There is one point that was nearly reached but not quite explicity stated by Ms. Vidra. A professor in one of my biology undergrad classes stated that there was some evidence that evolutionary selection was currently occurring in the human species because, as a general rule, those familes of a poorer socio-economic class and less education had more children (this seems like a strong claim but I don't know what papers or studies he was getting his information from). I don't think scientists and ecologists should feel bad about having children, because, 1, they are more likely to understand and act in an ecologically sensitive manner and influence others around them to act so, and 2, they are likely to be more intelligent, on average. I don't think it would be good for the positive traits "expressed" among ecologists and scientists to be selected out.
Tyler Grant, product of a MBA and near-college grad ----- Original Message ----- From: "Geoffrey Poole" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 6:16 PM Subject: Environmental consequences of having a child >A thought provoking reference regarding the environmental effects of > having a child: > > A SPECIAL SECTION FOR CORRESPONDENCE AND CONTROVERSY - THE ENVIRONMENTAL > CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING A BABY IN THE UNITED-STATES > Author(s): HALL CAS, PONTIUS RG, COLEMAN L, KO JY > Source: POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT 15 (6): 505-524 JUL 1994 > > Abstract: This paper gives crude estimates of the environmental > consequences associated with the birth of one baby in the United States. > We calculate the magnitude of one hundred environmental impacts which > one American born today will cause over a lifetime. The impacts are > grouped under five headings: waste generation, mineral consumption, > energy consumption, ecosystem alteration, and food consumption. We also > consider, but do not quantify, impacts on extinctions of species and > indigenous cultures. Our purpose is to emphasize the role of population > growth in the creation of environmental problems, and to make potential > parents aware of their ability to impact the global environment. We > conclude that one especially effective way for individuals to protect > the national and global environment, and hence protect the wellbeing of > all existing people, is to stop creating more humans. > > --------------- > > I am not against people having (up to two) children. I have a > 2-year-old daughter myself. But let's not underestimate the > "environmental footprint" of a baby born in the U.S. > > -Geoff Poole >
