Europe must help Africa lower its population

According to the World Population Data Sheet 2009 published by the German Foundation for World Population (DSW) together with the US's Population Reference Bureau, Africa's population has topped the billion mark. The conservative daily Die Welt comments: "Only if African societies take responsibility for themselves can they prevent the prosperity that comes with a growing economy from being swallowed up by the population increase again. But the developed world too, and above all neighbouring Europe, has an interest in alleviating the population pressure in Africa. Even now thousands of Africans hoping to try their luck in Europe die each year in the Mediterranean. This stream [of people] will grow if Africa's population continues to grow at such a break-neck speed. Naturally population politics is an awkward subject where one is quickly accused of racism. But if we want Africa to be able to feed itself we should help it to reduce the birth rate there."

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