PRINCE WILLIAM DERIDED OVER AFRICA POPULATION GROWTH REMARKS

Thu 25 November 2021:

Critics take to social media to slam royal’s comments concerning pressures faced by wildlife.

The United Kingdom’s Prince William has been told to “mind his own business” by critics after suggesting that population growth is endangering wildlife in Africa.

Speaking at the Tusk conservation awards in London on Tuesday evening, William said increasing pressure on the continent’s “wildlife and wild spaces as a result of human population” was presenting a “huge challenge for conservationists, as it does the world over”.

“But it is imperative that the natural world is protected not only for its contribution to our economies, jobs and livelihoods, but for the health, wellbeing and future of humanity,” he said.

The 39-year-old’s remarks echoed comments he made in 2017, when he said that Africa’s “rapidly growing human population” was putting its wildlife and habitats under “enormous pressure”.

In that instance, the royal came under fire for making the remarks as he was expecting a third child.

Experts have predicted that Africa’s population is on course to double to 2.5 billion people by 2050, potentially making it home to more than a quarter of the world’s people by the middle of this century.

While some praised the prince’s comments as highlighting the peril faced by the natural world in the face of global population growth, others took to social media to criticise his remarks.

Journalist Nadine Batchelor-Hunt tweeted that Africa’s current population density was considerably lower than that of Asia and Europe.

Asia population density: 100 per square kilometre

Europe population density: 72.9 per square kilometre

Africa population density: 36.4 per square kilometre

Prince William, with two kids and another on the way: it is clear Africa are having too many children here https://t.co/zuaNq8zGFe

— Nadine Batchelor-Hunt (@nadinebh_) November 24, 2021

Others suggested the greater source of harm to the fauna on the African continent was European hunters in the early 20th century.

“To blame African civilians is to totally misunderstand African history,” one Twitter user said.

Prince William has renewed his attack on population growth in Africa, blaming it for destroying wildlife on the continent

Critics have accused the Prince of hypocrisy for making such claims while expecting his third child https://t.co/KGwaysUT4H

— The Times (@thetimes) November 23, 2021

Some went further, saying William had “no moral authority to say anything about Africa or about Africans and their lives”.

“He should spend his time reading good history books and raising his many children and spending time with his very huge family spread out across the world. His opinion is sewage,” one Twitter user said.

Mr. William has no moral authority to say anything about Africa or about Africans and their lives. He should spend his time reading good history books and raising his many children and spending time with his very huge family spread out across the world. His opinion is sewage🚮.
. https://t.co/ZdxVXMz5BD

— Dr. John Njenga Karugia PhD. (@johnnjenga) November 24, 2021

 

But Population Matters, a British charity that campaigns to reduce population growth and its effects on the environment, welcomed the royal’s remarks, while also calling for British people to have fewer children