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Wednesday January 28, 2004

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Most Major Industrial Countries Unprepared for Coming Population Ageing Crisis and Labour Shortage

The long-term price of aborting, contracepting, sexual revolution culture

DAVOS, Switzerland, January 28, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A new report by the World Economic Forum in partnership with Watson Wyatt Worldwide has once again confirmed the coming population crisis that is to affect industrialized nations. The International Pension Readiness Report, released in time for the January 21-25, 2004 World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, underscores the disastrous effect that falling fertility rates are having throughout most of the world. Although a world-wide phenomenon, low fertility rates and a consequent decrease in labour force growth are especially alarming among industrialized nations.

Whereas the South-East Asia and Indian labour force will continue to grow in the next 30 years, the EU will see a decline in the labour force population from 208.7 million in 2000 to 151.2 million in 2050. During the same period, meanwhile, the number of people over the age of 60 in the EU will climb from 82.1 million to 125.1 million. Japan, with one of the world's lowest fertility rates, would have to increase its immigration rate 11-fold in order to maintain its labour force population.

The pension systems of the major industrialized nations will also be undermined, as a decimated labour force population combined with increased numbers of retirees cripples the countries' ability to afford pensions. For example, active workers in Italy will be outnumbered by retirees by 2030.

As for economic productivity, the EU's share of total global output will shrink by nearly half from today's 18 percent to ten percent in 2050, whereas Japan's share would decline by half from eight percent to four percent in the same period.

Richard Samans of the World Economic Forum said that "Economic output is determined by labour force growth and productivity rates. In countries with significant projected labour shortages, the supply of goods and services may not meet demand and standards of living."

Some of the solutions proposed in the report include: increased immigration; an extension of the retirement age; encouraging more women and younger workers to enter the workplace; and the export of capital and labour to other parts of the world where there are larger labour forces.

Sadly, no suggestion is made for incentives to encourage couples to have larger families. Nor is the abortion issue mentioned. In Canada alone since 1970, enough children have been killed through abortion to populate the city of Toronto. This figure does not take into account the much larger number of chemical and intrauterine abortions induced through the birth control pill (also an abortifacient) and intrauterine devices.

Sylvester Schieber, director of research at Watson Wyatt and co-author of the report, said that "[These] demographic changes present enormous challenges for developed countries."

See the detailed, full Watson Wyatt report at
http://www.watsonwyatt.com/news/featured/wef/

Read the related LifeSiteNews.com coverage of one incentive for an increased birth rate in Italy at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/dec/03120307.html

Also read the related LifeSiteNews.com newsbyte which reveals that the number of people age 65 and older in the world has more than tripled over the past half-century at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2001/dec/011217.html

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Dean Defeat a Result of the "Roe Effect"

Abortion has killed many 18- to 29-year-olds who would otherwise now be alive

NEW YORK, January 28, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Howard Dean may have been defeated in New Hampshire in the recent Democratic leadership race there by the pervasive "Roe effect." Exit-poll data from yesterday's New Hampshire primary revealed that John Kerry out-polled Dean in every age group -- except for 18- to 29-year-olds. Unfortunately for Dean, this age group wasn't of much use - they only make up 13 percent of the electorate, versus the 30 percent in the 30- to 45-year-old group and 46 percent for 45- to 64-year-olds.

The reason why the 18 to 29 year-olds were of no help? They don't exist. As coined by Opinion Journal writer James Taranto, Dean was a victim of the "Roe effect" - abortion has killed many of those who would otherwise now be alive and in this age category.

After last week's loss in Iowa, precinct captain for Dean's campaign, George Davey, explained his loss there, saying that "I think if we could blame [Dean's loss] on anyone, blame it on the 18- to 25-year-olds, because they were nonexistent."

As Taranto points out, population figures reveal that numbers take a sharp dive "between ages 35 (1965) and 34 (1966), coinciding with the end of the baby boom (and, perhaps not coincidentally, with the Griswold v. Connecticut decision, in which the U.S. Supreme Court established a legal right to purchase contraceptives). Then it declines slowly each year, before undergoing another dramatic drop between ages 28 (1972) and 27 (1973)--just after Roe v. Wade. Nationwide figures show the same trend."

