Gabon marks World Population Day

A campaign dubbed "7 billion to create a better world" was launched on Friday in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, to mark the World Population Day.

"This initiative represents a challenge, an opportunity and a call to action. Whether we shall peacefully live together on this planet or not will depend on the choices we make now," said Mariama Darboe Diop, the deputy director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Gabon.

"In order to reduce inequalities and improve the living conditions of the current population as well as that of the future generations, there's need for a new way of thinking and global cooperation in all areas of life," she said.

"These are problems that ought to and must be resolved. Together, we can create a better future for our youths, promote the rights of women and preserve the natural resources," she concluded.

The Global Population Day was first marked on July 11, 1987, when the world population hit 5 billion.

The population increased from 1 billion in 1804 to 6 billion in 1998 and is expected to reach 7 billion in 2011.

Source: Xinhua

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