By Rekha Shetty

Bangkok, Thailand, they say is the land of a thousand smiles.  People smile when they are happy, full of life and well being, physically, mentally and emotionally. How lovely it would be to visit Planet Earth, if it was the land of a 7 billion smiles. But with the population of our beautiful planet increasing geometrically, so many of the denizens of earth have so little to smile about.

Statistics show that over 38,000 children die every day, due to totally preventable reasons. Over 1.4 million babies die as infants and 250,000 women die at childbirth or barely survive, as they deliver half a dozen babies, and struggle to keep alive. Over a billion of the poorest people live on less than a dollar a day. 

Rotarian Action Group for Population and  Development (RFPD) invites you to attend the historic Bangkok Convention May 6-9, 2012, to put smiles on the faces of the people at the bottom of the pyramid. Your ideas could help prevent 55 million unintended pregnancies. Over 22 million abortions wouldn't take place, 140,000 mothers could stay alive and 1.4 million babies wouldn't die shortly after birth. Come to Bangkok, to save lives. 

Here are 4 opportunities for you to contribute to the discussions:

• Reducing the mortality rate for children under the age of five
  
• Reducing the maternal mortality rate
  
• Improving access to essential medical services and trained health care providers for mothers and their children
  
• Supporting studies related to maternal and child health
  

Bangkok is the land of a thousand smiles. Join us to make our Planet Earth smile!

Bangkok is a spectacular destination and the Convention will give you an opportunity to commune with people from 175 countries, who will speak the language of the human heart. Be there. You could help save Planet Earth!

Rotarian Action Group for Population & Development (RFPD) Events

2012 Rotary International Convention
Impact Exhibition & Convention Center
Bangkok, Thailand

RFPD Breakout Session

Jointly with Other Action Groups
"Preventing Maternal & Infant Mortalities"-
What Rotarians Can Do

In the Area of Focus, 'Maternal and Child Health'

Monday, May 7, 14:30-16:00., Room Sapphire 104
Moderator: Dolapo Lufadeju, RFPD

*In addition, Himansu Basu, RFPD Country Chair- Britain & Ireland, invites you to attend a Breakout Session, "Reducing Maternal and Newborn Mortality through Collaborative Action (CALMED model), Global Grants, and Vocational Training Teams", Wednesday, May 9, 12:30-14:00, Room Sapphire 104

RFPD Annual General Meeting

Tuesday, May 8 from 16:00-18:00, Room Sapphire 112

House of Friendship - RFPD booth schedule & numbers

Saturday - Wednesday, May 5-May 9, 2012

302 Rotarian Action Group for Population Growth & Sustainable Development (RFPD)
203 Project Booth: Maternal & Child Health in Nigeria