Articles.docx

Four Billion More What to Do About Massive Population Growth The populations in the poorest countries on earth are doubling every few decades. That necessarily leads to conflict over scarce resources such as land, food and work -- and to more migration to Europe. But there are solutions. By Fiona Ehlers, Bartholomäus Grill, Laura Höflinger and Samiha Shafy

Akintunde Akinleye / REUTERS A crowded market square in central Lagos.

All it takes is a half-hour at this intersection in Lagos, the sprawling metropolis in Nigeria, to begin fearing this city. White oil tankers crawl along both on and beneath an overpass on the multilane Apapa Road, making their way out of the Niger River delta. Zipping around them are black-and-yellow rickshaws and minibuses, with sweaty passengers clinging to the doors. Every few meters, a truck hits the brakes with an ear-splitting shriek, the clouds of exhaust mixing with the diesel fumes of the generators. The foul air hangs like a thick blanket over the corrugated metal slums to the right and left of the street. Just 30 minutes at this intersection is enough to make

you want to flee this city -- a megalopolis that is growing faster than almost any other place on earth. In the 1950s, Lagos was home to just 300,000 people. Today, around 20 million live here. And by 2050, that number is likely to double to 40 million. According to projections by the United Nations, Nigeria could have a population of 400 million people by then, which would make it the third most populous country in the world. Lagos is a prime place to observe the effects of population growth in many developing and threshold countries. Unable to survive in the countryside do to the lack of work and shortages of food and water, people are flocking to the cities. And it isn't difficult to guess that some of them will continue onward to a place where hunger isn't a problem, where it is peaceful and where prosperity is at least a possibility. To Europe. In 2017, migrants from Nigeria represented the fourth-largest group of asylum-seekers in the European Union, after refuges from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2018, they were in seventh place. Africa is in in the midst of a population explosion that will necessarily lead to a massive wave of migration toward Europe, writes Stephen Smith, an Africa studies professor at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, in his soon-to-be-released book "The Scramble for Europe: Young Africa on Its Way to the Old Continent." Smith, a former Africa correspondent, predicts that as a result of the massive wave of migration, between 150 and 200 million people of African heritage will live in Europe by 2050. He warns of a "stampede" and a "flood" that will reach across the globe, a scenario that plays right into the hands of right-wing populists and their xenophobic message. Other scientists believe Smith's statistics are nonsense and have accused him of twisting the facts. French migration researcher François Héran, for example, argues that at most, Africans will make up between 3 and 4 percent of the European population. It is also true that the overwhelming majority of Africans simply do not have the financial means to afford the journey to the north. But Smith does correctly depict a development that Western donor countries and aid organizations have long been playing down: In the next 30 years, the population of the African continent will more than double, from 1.2 billion people today to 2.5 billion. The result will be a population of which 50 percent will be younger than 30 years old and won't have much of a future to look forward to if the continent's

economic outlook doesn't change drastically. The threat of conflict over scarce resources, land, food, water and work is very real. World population growth is a long-term development and so abstract that it is difficult to truly comprehend. Way back in 1968, the American biologist Paul Ehrlich published his bestseller called "The Population Bomb," in which he predicted that hundreds of millions of people would starve to death as a consequence of overpopulation. In 1972, the Club of Rome published a report called "Limits to Growth," outlining the frontiers of economic and demographic expansion. Since then, though, humankind has managed to revolutionize agriculture, introducing industrial methods that have vastly increased harvests. And for the last several decades, the number of people suffering from hunger has been dropping. The UN believes that population growth will slow by the end of this century and will come to a stop at around 11 billion people, which is welcome news, on one hand. On the other, though, that is 4 billion more people than currently live on the planet -- 4 billion people who will live predominantly in Africa and Asia, in three-dozen countries that are poorly prepared for what is coming because they are already overwhelmed with the situation as it currently stands. A team of DER SPIEGEL reporters set out to explore developments in three countries where the population is growing at a particularly rapid rate: Niger, Nigeria and India. Liboré, Niger -- At Least 10 Children Hamidou Moumouni is standing at the edge of his millet field, located not far from the Niger capital city of Niamey, and examining the tiny buds. "A bad harvest again," he says. The last one was also terrible because of a shortage of rain and because the soil is losing its fertility. "The earth has grown tired," says Moumouni, a gaunt 60year-old. His green boubou, the traditional robes worn in the region, has golden embroidery, a sign of the prosperity that the farmer now fears he could be losing.

