Children are bad for sustainability

Penny its clear you haven't read the thread (though i hardly blame you. Its a bit long now.) Consumption is a far greater problem for the planet than population. So population control is most critical in western countries where consumption is out of control.

 

I have actually been following this thread from the start. My point was that if we limited procreation to thoughtful consumers it would lessen the impact on the planet. However the planet is a bit like a spaceship and even if no-one in the Western world was allowed to have children, unless they met strict criteria on consumption levels, we still need to look at serious population control. I think that to do this we need to raise the education,health and welfare of those in poverty. Far to many children go to bed hungry,die young from preventable diseases and are often one of many in a family because a lack of security in old age. Children are a form of superanuation, they are needed to look after elderly parents. We need to do much better about a more equitable sharing of resources. But the earth only has so much to use and it should be used wisely and fairly.

 

But i thought you were joking.

This has been going on for a long time. Evidently, It's not something that can be achieved quickly, but it is happening around the world.

 

I do feel a bit that some people consume far more than their fair share-look at the excesses of some of the wealthy, But I did not want anyone thinking I believe in enforced controls. I am actually passionate about the unfair distribution of all the necessities of life, education(especially for women and girls) and the need for those in the west using less so there is enough for all. I avidly follow all the educational changes I find out about(bigABC SBS fan) and hope to live long enough to see a much better world. Meanwhile I just plug along doing what I can.