Madam President, this text has been greatly improved as a result of the votes we have already taken, and I am very happy indeed to support it.

The problem of overpopulation of this planet is one of the greatest problems facing humanity today. I only have to reflect upon the fact that in my own lifetime the population on this planet has increased threefold. We are not talking about a problem that will appear in centuries to come, we are talking about a problem here and now - an insuperable problem unless the kind of urgent action detailed in this text is taken.

The people in the poorest countries of the world rightly demand a fair share of its resources. The resources of the earth are incapable of providing a decent standard of living for the population here today, let alone for the trebling of the population that will occur soon if we do not take action. We have to support this.