News in brief: [Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu voices strong support for family planning]

On June 16, the Day of the African Child, Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa voiced his strong support for family planning. At a Cape Town news conference, the church leader said, "Planned parenthood is an obligation of those who are Christians. Our church thinks we should use scientific methods that assist in planning of families... It is far better to have children that we want than to say you must have children, no matter what." In regard to ICPD, the archbishop said, "The call that is being put out for this UN conference...is not just a Western thing. There are very many in other parts of the world who believe the issues raised there are crucial issues." The UN Children's Fund sponsors the annual Day of the African Child to call attention to the problems facing African children. The date was chosen in memory of the children of Soweto, South Africa, who were massacred on 16 June 1976, when Africans tried to speak out against the brutality of apartheid.