It’s been a summer of rockets, of starry achievements! I’m not referring to the recent ego-trips of billionaires Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and soon to follow, fellow ‘Space Baron’ Elon Musk, launching themselves, their egos and their corporate brands into space at huge cost both financially and in greenhouse gas emissions. Those vanity projects brought few, if any, benefits to anyone else. In contrast, the individuals and organisations who received PM’s ‘Change Champion’ awards marking this year’s World Population Day (see below), are bringing real, tangible benefits in transforming the lives of some of the poorest, most deprived communities across the world. They are the true stars who have achieved extraordinary things, motivated by their desire to change people’s lives for the better and to enable communities to improve their own life-sustaining environments. Their self-effacement in accepting our modest awards shames the glory-claiming hubris of those ageing men acting out their sci-fi fantasies. All the more so when one of the world’s favourite sci-fi actors, William Shatner, better known as Star Trek’s Captain James T Kirk, gave his damning verdict on those fantasies: "Humanity won’t survive to reach a Star Trek future". His reason? The ignored, existential threat of our current and growing overpopulation exacerbating all the environmental and resource challenges facing us here on Earth. Celebrating our ‘Change Champions’, indeed celebrating Population Matters own 30th Anniversary, merits some self-congratulation by you, our supporters, who have sustained our mission to help bring about a ‘Better World’. Thank you. - Robin Maynard, Director, Population Matters |
