Navigator at charitynavigator.org Country Representative - Sierra Leone I am a Sierra Leonean. especially help our young people and will Abuja to produce these programs. PMC will HIV/AIDS. Through these programs, PMC priority for international development programs. “Population growth reduce the social and medical problems in can be saved using human-rights enhancing, progressive strategies I am the Country Representative for expand its presence in Nigeria by airing hopes to correct misinformation about the MAIN GOAL YOU WOULD LIKE TO the country. the programs on at least one radio station safety of contraception, as well as provide of entertainment-education,” he says. Ryerson is only one of the many PMC-Sierra Leone, my role with PMC ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR WORK important voices in Life on the Brink that are proposing viable solutions per Nigerian state plus the Federal Capital preventative strategies for many reproductive is to manage a multi-faceted behavior WITH PMC? HOBBIES? Territory of Abuja. The programs will be in health risks. toward a brighter future for the planet. change communication project dealing I like watching movies and listening to Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, and Pidgin English in order Training workshops with local writers and Life on the Brink is available through University of Georgia Press and DONATE NOW AT: with sexual reproductive health issues, I would like to increase the visibility of the to reach the majority of the population. producers will begin on April 15th and leading book sellers. Pick up your copy today! including reproductive health among organization, expand its financial base, gospel music. continue until May 4th. PMC staff will also Nigerian women walking through the streets POPULATIONMEDIA.ORG/DONATE young people, contraceptive use, safe and make PMC’s programme sustainable. 2 3 4