The environmental costs of our babies

Each American born in the 1990s will produce in a lifetime approximately 1.5 million kilograms (3.3 million lbs.) of atmospheric wastes (mostly CO2), 10 million kilograms (22 million lbs.) of liquid wastes, and one million kilograms (2.2 million lbs.) of solid wastes (mostly pro-rata share of agricultural, mining and construction wastes, and including 83,000 kg (185,000 pounds) of hazardous & toxic waste.

Each American will consume 700,000 kilograms (1.5 million lbs.) of minerals (mostly sand and gravel), and 24 billion BTUs of energy -- equivalent to 4000 barrels of oil (40% in petroleum products, 25% each in natural gas and coal). In a lifetime, an average American will eat 25,000 kilograms (55,000 lbs.) of plant foods (20% each in vegetables, sweeteners, fruits & juices, grains, and other plant products) and 28,000 kilograms (60,000 lbs.) of animal products (70% milk, 7% each beef, chicken and pork), provided in part by slaughtering 2000 animals (>90% poultry)

Each American's consumption will result in the permanent loss of approximately one hectare (2.5 acres) of forest, wilderness and wetlands, and the incremental poisoning with chemicals of fifty times this acreage, mostly with oil-based fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Each American will also consume in a lifetime 162,000 cubic meters (5.7 million cubic feet) of fresh water and directly or indirectly 170 cubic meters (6,000 cubic feet) of timber.


http://blogs.salon.com/0002007/2007/01/02.html#a1740

So much for be fruitful and multiply, seems like our fertility and the consumption is creates is killing us.
If indeed you believe god said such a thing as if it was 'good'. I think if it WAS a god it must have been a god out to kill us and this planet by glorifying childbirth to this point, talking like a narcissistic greedy human petty lord,wanting someone else to use up,enslave,to maintain his property for him so he does not have to do the work,in that statement.
Childbirth keeps us all chained to this inhuman system that is killing us and the planet. Populations don't like to risk upsetting the hands that feed and profit from their suffering ..Since having children keep them in debt and "conservative" in their political and social risks.

for having had him.

Fuck, no.

Redstone

I think we should be promoting measures such that people have 1 or 2 kids. This is whats in the collective good (yes that communist concept). If you have 5 kids, no one is blaming you, but for the future we need advocacy that helps us avoid fatal overpopulation.

I don't understand why this has to be an issue that gets people so riled up.

Redstone

It just doesn't seem to be the issue here.

Maybe use the "igonore" function? That's what it's there for.

Redstone

The US is at about 2 children per woman. Isn't this in the neighborhood of where you propose? For reference, China, which has very strict procreation laws has about 1.7 children per woman. Mexico is at about 2 1/2 children per woman and Canada is about 1.6 children per woman.

Your decision what to do with your son sure as Hell doesn't seem to be the issue here.

and I had a kid in the 1990s. That's off topic?

Redstone

Its all about me me me! I wonder if those people with kids (which is certainly not all people with kids thankfully) who campaign against population control, with vague fuzzy little statements about how "my 6 babies were the best things that happened to me" (while each one is resource/attention deprived), care about the fact that this would ultimately make life harder for their own kids.

I would think any parent with young children would worry about global warming and overpopulation more than someone like myself who doesn't have children. Yeah I would like a kid or two maybe-but I don't know if I will ever have them-particularly given that the world is so scary environmentally speaking right now. Its about them-not about me. Just because I want a cute cuddly baby in my image, doesn't give me the right to disregard the child's own welfare.


There is such selfishness and disregard for one's own children even (let alone other people and the rest of the planet) in these arguments. This is taken to a level thats almost mystical-with the "miracle of childbirth" etc. etc.

and tend to vote Democratic by about a 20% margin, in what way are they "conservative in their political and social risks"?

Honestly, we manufacture more plastic for our kids' sake. But I say we get rid of the plastic and keep the kids.

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