Police in Hunan province, China, raided a workshop said to be producing counterfeit condoms. According to the (U.K.) Times:
Bare-chested employees were found using vegetable oil to lubricate the condoms to make them smooth and shiny before placing them directly in fiber bags without bothering with sterilization.
Since March, the workshop had turned out 2.16 million unsterilized condoms labeled as “Jissbon,” “Durex,” “Rough Rider,” “Six Sense,” and “Love Card.” The workshop had earned about 80,000 yuan (£7,000).
The U.N., meanwhile, is hoping to fight global warming by making free condoms easier to get, along with family-planning advice. Maria Cheng of the Associated Press quotes the agency’s Population Fund:
“Women with access to reproductive health services … have lower fertility rates that contribute to slower growth in greenhouse gas emissions.”
One should hope, of course, that the U.N. isn’t getting its condoms from fly-by-night Chinese condom factories.
The Economist, meanwhile, using U.N. Population Division data, offers a compelling argument that long-standing fears of overpopulation are somewhat less scary these days. Why? Because the fertility rate has been falling — gradually in some countries and dramatically in others. Consider:
Assuming fertility falls at current rates, says the U.N., the world’s population will rise from 6.8 billion to 9.2 billion in 2050, at which point it will stabilize.
Behind this is a staggering fertility decline. In the 1970′s only 24 countries had fertility rates of 2.1 or less, all of them rich. Now there are over 70 such countries, and in every continent, including Africa. Between 1950 and 2000 the average fertility rate in developing countries fell by half from six to three — three fewer children in each family in just 50 years. Over the same period, Europe went from the peak of the baby boom to the depth of the baby bust and its fertility also fell by almost half, from 2.65 to 1.42 — but that was a decline of only 1.23 children. The fall in developing countries now is closer to what happened in Europe during 19th- and early 20th-century industrialization. But what took place in Britain over 130 years (1800-1930) took place in South Korea over just 20 (1965-85).
Things are moving even faster today. Fertility has dropped further in every South-East Asian country (except the Philippines) than it did in Japan. The rate in Bangladesh fell by half from six to three in only 20 years (1980 to 2000). The same decline took place in Mauritius in just ten (1963-73).
It would seem a very good time indeed to be in the condom-manufacturing business. Which means the recent Hunan raid is certainly not the last of its kind that we’ll hear about.
(Hat tip: Daniel Lippman)
and 
. You can also watch it on 
From your side bar:
taken out of context but quite relevant:
“ Beyond a doubt, Mother Nature is more cruel. ”
— Tim H
see what happens when humans cannot control the most natural thing next to exiting, their own sexual reproduction.
the fertility decline is probably just an indication of increased economic stratification
At least the Chinese are moving toward private owned companies, or at least have the idea that it exists. When people do not have enough, or are not satisfied with what they can get, they find their way from being consumers to suppliers, especially when a huge market is available for a product. As the data shows, fertility rate is declining all around the globe, and with an increasing population, it only means that people are utilizing more birth control methods. A perfect time for the condom industry, the increase in amount of suppliers has balanced with the increased quantity demanded, even if its Chinese people making fake condoms.
I wonder what effect the AIDS epidemic has on fertility rates in sub-Saharan Africa. If many women of childbearing age are dying, well, that might have something to do with it.
As a member of a small nuclear family with only one sibling, I am terribly envious of my friend who grew up in rural Mexico with 7 siblings. Of course I do not envy the mother who put her body through such chronic gestational trauma, but I envy the fact that when my friend is not getting along with one brother or sister, he has several others to rely on. He does not feel so alone in the world because there are so many siblings to call, argue with and share a Mexican pork feast (carnitas – gotta try them) with at Christmas time. The Latin matriach of this brood of nine is now in her 70′s and I envy her now when her phone line gets blocked all day long on Mother’s Day and flowers crowd her small front porch. She deserves some loving after feeding her eight children. It’s too bad our society now treasures getting another SUV versus having more children.
Thanks
Classic example of efficiency vs. equity. One might support the equitable side of allowing fake condoms to enter the market directly manufactured by bare chested, employees in fly-by-night chinese condom factories. God knows what kind of bacteria are these employees are carrying and transmitting to these condoms. The most equitable argument is that these condoms have no kind sterilization. it contradicts one of the most important function of the condom, reducing your chances of having an STD. Just because it is a great business to introduce condoms in a world were the fertility rate is decreasing, it doesn’t justify the manufacturing of fake condoms. The other side of the argument, where ideas are efficient. The main argument is that this is a great idea to enter fake condoms in a market where consumers are willing to buy more condoms, since the fertility rate has decreased. The idea has tremendous entrepreneurial ability on part of these Chinese guys. The truth is that the demand for condoms has increased and in order to gain some profit these Chinese suppliers have introduced fake condoms to satisfy the market, and their pockets.
I support the equitable side, since I would not like to be a victim of scenario of using a fake condom and result infected by a deadly STD.
You guys have it a bit wrong. The Chinese “Jissbon” condom is a famous trademark, like “Trojan” in the US. The problem is the theft of tradename and reputation. The Chinese are less concerned with quality which might be fine; and sterilization, which might be irrelevant– Your willy and hoohoo isn’t sterile either.
BTW–What is the etymology of the word “Jissbon”?
It is a relief to know that family sizes are going down almost all over. While I’m sorry for people who want big families but feel they can’t afford them, I don’t know if 6 billion people are sustainable, much less infinite growth. Women’s productive energies can apply to other activities as well as child care and girls may be more appreciated with smaller families.