i thought i’d say hello to everyone. i’m new here.

veronica

I’m glad to see you writing about this. Population growth is really one of the key drivers of today’s ecological degradation. There’s an excellent article here about how it has become a taboo subject.

My research into environmental issues has convinced me it’s far too important an issue to ignore, so I’ve started a blog devoted to examining populatoin growth and corporate economic growth as they damage the ecosystem. In the end, we simply have to come to appreciate that the earth is finite.

John

The over-population issue is #1 threat to a greener, healthier earth & human-species. You are correct in that it is a subject seldom discussed.
Your article is a good addition. Let’s talk about this.
Bovey

The truth is, there is a case to be made on both sides, and both are valid, and important, and should be heard. Then, once heard, each person should make their choice. Legislation, as you mentioned, is going too far (either way), but so is casting judgement on either side.

Whether it is the childless by choice person cqasting judgement on those with kids (not that you are), or those with kids casting judgement on those without, it’s somehting we can all discuss but we should understand that it is inherently wrong to cast derision on others for this of all choices in life simply because it so very personal.

Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to feel the need to base their own value on the choices of others, ie. “If you don’t want to have kids, you are judging me for having them.” I think we all need to relax just a little and let it work itself out a little further before we cast judgement because nature has a way of working these things out and regulating this on her own. :)

I don’t think you’re selfish, I think you made a thoughtful choice based on your values and your own needs. We all need to do that, and that was the point I was trying to get to. :)

Again, I’m not saying people shouldn’t have kids, but what about adopting? I’m only suggesting severely limiting having biological kids. It comes down to: does the world really need your genes? Or just your ideas? It’s a very romantic idea to want to procreate with your beloved, but those feelings are just the biological impetus to combine genes with someone else. I don’t know if all desires should be followed without question like that, and current society doesn’t seem to question that it’s everyone’s right and that it’s ‘good’ and ‘healthy’ to have kids.

Having told people I don’t want to have children, I’ve gotten a lot of ‘you’re selfish” remarks. But I’m thinking about my friends’ kids, and the the future of all the existing children of the world when I make that decision. There’s a little more room for them if I don’t procreate. If I were only to make that decision for myself, without thinking of others, I would have kids. But I don’t feel that is a responsible choice. So who’s the selfish one?

My point is that if all environmentalists buy into the fact that they should not have children or should only have one (assuming that this child is born to a pair of environmentalists) the population of “our kind” is doomed to decline while the population of “those who teach their kids to consume” is doomed to increase, and since the apple truly does not fall far from the tree, literally dooming us all.

I am not suggesting a race for population, but I am suggesting the radical notion that some people need to have more than one child if only by dint of needing those amazing and bright, eductaed from childhood, leaders for the next generations.

Population growth is not always a negative. Like so much else, it is depnedent on us, and how we use it.