Duterte Signs 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Republic Act No 11210, also known as 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law, last February 20, 2019. Said law gives female workers a total of 105 days of paid maternity leave.

Working mothers can also extend on top of the paid leave for up to 30 days without pay. Meanwhile, solo mothers will be given an additional of 15 days of paid leave, granted that they qualify as a solo parent under the Solo Parents Welfare Act. However, females who underwent miscarriage or emergency termination of pregnancy will only be granted 60 days of paid maternity leave. Mothers can also transfer a total of seven (7) out of their 105 days of paid leave to the father, which will then give them a total of 14 days paid paternity leave.

All female workers from the government and private sectors, even from informal economy, should be granted the expanded maternity leave with full pay. Note, though, that the maternity leave should only be availed either before or after the actual period of delivery. The law aims to give mothers enough time to recover after giving birth, as well as to perform maternal duties before resuming work. This is to protect and promote the rights of women, recognizing the importance of family roles.

2 2 n d C A A - R e g i on a l S p o r t s C o mp e t i t i o n c o mme n c e s i n S u r i g a o City By DepEd CaragaPublished on February 27, 2019

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Feb. 27 -- Following the eucharistic mass and grand opening parade, the 22nd Caraga Athletic Association - Regional Sports Competition (CAA-RSC) has officially commenced on Sunday and was declared open by Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga Regional Director Francis Cesar Bringas. This year's event centers on achieving excellence in sports with the fervent hope of selecting the best athletes, coaches, and trainees who can best represent DepEd Caraga in the Palarong Pambansa 2019, which will be held in Davao City in April. Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas, Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas and Representative of 1st Legislative District Francisco Jose F. Matugas II had all expressed their welcome greetings to all the participants and emphasized the importance of sports in developing responsible citizenry whose social awareness transcends to ensuring that communities are united.

Mayor Matugas said that what matters most is the experience the participants would acquire and friendship that the participants would build. Gov. Matugas underscored the need to build bridges to address divisiveness and that sports play a vital role in making our communities drug-free. "To make Caraga region one of the most progressive regions in the country, let us be one with the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte in making sure that our communities are free from illegal drugs,” said Gov. Matugas. Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar underscored the aspiration to be the best. "You are trained to be the best. You are not here just to compete but to win. The discipline of sports event must educate the heart - internal education, which is the center of passion. Aim to achieve excellence in life!" said Andanar. In her keynote address, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Lorna DigDino said the characters that the delegates must possess include obedience, discipline, grit and determination, happiness, and continuous learning. Dig-Dino emphasized that it is important for the participants to adhere to the rules of the game. She also highlighted the importance of discipline in order to advance to the Palarong Pambansa, while grit and determination would allow the participants to become better at what they do. According to Dig-Dino, happiness is likewise imperative in everything that people do in order to achieve success. "We cannot pursue anything in life by not being happy with the things that we do. There is no point in doing something we are not happy about,” said Dig-Dino. She concluded her speech on a positive note telling the participants to strive to be lifelong learners. "Learn your craft and sports. With all these principles, you'll succeed both in sports and in life,” Dig-Dino said. The 2019 CAA-RSC aims to provide a venue for the athletes to further inculcate the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, nationalism and patriotism.

The grand opening of the biggest sports competition in the region was attended by DepEd officials, key officers of different government agencies, and local government officials from all the provinces in Caraga region. The dramatic hoisting of banners, the eccentric way of lighting the friendship torch, and the entertaining dance number of the Bureau of Fire (BFP)-Caraga mascots with the special participation of the boy and girl scouts of the Philippines added a mood of excitement during the occasion. The opening program ended with a very high positive energy when students from Surigao City and Surigao del Norte conquered the grandstand with their jovial field dance demonstration. The night skies were also filled with bright fireworks that painted beautiful sceneries surrounding up above the sports complex. Approximately 10,000 participants from the 12 Schools Divisions will be competing in 27 sports events.