Read James Taranto's Opinion Journal article at:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110004584#roe

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Same-Sex Appeal Delayed by Prime Minister Paul Martin

EFC objects to distinction between religious marriage and civil marriage

OTTAWA, January 28, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Prime Minister Paul Martin has changed a request that the Supreme Court of Canada rule on the gay marriage issue. The contentious same-sex marriage appeal, originally scheduled for April 16, will likely delay any ruling until after an election that analysts predict Martin will call in the spring.

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler is expected to choose between one of two options to submit to the bench: either that the court decide whether the traditional definition of marriage - the union of a man and a woman - is in keeping with the Charter of Rights; or whether creating a separate status - that of a civil union versus marriage for same-sex couples - respects the Charter.

Cotler, after being sworn in as Justice Minister last year, said that "I believe that gays must have all the rights arising out of marriage." And in August, Cotler suggested to CTV News that civil unions become an option for all Canadians, describing such an institution as "a civil marriage with all the rights and benefits and obligations of a marriage."

In a press release today Conservative Justice Critic Vic Toews said "Today's announcement by the Liberal government to expand and postpone the reference on same sex marriage is just another cynical political tactic to win votes in the upcoming Spring election."

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) also responded today that it is "pleased to see the Justice Minister opening the door to allow the Supreme Court to address the fundamental issue, namely, does the Charter require that marriage be redefined…We believe that the Charter was not enacted to undermine the fundamental institutions of society."

Taking a strong stand against the Martin government's 'civil unions' charade, the EFC proclaimed, "We continue to object to the distinction between religious marriage and civil marriage... There is no bright line between religious and civil marriage. Religious marriages are recognized civilly. Changing the definition of marriage for civil purposes changes the definition of marriage, period."

Read the Canoe coverage at: http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2004/01/28/327965-cp.html

Also see the related Focus on the Family review of the new Justice Minister's stand on gay marriage at: http://www.fotf.ca/familyfacts/tfn/2003/121603.html

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UN Complicity in Rwandan Massacre?

Annan Ignored Numerous Warnings from Canadian General Romeo Dallaire

VANCOUVER, January 28, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Kofi Annan, who was the UN head of peacekeeping during the Rwandan massacre, ignored warnings from Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, the UN commanding officer in Rwanda during the crisis, as Michael Campbell harks back to the events in his Tuesday Vancouver Sun article.

A related LifeSiteNews.com special report revealed that, since the April of 1996 revelations by Dallaire, inquiries made by France and Belgium into the horrific massacre indicated UN complicity. Dallaire had discovered information on the planned massacres in Rwanda which led him to present a plan to UN high command which, according to military analysts, would have brought a swift end to the Rwandan massacre and saved hundreds of thousands of lives. In 1998, the Associated Press confirmed that the present UN Secretary General and then head of UN peacekeeping operations Kofi Annan, was informed of Dallaire's plan in January of 1994. AP noted that Iqbal Riza, Mr Annan's senior adviser, admitted that the reply forbidding Dallaire to take action to halt the genocide was sent from Annan's office.

Kofi Annan is scheduled to be the first foreign dignitary to address Canadian parliament - not surprising when you consider that the UN secretary-general's chief advisor, Canadian Maurice Strong, is also a top aide and close friend of Prime Minister Paul Martin.

The December 2003 CLC News depicts Strong as a leading advocate of one-world global governance; a radical environmentalist who is associated with people and movements that advocate depopulating the world; an advocate of setting legal limits on family size; and a promoter of a new 'global ethic' to replace existing religions.

Read the LifeSiteNews.com related report "UN Kangaroo Court Diverts Blame from UN Leadership for Rwandan Genocide" at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/1998/sept/98090301.html

Read the Vancouver Sun article by Michael Campbell at: http://www.canada.com/search/story.aspx?id=ba8eda51-a956-480...

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LifeSite Newsbytes

As Kerry Emerges, So Does Concern That As President He May Be Denied Communion
http://www.spiritdaily.com/kerry.htm

Canadian Feds hold back on same sex appeal
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2004/01/28/327965-cp.html

Poll: Women say abortion makes life worse
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=368...

Ontario doctors suffering low morale, poll says
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/10752564...

Kerry Wins New Hampshire Primary, Takes Strong Lead
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&s...

U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige Says D.C. Vouchers Amount to "educational Emancipation"
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAOI4HNZPD.html

FCC Fines Clear Channel Stations for Indecency
http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\...

Virginia passes legislation to tighten health and safety regulations on abortion clinics
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0104/122104.html

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