NP Rank:
Save the Planet: Have Fewer Kids
by mtippett | August 4, 2009 at 09:28 am
340 views | 53 Recommendations | 27 comments
An article in Live Science advocates having less kids to reduce carbon outputs. This really is a modest proposal.
For people who are looking for ways to reduce their "carbon footprint," here's one radical idea that could have a big long-term impact, some scientists say: Have fewer kids.
A study by statisticians at Oregon State University concluded that in the United States, the carbon legacy and greenhouse gas impact of an extra child is almost 20 times more important than some of the other environment-friendly practices people might employ during their entire lives - things like driving a high mileage car, recycling, or using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.
By the logic of this article, the greenest thing we can do is commit mass suicide. You can read the whole article but your very existence on the planet is costing us all dearly.
Most Recommended Comment
Crowd Power
First Flagged at 9:49 AM, Aug 4, 2009 by Barbara McPherson
These members have powered this story:-
awmcdaniel
United States
Recommendations (53)
-
SamirJ
Vadodara, Gujarat, India -
generaldecay
Yorkshire, United Kingdom -
Rhonda J Mangus
North Tonawanda, New York, United States -
Beaulieu
London, United Kingdom -
Barbara McPherson
Nanaimo, Canada
-
Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan -
158
St. Louis, Missouri, United States -
Barry Artiste
Vancouver, Canada -
Arbol
San José, Costa Rica -
albertacowpoke
Canada



Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (27)
at 09:49 on August 4th, 2009
Well of course mass suicide would create a bacterial contamination crisis. There is no getting around the fact that humans living in the most environmentally friendly was have an impact usually negative on Earth. To me, having eight or nine children just seems greedy.
at 10:05 on August 4th, 2009
I think having few kids such as two is fine or even none if they want that, after all we have to share this planet.
I think a mass suicide maybe drastic but it will boost the tiger population.
at 10:15 on August 4th, 2009
I have suggested it before, i'll bring it up again.....all those with population neurosis, just leave....all of you.
It will rid the planet of a lot of air pollution (in the form of halitosis), free up needed petrol (thus reducing prices), greatly reduce the number of people suffering from mental illness (saving potential bazillions in obamacare costs), and make life more pleasant for the vast number of normal folks that have to listen to the endless and inane pontifications of those who have decided that they are somehow more suited to preaching, than actually DOING what they preach.
Seriously, just get on the next bus to Mars, or Pluto, or the dog pound....your choice.
Seriously now, won't reducing population artificially do a total whack job on the progress of evolution? Aren't living critters supposed to breed themselves in oblivion, once deemed unworthy by The Great Chaz D. his ownself?
Will the very theory be questioned? Will we have to go back to growing fur to survive?
What will happen to Social Security? And Hugo Chavez? Will the Yankees ever win the penant again?
O me. O my.
at 10:49 on August 4th, 2009
The problem with this solution is that the population control is neccessary in the 3rd world and not the US, Canada or Europe where populations are stable and, in some cases. in decline already.
at 15:21 on August 4th, 2009
Right. You are so thoughtful. I mean, your first-world land-grabbing private corporations steal and destroy OUR rainforests, social initiatives and sink our emerging economies, while launching environmentally-unviable operations, exploiting their employees (sometimes into nearly-slavery, as happens in sweatshops right here in Central America) and expanding their laissez-faire policies everywhere they can, sending small and local businesses into bankrupcy.
And of course making you obese. But hey, it doesn't matter if a billion people are starving in the world (that's one in every six people worldwide), the solution to all your problems is simply getting rid of...children? of reproduction? or do you mean getting rid of us, the annoying poor who somehow manage to be more and more with each day? (even though rich countries owe us their wealth)
I don't know how it works in "first world countries", but here to keep social security going you should have at least two children, that will work for you when you retire, and hence sustaining you. If you have less than two children, then you better kill yourself at 60 so you don't have to feed on others' taxes.
at 20:46 on August 4th, 2009
Stop having children you cannot afford to properly care for. Is that too much to ask?????
at 08:13 on August 5th, 2009
I said "rich countries owe us their wealth". The poor would afford to have as many children as they pleased if their land and natural resources weren't stolen so the rich can afford to have their own children. Can't you see the distortion here?
The reason first world countries are first world countries is because the third world provides them with their raw materials and cheap workforce, in many cases against their will.
at 12:09 on August 4th, 2009
Do I even have time to read the article or should I just stop breathing now?! Oh, decisions decisions!
at 12:57 on August 4th, 2009
I've just the read the Poll on the article and most said this:
No who voted: x 2023 said 'Absolutely. Small families are responsible, big families are wasteful'.
at 13:05 on August 4th, 2009
I've read articles where pregnant women about to give birth have to give birth in a hospital miles and miles from where they live because the local hospital they were supposed to go to were 'full'.
You just have to see how full the hospital A & E to see how we can't cope as it is with our current population and also that goes with the congestion on the roads.
Then there's there all the unemployment, we don't have jobs for all now.
