A FINITE WORLD: THAILAND

1983

Thailand's unique population program stems from the creative efforts of one man, Mechai Viravaidya, who is known as Asia’s family planning genius and leaves a condom as his calling card.

Mechai uses unorthodox efforts to banish the stigma associated with condoms and other methods of family planning. A few of Mechai’s unusual approaches include; condom-blowing contests, cab insurance for Bangkok cabbies who bring in passengers for free vasectomies, and free pigs for farmers who limit their number of children. His efforts helped cut Thailand’s population growth rate in half in less than 10 years.