Cherese's 2nd UTNE Reader --

I read an article titled "One for the Planet, Making a Case for the Only Child" by Andy Steiner.

This article is about a book written by Bill McKibbon, an American enviornmentalist trying to make a case for single child families. He urges people of all color to become educated on this issue mentioning that it is in the world's best interest to cut down the population. Who could argue that? Though his soluction he says, is simple.All people must commit to actually reducing the population by voluntarily limiting themselves to one child per family and everyone must work to turn the negative attitides about only children on their ear. He addresses questions about this issue on a personal and environmental level. On the personal level, he mentions some people fear that if we have an only child that the child could turn out maladjusted, lonely or selfish. According to Toni Falbo, professor of educational phychology and sociology at UT-Austin, only children are just like anybody else. She concludes that there really is no advantage or disadvantage. One the environmental level, he refers to the use of energy by all these new people. What he does not mention is questioned by Andy Steiner (the writer of the article.) White citizens make up roughly 22 percent of the world population yet use two-thirds of the world's resources ...A single child in the United States, Japan or Europe essentially occupies more space on the earth than an entire village of African children. I agree with Andy Steiner then in questioning this idea. Instead of restraining Africa's or Sough America's or India's seemingly inexhaustible supply of children, but rather in controlling our own insatiable demand or the earth's resources. What have you done for our Earth today?????? How can you save for tomorrow?

-- Anonymous, January 18, 1999

Answers

Wow, what an article. I do not agree that all people must commit to reducing the population by limiting themselves to one child per a family. I come from a family of eleven children. My parents have often said the greatest gift they gave their children was brothers and sisters. As for only children, I know many. They don't appear to be maladjusted, lonely, or selfish. I think the amount of children needs to be determined by the parents. However, I do feel that the parents should consider the affordability of children.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 1999