Today the world population is increasing at a scale and rate, unprecedented in
human history. It is said that every year we are adding approximately ninety-s
ix million to the human family. In fact, it is estimated that the world popula
tion will reach six billion during the year. No one knows the capacity of the
earth to sustain population. But one thing is certain. Humankind cannot live b
eyond the limits of the mother earth to sustain us.
Unlike natural disaster, the population crisis will not strike us suddenly. It
is, however, advancing with certainty. The solution of this problem requires p
olitical will and com-mitment on the part of leaders in every country.
Having said so, the population issue, after all, boils down to an individual c
hoice which cannot be forced. There is no other way but to bring the issue bef
ore the people and to encourage them to make their own choice. In this respect
, among national leaders, the essential role rests with elected representative
s of the peoples who have directly chosen them.
It is from this perspective that APDA makes its mission to support activities
of Asian parliamentarians like yourselves concerning population and developmen
t. We were proud to have supported, with AFPPD, the meetings in Kuala Lumpur,
Canberra and Ge-neva in preparation for the World Food Summit in Rome of the U
nited Nations Food and Agricultural Organization.
Our Association also conducts research for the purpose of supporting activitie
s on popu-lation and development and provides educational materials. At this m
eeting there will be presentation of two special reports: one on "Agriculture
and rural development in Laos" and the other on "Population and urbanization i
n the Philippines". The former commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fo
restry and Fisheries will be presented by Dr. Shigeto Kawano, Professor Emerit
us of the University of Tokyo, and a distinguished recipient of cultural award
. The latter, commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare will be prese
nted by Dr. Toshio Kuroda, Director Emeritus of the Population Research Instit
ute of the Nihon University and this year's recipient of the United Nations Po
pulation Award.
We are proud of these distinguished scholars and I am happy to tell you that t
hey serve on the board of directors of the Asian Population and Development As
sociation (APDA).
The theme of this year's meeting is "Population and Water Resources". Water in
gen-eral and fresh water resources in particular is becoming more scarce every
day. We be-lieve that it is timely to focus on the water resources which is sa
id to be the first essential resource to suffer shortage.