Despite this, I am still going to keep breathing.I want to 'expire' naturally.
at 13:36 on August 4th, 2009
The premise in my mind is valid, besides causing the pollution talked about in this story, encroaching populations take up useable farmland and also contribute to diminishing the food and water supplies. The moral question is how do you control the population? I think China already tried that.
at 23:05 on August 4th, 2009
Yes, a lot of farmland has gone because of the demand for rich accommodation (not affordable in our area) when the farmer gives in to 'lots of money' from the property developers who want to turn a pleasant working field to a souless middle-class ghetto, with people who don't like the smells of the country or nearby pigs. Fortunately, our fields are Green Belt and we have had several people wanting to buy them. But we have refused. It still is a wonderful field full of haystacks, animals and meadow flowers.
at 14:43 on August 4th, 2009
"A child's impact". Damn. Me, you, our parents and grandparents, our governments and of course our banks and corporations are the ones to blame for this environmental disaster yet getting rid of our children is the solution to our endless greed and egotism?
at 15:11 on August 4th, 2009
You hit the nail right on the head there Arbol!
at 07:10 on August 5th, 2009
Excellent point. Wake up people, you're being brainwashed into believing this propaganda. It is not natural to hate the human race, and its procreation function. Mother nature accepts us all. No need for mass suicides, and extermination to "save Mother planet".
at 07:12 on August 5th, 2009
Excellent point. Wake up people, you're being brainwashed into believing this propaganda. It is not natural to hate the human race, and its procreation function. Mother nature accepts us all. No need for mass suicides, and extermination to "save Mother planet".
at 07:13 on August 5th, 2009
Excellent point. Wake up people, you're being brainwashed into believing this propaganda. It is not natural to hate the human race, and its procreation function. Mother nature accepts us all. No need for mass suicides, and extermination to "save Mother planet".
at 15:25 on August 4th, 2009
Apparently China is already doing their part to save the planet, by having an estimated 13 million abortions every year. Yep save a planet, kill 13 million infants.
Certainly a sad day, when millions of would be parents are childless.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8175864.stm
at 02:05 on August 5th, 2009
I think that's due to lack of sex education but that can be addressed. I used to work for a family planning organisation and we used to give advice and hand out contraception. Clearly more has to be done to prevent these abortions.
at 15:48 on August 4th, 2009
I forget the name of it, but I think there actually is a group of people out there who have started a movement to help the planet by vowing to never reproduce.
at 07:05 on August 5th, 2009
That's idiotic. Mother nature doesn't need saving. People NEED to procreate in order for the HUMAN RACE to survive. These people are suicidal and misguided and so are the people here based on the inane comments of this thread. How does EXTINCTION OF THE WHITE RACE SOUND? SOUNDS BETTER THAN THE PROPAGANDA CLICHE OF "POPULATION CONTROL"? THINK PEOPLE.
at 07:15 on August 5th, 2009
That's idiotic. Mother nature doesn't need saving. People NEED to procreate in order for the HUMAN RACE to survive. These people are suicidal and misguided and so are the people here based on the inane comments of this thread. How does EXTINCTION OF THE WHITE RACE SOUND? SOUNDS BETTER THAN THE PROPAGANDA CLICHE OF "POPULATION CONTROL"? THINK PEOPLE.
at 20:29 on August 4th, 2009
A lower birth rate is something that must be done.
at 02:06 on August 5th, 2009
Maybe Save the Planet - Have Fewer Kids and adopt one instead. So many kids are in care and are unwanted by their parents.
at 04:57 on August 5th, 2009
This message needs to be given in Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East.
Europe and North America as well as Japan have been on a Population decline that is worrisome as much as the opposite is in Africa.
at 06:59 on August 5th, 2009
True, its a war on the white man and the western civilization. Take this crap somewhere else about having fewer kids. Preach that to the south americans and the africans. our numbers are dwindling because of brainwashed psychotic white people heading for their own doom. This hysteria about the carbon foot print lies hoax needs to stop before we all get taxed to death. Where is your sense of preservation people? That means procreating. Live the environmental decisions to mother nature.
at 18:12 on August 5th, 2009
"Absurd", This sounds rather paranoiac and even Racist. Same paranoia is expressed by some African leaders when ever they are being approached to advocate birth control. "You try to exterminate us."
I think we do need an international law or restriction of sorts that all Nations can agree to that restrict one Child per person (Male and Female) The right to have a child can be given to another person should one not want a Child, but it can not be sold or traded.
We do need to sterilize people as well once they have exceeded their own quota!
We need Bio diversity and the more Bio diversity we have the better we are of as a Human race in the long run. Why we have to allow One child per person, wish equates to two children per Family.
The problem would be to make this an international agreement.
Immigration alone can not compensate for low birth rates in the Industrial Countries since to much immigration over a short time span can cause some serious new problems that could result in civil wars and worth.
Immigrants are important though and this from all Ethnical groups and Continents, since it adds to the Bio diversity as well as the intellectual diversity and helps a Nation grow and evolve at faster rate and there for remain competitive, striving and progressive.
5 to 10 percent of immigrants is very healthy for any Nation.