My life plans did not include single-handedly populating the earth; yet, when after four children, I found out I was pregnant again–with TWINS– that is exactly what it felt like. Since the birth of my twin boys, I have become increasingly aware of the emergent condition of our planet.

Our planet’s degraded state is due, at least in part, to over population-and more importantly over consumption. Not only do I feel an intense moral need to “do my part,” because I have a large family, I feel an intense responsibility to educate my children about the fragile state of earth, and decrease my families “ecological footprint.”

Many people feel that the answer is to limit the number of children we are able to have. However, I am amazed (and horrified) when people suggest that the means to population control includes eliminating our rights ( I had a guy in an Environmental Science class I took suggest that a way to effectively control population was to give a baby boy a vasectomy at birth). Besides our most basic rights, these types of people fail to look at the AMOUNTS of resources each person is consuming – which is inordinately high in highly developed countries such as the United States. This is at LEAST as important as the actual size of the population.

Although recently ‘experts’ have focused on the Earth’s population as the culprit of our planet’s issues, It is important to understand that when scientists or other ‘experts’ explain the effect of each person on the environment by giving a ‘per capita energy consumption,’ it is not accurate. It is the amount of resources each person consumes and the damage done by the technologies used to supply them.

While researching information on this topic, I came across several websites and various sources that contain both astounding and disheartening facts.

The “Population Explosion” is an article that was written by Paul and Anne Ehrlich. They begin their article with a quote by Thomas Hardy. “If a path to the better there be, it begins with a full look at the worst.” The degradation of Earth is rapidly turning into ‘worse’ and clearly some solutions must be found. However, these solutions do not include taking away the rights of individuals or allowing government officials to control/monitor our most basic rights and freedoms.

Paul and Anne Ehrlich define overpopulation as “…population can’t be maintained without rapidly depleting nonrenewable resources…and without degrading the capacity of the environment to support the population.” In other words, if the area is unable to sustain the people long-term, that area is overpopulated.

Although concerns about overpopulation usually centers on rapid population growth – often in poor countries — Paul Ehrlich points out that “…the impact of humanity on Earth’s life support systems is not just determined by the number of people alive on the planet. It also depends on how those people behave. When this is considered, an entirely different picture emerges: the main population problem is in wealthy countries.”

Consumers need to be informed. It is imperative that people learn to use resources in a more responsible manner. That doesn’t mean give your child a vasectomy — or throw them into the Nile at birth, it means that maybe they should reconsider before buying a Hummer, or supporting companies who have refused to be compliant with environmentally safe standards.

As parent’s we have the opportunity to make a difference every day by making choices such as carrying our own shopping bags or choosing cloth diapers over disposables (saves money too!). We also have the opportunity to have an ongoing effect well into the future by educating our children. Think about the choices we make, and examples we set on a daily basis:

* When was the last time you ordered a magazine subscription – or printed things unnecessarily?
* Do you have your monthly bills sent electronically and request that paper bills are no longer sent?
* When was the last time you bought a cup of coffee at Starbucks and they ‘double cupped’ because it was hot?
* How many plastic bottles do you throw away from water every day?
* Do you buy in bulk – or many small packages? (packaging creates more landfill)
* Do you buy vegetables and fruits from the produce section ‘loose’ instead of in unnecessary packaging?
* Do you RECYCLE?

If everyone would make an effort, it would have an enormous impact. It may not be the complete solution – but it will certainly make a difference. Our children bring immeasurable joy not only to you the parents, but to many others as well. Above all, remember that our children are our most valuable resource.

Please visit www.twinpregnancyinfo.com for facts about pregnancy, pregnancy with multiples, as well as parenting and relationship advice.

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Kelliann Bateman

Kelliann has writing expertise in the areas of health, fitness, and nutrition. Kelliann also has intimate knowledge of high-risk pregnancy, twin and multiple birth, and maternal health. She is founder and editor of both TwinPregnancyinfo.com and FitWithTwins.com, where expectant and new mothers find the latest information on pregnancy with multiples and post-pregnancy fitness. For further information please contact Kelliann at kelliann@twinpregnancyinfo.com