General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "Why we should have fewer children: to save the planet" [View all]athena
(4,187 posts)These continents are precisely where most of the pollution and carbon use are occurring. The one child you may have in the United States is the equivalent of 280 children in Haiti. One child here will pollute the Earth more than many children in Africa. It is very important for North Americans, especially, to think about their contribution to pollution and environmental destruction when they decide to have a child. Think of all those disposable diapers you will be sending to landfills. Think of all those plastic toys you will be buying, and then sending to the landfill a few years later. Think of all the clothes that will be replaced every few months and will also end up in the landfill just a few years later. Think of all the jars of baby food. Think of all the plastic bottles of fruit juice.
It's amazing that some people can't see that the problem is not just one of numbers; it's also one of consumption and pollution.
The single best thing a North American can do for the planet is to refuse to procreate.