15 Kids and Counting

[bookboo]

I know there has already been a thread on this but, having strong views about this I just wanted to add something and ask for other opinions on this topic.

Sir David Attenborough once said 'Fifty years ago, when the WWF was founded, there were about three billion people on earth. Now there are almost seven billion - over twice as many - every one of them needing space. Space for their homes, space to grow their food (or to get others to grow it for them), space to build schools, roads and airfields. Where could that come from? A little might be taken from land occupied by other people but most of it could only come from the land which, for millions of years, animals and plants had had to themselves - the natural world. But the impact of these extra billions of people has spread even beyond the space they physically claimed.'

IMHO we simply cannot sustain over population of the planet and it is these selfish people who ignore this fact.

[linedancer16]

I think its up to the parents how many children they have, provided they can support them without claiming any benefits. I dont see why the rest of us should help pay for them. I used to work with the children of a family of 15 and the council had knocked two semis into one for them to live in.

[bookboo]

It's all very well saying that it's up to the parents etc Bestmum but the fact of the matter is, this planet can no longer sustain over population on a scale such as this so people will not have the choice for much longer! There is not enough food on the planet for 7 billion people (incidentally, do you have any idea how much we in the west rely on the rest of the planet to survive). There is not enough fresh water for 7 billion people and fossil fuels have now peaked.

[sherrardk]

If you feel that strongly about the state of the planet why did you have any children? Also, do you not feel a little sad for your child that they won't have any siblings - I know I always felt sad for school friends who were only children, always thought it must be lonely.

[factor-fiction]

I only saw part of the programme but the children seemed to me to have been brought up in a very loving environment and seemed much more caring. co-operative, sensible and well rounded than many of the children I encounter every day from much smaller families.

[Old_Geezer]

I agree with you, bookboo. I despair over the human species. Worse than species who can not know the consequences of their actions. The problem has been evident for at least half a century. And you don't need 15 and counting. >2 offspring is being part of the problem.