Why Environmentalism Should Not be a Factor in Family Planning

The great debate among environmentalists is that having children is bad for the environment (or rather, that NOT having children is good for the environment). If we listen to and subscribe to this mentality then we are on the road to self extinction.

There are valid considerations when one is deciding to have children (and how many children to have) like religion and your capacity to care for children. Among these issues should not be the “save the earth, don’t breed” mentality. IMO, this mentality places a greater emphasis on animal rights and earth over HUMAN LIFE and Family. Something is just wrong with that priority assignment.

We all must work toward environmental protection. We must reduce our footprint on this earth and we must raise children who are aware and carry on in earth saving efforts.

This is why I believe that we should be the people raising MORE CHILDREN. By the very nature of parenting, I am raising children who are conscious of the impact of everything they do on the earth. They CARE about conservation and reducing consumption. They are experts on recycling and reducing energy consumption. They live and value natural, organic and local food consumption. These children will grow up to be tomorrows adults who will be making policy that will promote ENVIRONMENTALISM.

If those of us who care strongly about our environment do not raise children then who will raise warriors of this earth?

• » See also: Grow Your Own Tree Hugger: 101 Activities to Teach Your Child How to Live Green
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There are those who even go so far as to suggest that the government step up and regulate births. If this were to happen, we would be well on our way to a communist society. Our Country is built upon certain rights, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Among these is LIFE.

Human life is vital to this earth, without human life what is the purpose of saving this planet?

42% of the world’s countries are not at a replacement rate (2.33), that is we are not having enough babies to replace each man and woman alive today. Many countries are experiencing population growth due to immigration not new life. So, over population is not a valid argument either. (It happens to be that the richer countries are the ones more likely to be below replacement birth rate.)

In China where the government dictates family size, two-thirds of the city births are male and the male to female ratio in the countryside is 4 to 1. It doesn’t take an expert to see that this Country is headed toward extinction if these trends continue. One woman to four men doesn’t bode well for the continuation of a species. China is also among the earth’s worst polluters. Obviously, population control doesn’t equal a better environment.

We have a large family and I would welcome more children (by birth, adoption or fostering). Our family of 7 has a carbon footprint that is lower than the average family of four. We live partially off grid and are working toward being completely self reliant (solar and/or wind energy is our next step). We purchase more items used than new, not because we have to but because it is better for the earth and we enjoy the challenge of searching out a secondhand item. It is not unknown to me that each human on earth has an impact. We can lessen this impact by driving less, avoiding excessive consumerism, always choosing reuse over new, recycling, reducing toxic chemicals and supporting local and organic farming. Mostly, we can lessen our impact through EDUCATION, which starts at home.

Our family chooses to put human life as the top priority and we endeavor to raise each of our little humans to be environmentally and socially responsible adults. By raising children, we are growing STRONGER in our ENVIRONMENTALISM.

The very heart of this website is to help parents (by the very definition parents have children) become more aware of natural, organic and green parenting. This certainly isn’t the kind of place we should come to be made to feel guilty about being a parent, whether we have one child or 10. Instead, we should be able to seek out support to improve our quality of life and in doing so, help protect this great planet.

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