Well, I believe that I have just about heard it all. I read an article on foxnews.com today about a woman from England named Toni Vernelli who had an abortion ten years ago and a subsequent sterilization to save the planet! I followed a link in the article to the original report in the U.K.'s The Daily Mail to get the full story.
Ms Vernelli is quoted in the Daily Mail story as saying: "Having children is selfish. It's all about maintaining your genetic line at the expense of the planet," says Toni, 35.
"Every person who is born uses more food, more water, more land, more fossil fuels, more trees and produces more rubbish, more pollution, more greenhouse gases, and adds to the problem of over-population."
As a father of four I am proud of the fact that Ms Vernelli considers me to be one of the selfish ones. To be honest, I can see a small part of her point -- more people do tend to lead to more need for conservation. And although I defend her right to sterilize herself to achieve her goal of not contributing to the problem, as a Christian, I draw the line at her or anyone else aborting a child to achieve that same goal.
Regardless how you or I feel about whether this was a child or a "non-viable parasitic tissue mass," it is clear that Ms Vernelli saw this a potential human life that she had to end before it polluted her precious planet. She is quoted later as saying: "We both passionately wanted to save the planet - not produce a new life which would only add to the problem."
Wouldn't compact flourescent bulbs and an electric car be the moral high ground compared to abortion?
Obviously, Ms Vernelli and her current husband are familiar with going to great lengths to justify their morally or ethically ambiguous choices. She and her husband love to go hiking and take vacations. In fact, "Every year, we also take a nice holiday - we've just come back from South Africa." Evidently, being "vegan and childless" has reduced their carbon footprint to the point that they feel justified in having "one long-haul flight a year." How special!
The amount of greenhouse gasses for their portion of a jet flight from England to South Africa is bound to be enough that they should feel incredibly guilty. . . if they hadn't justified away the problem. Just like she did with her baby 10 years ago.
"My only frustration is that other people are unable to accept my decision. When I tell people why I don't want children, they look at me as if I was planning to commit murder. A woman who does not have maternal-feelings is seen as some sort of anomaly. And a woman like me, who is not having children in order to save the planet, is considered barking mad."
Barking mad indeed! And why is it that people who make decisions like this feel it necessary to have others accept their decisions. Maybe some of just don't want to accept it. Tough!
I said at the beginning of this article that I have just about heard it all. Now I'm just waiting to hear about some really radical tree-huggers commiting suicide to save the planet. Maybe "barking mad Vernelli" would like to lead that charge. Now there's A Modest Proposal!
See the whole article at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 20
Their article veered from its original intent on that couple too, as he had the operation instead of her (they discussed which way to go).
Why they chose people who made these decisions a decade ago, one can only guess. However, it was news to me. As I said, I can understand their wanting sterilization for planetary/environmental reasons, I just can't understand justifying abortion for the same reasons, nor the later hypocrisy of justifying jetting around the world by having saved enough carbon credits from other lifestyle changes (vegan / childlessness). Its almost like they have a frequent environmentalist acts card; when they save up enough "good" planet saving acts, they can cash them in on a high pollution trip!
I have no problem with anyone who chooses not to have children. That is NOT selfish. Selfish is people who have kids because it is the thing to do and the newest possession to have. (I think that agrees with your last sentence).
Kids aren't status symbols or the latest fad, but neither should they be throw-aways, before or after birth. Choosing not to become pregnant, even for life, is your choice and a smart one if that is for you. Congrats on knowing yourself well enough.
My issue with the couple from the article is (1) the abortion and (2) their subsequent hypocrisy in justifying it and in justifying jet-set vacations because they don't pollute at other times of the year and because they didn't "pollute" by having the child.
Thanks for your comments!
I AM A PROUD MOTHER OF 2 BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. My 4 yr old daughter has already decided that she loves ALL people of our world & knows all about making good choices for the earth. I hope she continues to seek the good in others & help in sustaining out planet.
I am very surprised when I read other gather members write about having children simply as a matter of personal preference. That does seem very selfish to me, as if there is not context for that choice, and no consequences for those children, themselves.
Rupert Murdoch's climate crusade
Thinking Outside the Fox: Rupert Murdoch launches effort to green News Corp.'s operations and programming
I love children, that is why I didn't produce any. I also never had an abortion. There are millions of children who are suffering and dying in today's world, and they will continue to suffer and die if we don't stop adding more and more people (about a million net increase every 4 days) to the planet. I have no doubt that your children can contribute great things, but so can millions of other kids who are never given the chance. If you have children just because of what they will contribute, save the effort and give your money to (for example) the United Negro College Fund ("A mind is a terrible thing to waste") instead.
It is odd how many people recommend suicide to those who want to help the earth by not reproducing. I am opposed to violent death, including suicide, but I see a lot of violent death in places like Rwanda that have high birth rates.