Editor's introduction; women: population's once and future key.

• Author: Prugh, Thomas
• Position: POPULATION FORUM - Editorial

Four years ago this August, World Watch published its "Population and Its Discontents" theme issue (September/October 2004). Although much has changed since then, it appears that the most important conclusion of that issue--that the best strategy for constraining population growth is empowering women to make their own family-size choices through access to education, economic opportunity, medical care, and family planning services--has only become clearer.

So a goal--fairness toward women--that is valid on its moral merits also turns out to be pragmatic. The planet faces a range of grave and interlinked challenges, and the study of population issues rapidly leads to issues of poverty, development, equity, and the environment as well...