Editor,
The world population in 1850 was an estimated 1 billion. By 1930, it was 2 billion, and by 1999, 6 billion.
Six billion of us are alive today - six times as many people now as were living less than 200 years ago. Twice as many are alive now as were alive less than 50 years ago. So why make more babies?
Billions more people are consuming more resources. Billions more are poisoning Earth with more waste and pollution. Where does it end? Massive disasters, suffering, famine, starvation and wars.
The worst population problem on Earth is not in India, China or Africa. The worst population problem on the planet is the United States, because most people in this country consume and pollute many times more per person than most in India, China or Africa.
No American child has the right to live in luxury with a room full of toys and a closet full of clothes while a child in India dies from hunger.
You have no right to spoil your child rotten while a child in China suffers in the cold with no home. I have no right to more than I need while others in this world have less than they need. Your child is no more precious than a child in Africa, Haiti, Iraq or anywhere else on Earth.
If you are committed to fairness for all people now and in the future, how can you have more than one biological child? Far better yet, have no biological children.
If you love children and want to help children, help the millions of children worldwide who desperately need love, care, food and shelter. Adopt a child, become a foster parent or give money only to children's organizations that use it wisely, with no fancy offices and no highly paid staff.
For many reasons, I am glad I have no biological children. Why make more babies?
Don Schrader
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