Various arguments have been presented against the destruction of human life by abortion. These range from scientific evidence based on the existence of human life with its unique DNA at conception to the safeguarding of society from a culture of death that logically leads to other forms of killing such as the involuntary euthanasia of the elderly with dementia, as is currently being proposed by the new Belgium parliament. Arguments backed by moral and natural law or religious beliefs have been presented. The Council of Europe recently voted in favour of making abortion legally acceptable even in countries like Malta where we still cherish the value of human life. As they argue for the "right" to kill another innocent person, they are apparently apathetic to the fact that abortion, coupled by a downward trend in fertility rates is decimating the population of Europe.
We are witnessing events that are transforming the demographic picture of Europe and the world. A birthrate of 2.1 is required to replace the current population; the European Union has a birthrate of just 1.3. The grave implications of this untenable situation are immediately clear.
Europe refuses to import seal skins from the great Canada cull unless the exporters can assure the EU that the animal was slain humanely, yet it permits the wholesale slaughter of innocent babies, many of whom are hardly slain in a humane manner as their tiny bodies are ripped out of their mothers' wombs.
Populations are shrinking and ageing with devastating predictions for the economy.
The proportion of the population beyond retirement age is growing, so creating a further downturn in the employment rate. The remaining workforce is ageing, and the proportion of older workers is increasing, putting even more emphasis on appropriate and effective strategies to integrate older workers into the labour market. Declining populations and dwindling labour market participation will thus result in shrinking economies unless there are gains in productivity and income. Again, this will put pressure on the European social model in terms of financial sustainability, undermining social cohesion. In Malta more women are being touted to re-enter the work force in a bid to boost productivity. The impact on the traditional family model has yet to be felt.
According to the world population monitoring of the United Nations, the population of Europe (including the Russian Federation) is predicted to fall by almost six per cent from 728.0 million in 2000 to 685.4 million in 2030. Europe's share of the world population is declining. In fact, Member States, with the exception of Cyprus and Malta, all had decreasing populations. Since 1980, the total fertility rate has declined in all EU countries, to below the replacement level.
If these trends continue with no effective counter measures, then we are most certainly facing extreme effects on the economy. It is not surprising therefore that Malta, like other European countries recently set out to reform pensions. The data shows the under population problem is on a global scale. There are now 59 nations, with 44 per cent of the world's population, with below replacement levels. As this trend continues, abortion continues to be promoted.
Just like with global warming, a day will certainly come when we will have to face the facts; we are heading towards a bleak demographic winter. As governments certainly cannot "force" people to become pregnant, how do you motivate your citizens to have more children? Experiments are already under way in other European countries; initial results show that enticing people to have more babies through fiscal or financial rewards may not be as straightforward as had been hoped.
It is undeniable that abortion is a major contributor to this growing crisis. If we are to respond to the signs and recognise the severity of the problem today, then abortion can no longer be as easily accessible as it is today in most European states. Malta only has to worry about finding a solution to increasing fertility rates to above our current 1.71 back into replacement levels. Fortunately for us, we will not have the added complication of having to overturn decades of abortion on demand.
Mr Vincenti is the CEO of Gift of Life.