With Mother’s Day just around the corner, women around the world are getting ready to celebrate and exalt in their ability to give birth and raise children. I want to remind you though, from a green perspective, that making babies is probably one of the worst things you can do for the planet – particularly if you live in the western world.
I don’t know if you have heard, but the planet is in very serious trouble – and we are going to hit a population of 7 billion people this year and there simply isn’t room or resources for any more humans. I know you think your child will be different, maybe will even be the next Al Gore or David Suzuki (which sounds frightening similar to the fundamentalist Christians who think they are going to birth the next Messiah), but the actual odds are pretty slim on this occurring. The odds are so narrow, in fact, that we simply can’t afford to take the chance and make more humans, ‘special’, ‘gifted’ or otherwise.
If you live in one of the western industrialized societies, your child’s birthright will be an enormous carbon footprint. I know you think you live lightly by buying local food, going meatfree once a week and driving a hybrid, but the simple fact of the matter is that even a “carbon-light footprint” in the west is still many times greater than the average carbon footprint of 80% of the planet’s population.
There simply is no other option, at this time, but to stop making more humans. I know we gals, when experiencing biological urges, tell ourselves that we can make babies and still save the planet, but it simply doesn’t work like that. You can’t be green and have a bunch of kids.
Choosing not to have children is a sacrifice and hardship for many women, but it is the most important sacrifice and contribution a woman can make to ensure a safe future for our Mother Earth and all its inhabitants.
Valerie Williams is a writer living on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia.
written by GreenGal , May 06, 2011
written by Helen , May 06, 2011
Love this post, Valerie. The environmental impact wasn't the only reason we decided not to have kids, but for me it was the clincher. Even with other more personal reasons such as the loss of freedom, social life, money, etc. and even the fact that I went back and forth on whether I even *wanted* children, I still had that question hanging over my head, "what if I regret it when I'm 50?" But a discussion with my sister about the environmental impact of kids just sealed the deal for me. Being childfree is so often called selfish, but for me it was one of the least selfish things I've done--I am willing to take on possible future feelings of regret by avoiding an action that will have a tremendous environmental impact.
written by Katie , May 06, 2011
Child free or d**k status - one thing is for sure all that matters is it is a choice that makes the individual happy. This is a pretty funny article.
written by d**klifer , May 07, 2011
written by liz , May 08, 2011
More people need to THINK before procreating the world would be a much better place.
written by C , May 10, 2011
www.IdoNOTwantKids.com
It is a free site for singles who do NOT have or want kids.
written by Visitor , May 26, 2011
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written by A proud mother , May 06, 2011