Population Research Institute (organization)
{{Short description|U.S. non-profit organization}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Population Research Institute
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| founder = Paul Marx
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| type = Think tank
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| headquarters = Front Royal, Virginia
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| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Steven W. Mosher
| leader_title2 = Chair
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| revenue_year = 2018
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| website = [https://www.pop.org pop.org]
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The Population Research Institute (PRI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Front Royal, Virginia, US.{{cite web |url=https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=10080 |title=Rating for Population Research Institute (based on 2018 financial year, the latest available at publication date)|website=Charity Navigator|date=1 February 2020|access-date= 22 March 2020}} The organization opposes abortion and believes that overpopulation is a myth.
Background
The Population Research Institute was founded in 1989 by Paul Marx (1920–2010), a family sociologist, Catholic priest and Benedictine monk who had established the anti-abortion{{Cite news |last=Crossette |first=Barbara |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/07/world/un-agency-on-population-blames-us-for-cutbacks.html |title=U.N. Agency On Population Blames U.S. For Cutbacks |date=2002-04-07 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2020-03-22 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} group Human Life International as well. It became an independent institute in 1996.{{Cite news |last=Frawley Desmond |first=Joan |url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/steve-mosher-a-vision-of-hell-brought-me-to-the-church |title=Steve Mosher: A Vision of 'Hell' Brought Him to the Church |date=January 20, 2012 |work=National Catholic Register}} The same year, the think tank got headed by Steven W. Mosher,[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Population_Research_Institute SourceWatch: Population Research Institute.] (July 4, 2010). Retrieved 2016-12-05. a social researcher and author who had witnessed forced abortions in China during the implementation of the one-child policy in 1980.
Activities
PRI opposes government attempts to control the population.{{cite news|last=Stanway|first=David|title=China lawmakers urge freeing up family planning as birth rates plunge|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-population/china-lawmakers-urge-freeing-up-family-planning-as-birth-rates-plunge-idUSKBN1QT0SM|newspaper=Reuters|date=March 12, 2019}} Retrieved 19 March 2020. According to the Los Angeles Times, PRI's Mosher successfully helped lobby the administration of US president George W. Bush to withhold US$34 to $40 million per year for seven years from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the largest international donor to family planning programs.{{cite news|last=Weiss|first=Kenneth R.|title=Fertility rates fall, but global population explosion goes on|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/population/la-fg-population-matters1-20120722-html,0,7213271.htmlstory|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 22, 2012}} The research institute opined that UNPFA was using American money to fund Chinese compulsory sterilization and abortions, a claim denied by the population fund, noting that it does not work in areas where the one-child policy in still in force. Mosher also advocated against the Chinese two-child policy, claiming that it was "being pushed to the masses through the Communist Party mechanism".{{cite news|last=Maizura Ismail|title=Baby-making in the name of the nation|url=http://www.theaseanpost.com/article/baby-making-name-nation|newspaper=The ASEAN Post|date=September 5, 2018}} Retrieved 24 March 2020.
Fundraising
PRI obtains the vast majority of its funding from charitable contributions, gifts, and grants, with a total revenue of 1.46 million dollars in financial year 2018. Of this, 75.6% was spent on program expenses, 4.9% on administration, and 19.3% on fundraising.
The institute has received funding from The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Inc., claimed to be in support of conferences on human rights in China.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientgrants.php?recipientID=2098 |title=Population Research Institute |publisher=MediaTransparency |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310220856/http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientgrants.php?recipientID=2098 |archive-date=March 10, 2007 |url-status=dead}} For years 1999-2002.
Criticism
PRI's stance on overpopulation and the arguments for "Overpopulation is a Myth" have been described as deceptive.{{cite web|title=IAP Statement on Population and Consumption|url=http://www.interacademies.net/10878/19191.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130821093814/http://www.interacademies.net/10878/19191.aspx|archive-date=21 August 2013|date=14 June 2012|publisher=InterAcademy Panel: The Global Network of Science Academies (IAP)}}{{cite journal | last1=Bongaarts | first1=John | last2=Sinding | first2=Steven W. | title=A Response to Critics of Family Planning Programs | journal=International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health | volume=35|issue=1| date=March 2009 | url=https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/ipsrh/2009/03/response-critics-family-planning-programs}}
Charity Navigator classifies charities with respect to "Accountability & Transparency" and "Financial Performance". In 2020 it awarded two out of four stars to PRI for "Accountability & Transparency", and one for "Financial", which combined for an overall score of 70.46, rated as two stars.
References
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External links
- {{official website|http://www.pop.org}}
{{population}}
{{authority control}}
Category:501(c)(3) organizations
Category:1989 establishments in Virginia
Category:Anti-abortion organizations in the United States
Category:Human overpopulation think tanks
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Front Royal, Virginia
Category:Population research organizations
Category:Research institutes established in 1989
Category:Research institutes in Virginia