Danustouch
September 10th, 2001, 01:50 PM
sorry..just thought this was funny. I mean..you'd think that in THIS cold climate, procreation would be a favorite way to pass the time..wouldn't ya?
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Arctic Town Urged to Procreate
Sep. 5 — A councilor in a Finnish town above the Arctic Circle has challenged residents to produce more babies to boost its dwindling population, promising to step down if they reach a target quota.
Teuvo Niemela, chairman of the town council of Inari in Finnish Lapland, vowed not to stand for re-election in 2004 if at least 80 babies are born next year and at least 85 the year after, in a town which had a population of 7,366 last year.
"This is a challenge at least to those who want to get rid of me," Niemela said.
"I am prepared also to begin operating in the field myself, and in fear of that I think many Inari people will reproduce," said Niemela, an ear, nose and throat doctor who already has two adult daughters.
The birth rate has been falling in Inari, where temperatures can drop below minus 45 Celsius (-49 Fahrenheit) in winter. Last year only 69 babies were born there, down from more than 100 in 1995, and 75 babies are expected this year, Niemela said.
Niemela has in the past dug into his own pockets to encourage Inari mothers. He paid 20,000 markka ($3,000) to the mother of the first baby born in the town last year, and one markka to the father, which he said corresponded to the father's input.
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Arctic Town Urged to Procreate
Sep. 5 — A councilor in a Finnish town above the Arctic Circle has challenged residents to produce more babies to boost its dwindling population, promising to step down if they reach a target quota.
Teuvo Niemela, chairman of the town council of Inari in Finnish Lapland, vowed not to stand for re-election in 2004 if at least 80 babies are born next year and at least 85 the year after, in a town which had a population of 7,366 last year.
"This is a challenge at least to those who want to get rid of me," Niemela said.
"I am prepared also to begin operating in the field myself, and in fear of that I think many Inari people will reproduce," said Niemela, an ear, nose and throat doctor who already has two adult daughters.
The birth rate has been falling in Inari, where temperatures can drop below minus 45 Celsius (-49 Fahrenheit) in winter. Last year only 69 babies were born there, down from more than 100 in 1995, and 75 babies are expected this year, Niemela said.
Niemela has in the past dug into his own pockets to encourage Inari mothers. He paid 20,000 markka ($3,000) to the mother of the first baby born in the town last year, and one markka to the father, which he said corresponded to the father's input.
Get More News:
Discovery News
Animal News
Health News
Travel News
Take the journey of a lifetime.