Letters to the Editor: Invest in young people

The United Nations designated July 11 as World Population Day. Each year the U.N. chooses a different theme, and this year it is: “Invest in young people today, to ensure a bright future.”

One of the ways we can invest in our youth is to provide them with comprehensive health education, including an age-appropriate understanding of human sexuality. When young people receive practical sex education, they delay their first sexual encounter. And as they mature they have the basis to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.

According to the prestigious Guttmacher Institute nearly half the pregnancies in the United States are unplanned; the percentage is even higher among teenagers. We can ensure a brighter future for young people by helping them understand how to remain healthy, delay pregnancy and complete their education.

Not only is knowledge of family planning good for the health of young people, but it is also good for the health of the Earth. People who plan their pregnancies tend to have smaller, healthier families. That makes for lower demand on our common natural resources and less pressure on our human habitat.