Planet Northwest Partners

Christina Santos, Field Coordinator for CARE in Seattle, brought a message about the activities of her organization in the field of international family planning. With eight years of political and fundraising experience, Christina has her undergraduate degree in International Affairs and her graduate degree in Political Management from George Washington University.

“Rotary has excellent population projects across the globe,” Christina observed. CARE was a product of WWII and operates in 60 countries. “Programs today don’t fit inside a care package,” she said with a smile.

What is family planning, and why does it matter? “It effects everything. Family planning programs are saving women’s lives – 600,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related causes.

These programs also save children’s lives – 11 million children under 5 die each year in developing countries.

Christina spoke about “birth spacing,” which encourages families to space out the arrival of their children.Tthe norm in developing countries is 65 infant deaths per 1,000 births. For the environment, smaller families impact water, air, and land less.

Public opinion surveys show that nine out of ten people agree that everyone should have the ability to plan their own families. However, the current administration has cut funding to the UN program that supports International Family Planning.

Locally, a group of organizations has come together to form the “Plan-et” campaign – to raise awareness of family planning. Santos stressed that this “does not mean abortion.” Teaming up to form the Northwest Planet Partners is Audubon, CARE, and Planned Parenthood of Western Washington. Through public outreach and education, Planet Northwest raises awareness about the importance of international family planning programs and their positive effects on the health and well-being of women, children, and the environment. The goal of the campaign is to increase United States Government funding for international family planning programs.

Planet Northwest Partners has a website with more information on where you can learn how to be involved in local events, donate money, volunteer, or become a member. Log on to www.familyplanetnw.org.

Christia Santos & President Kim Shrader

Christina closed by repeating that this effort is “not about abortion. It’s establishing programs to support family planning programs in developing countries. It gives support for women, children, and health issues.

Thanks to Sharon Edberg for her introduction.

For her presentation, Christina was awarded a certificate for 240 doses of polio vaccine, purchased in her name on behalf of Rotary’s effort to rid the planet of polio by 2005.