Extensions of Remarks E1995 EXTENSIONS of REMARKS
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November 14, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1995 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING gate her way around the campus. Last May, Moreover, we have seen no progress on the RAYMOND GRUBBS Christina received her degree in Internet Busi- investigation of the missing and presumed ness and Communications, and Natasha was dead political opponents—perhaps not surpris- HON. ROBERT W. NEY right there by her side as she received her di- ingly, as credible evidence links the OF OHIO ploma. Lukashenka regime with these murders, and Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and admi- growing evidence also indicates Belarus has IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ration that I recognize Christina Tooley of been supplying weapons and military training Wednesday, November 13, 2002 Pueblo, Colorado before this body of Con- to Iraq. Both in Berlin and in Washington, I Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, whereas Raymond gress and this nation. Christina has shown an have had the honor of meeting with the wives Grubbs is a professional truck driver for Yel- extraordinary determination to overcome un- of the disappeared. low Transportation; and paralleled challenges and has made incredible Mr. Speaker, the state of human rights and Whereas, Raymond Grubbs has success- strides through her efforts. Her courage and democracy in Belarus is abysmal, and the fully driven one million miles without a pre- resilience are a testimony to her character and manifest culprit is Lukashenka and his min- ventable accident; and should serve as an inspiration to us all. I wish ions. The longsuffering Belarusian people de- Whereas, Raymond Grubbs should be com- Christina all the best in her future, I am proud serve to live in a country in which human mended for reaching this safety milestone; to represent such an extraordinary individual. rights are not flouted. Those in Belarus, like and f Anatoly Lebedka, who struggle for human Whereas, Raymond Grubbs has rights and democracy deserve better. The demon[chyph]strated a steadfast commitment SITUATION IN BELARUS Belarusian people deserve better. to the safety of our nation’s highways; CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE f Therefore, I join with the residents of the en- WORLD POPULATION GROWTH tire 18th Congressional District of Ohio in hon- HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH oring and congratulating Raymond Grubbs for OF NEW JERSEY his outstanding accomplishment. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HON. JAMES P. MORAN OF VIRGINIA f Wednesday, November 13, 2002 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PAYING TRIBUTE TO CHRISTINA Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I Wednesday, November 13, 2002 TOOLEY want to bring to the attention of my colleagues Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise the latest outrage perpetrated by the regime of today to submit a recent speech delivered by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenka. HON. SCOTT McINNIS the President of the Population Institute, Mr. Last week, immediately after leaving the OF COLORADO Werner Fornos, at the Unitarian Universalist U.S. Embassy in Minsk, the Chairman of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Church of Arlington, Virginia on October 1, opposition United Civic Party, Anatoly 2002. Mr. Fornos spoke to the rapidly growing Wednesday, November 13, 2002 Lebedka, was picked up by plainclothes police economic and environmental pressures cre- C officers and driven to KGB headquarters for Mr. M INNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great ated by our burgeoning world population, es- interrogation. Anatoly had been at the Em- pride that I recognize Christina Tooley of pecially in third world countries. These con- bassy to pick up the invitation for a conference Pueblo, Colorado for her hard work, courage cerns represent a pressing issue for congres- on Belarus to be held this week here in Wash- and determination in the face of some of life’s sional debate and I offer these remarks to that ington. In a clear effort at intimidation, most challenging circumstances. Christina end. graduated from Pueblo Community College Lukashenka’s KGB thugs accused him of last spring and, as she celebrates this accom- maintaining ties with supposed ‘‘intelligence REMARKS BY WERNER FORNOS, PRESIDENT OF plishment, I would like to pay tribute to her in- agents’’ and other foreigners, purportedly for THE POPULATION INSTITUTE, AT THE UNI- TARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF ARLING- credible story before this body of Congress. the purpose of undermining Belarus. TON, VA. OCTOBER 1, 2002 Throughout her life, Christina has had the Mr. Speaker, this accusation is patently ab- World population stands today at more courage to confront and overcome challenges surd. I know Anatoly Lebedka, having met with than 6.2 billion and increases by more than that to many would seem impossible. Christina him in Washington and at several meetings of 75 million each year. An incredible 97 per has been diagnosed with Bartlett-Bidell syn- the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, most re- cent of this growth occurs in the developing drome, a genetic disorder that can cause or- cently this past July in Berlin. It is clear to me world, by definition the poorest countries of gans to improperly function and shut down. that Mr. Lebedka is an honorable man com- the world—those where for far too many Due to the syndrome, Christina began having mitted to his country’s development as an daily living is a struggle for mere survival. eyesight problems and, by her junior year of independent, democratic nation in which re- These are the very countries least able to af- ford such massive influxes of people, coun- high school, she could barely see. Although spect for human rights and the rule of law is tries where demographic pressures already the loss of her eyesight must have been dev- the norm. There is no doubt in my mind that place unbelievable burdens on schools, hos- astating to Christina, she remained determined the real reason for the harassment of pitals, transportation and virtually all facets to maintain a full and productive lifestyle. Anatoly—and this is not the first time—is his of the economic and social infrastructure. Soon after her diagnosis, Christina enrolled opposition to Lukashenka, to whom democ- Yet our soaring human numbers are pro- in the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind racy and human rights are anathema. jected to exceed 9 billion by the year 2050. and began vigorous courses to learn Braille, Sadly, this is only the latest in a long list of While the wealthiest countries on our planet later enrolling in Pueblo Community College. human rights assaults by Lukashenka. Just are estimated to account for only 52 million of this increase, the developing world is ex- Throughout college, Christina and her mother within the last few months, we have seen the pected to account for 2.7 billion. would sit down and work diligently on her passage of a repressive law on religion, the But world population does not need to con- studies. Christina was able to do all of her bulldozing of a newly built church, the jailings tinue to grow at this dizzying pace. computer assignments on her own, but need- of three leading independent journalists, the First though, I must tell you that no mat- ed her mother’s assistance with reading notes continued and persistent harassment of the ter what corrective course we may steer, the and questions. political opposition, independent media and earth’s population will reach 8 billion. The reason is our built-in demographic momen- Initially, Christina confronted the challenge non-governmental organizations, and the ef- tum: there are one billion people today be- of getting around town by learning to use a fective expulsion of the OSCE presence there. tween the ages of 15 and 24, the largest num- cane to guide herself. Today, Christina has a These tactics are in keeping with the climate ber of people entering their reproductive guide dog named Natasha who has become a of fear which Lukashenka has sought to cre- years at the same time than at any other loyal friend and companion, helping to navi- ate. time in the history of the world. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. VerDate 11-MAY-2000 12:22 Nov 15, 2002 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\CRI\E14NO2.REC pfrm13 PsN: E14NO2 E1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks November 14, 2002 How can we hold the number of people on discuss relevant issues at very least it Some years back, World Bank President earth down to approximately 8 billion? The achieves the opportunity for mutual under- Robert McNamara said in a celebrated answer to that question lies with providing standing and mutual respect. But I also be- speech at Notre Dame University that time access to voluntary family planning for the lieve that much more could have been ac- lost in the effort to reduce rampant popu- more than 300 million couples in the world complished had the meeting not been bogged lation growth can never be recovered. I be- who today want to make their own decisions down in coddling the comfortable and ignor- lieve that rapid population growth is a prob- about when and if they will have children— ing the afflicted. lem the entire world must address. Failure couples who in many cases did not want Considering the political climate, espe- to do so would be the ultimate global blun- their last child and do not want another. cially in the United States, at the time of der, one from which there is no recovery.