Babies are no longer eco-friendly
I've been emailed this article a number of times in the last few days while I was on a Thanksgiving blogging hiatus:
Had Toni Vernelli gone ahead with her pregnancy ten years ago, she would know at first hand what it is like to cradle her own baby, to have a pair of innocent eyes gazing up at her with unconditional love, to feel a little hand slipping into hers - and a voice calling her Mummy.
But the very thought makes her shudder with horror.
Because when Toni terminated her pregnancy, she did so in the firm belief she was helping to save the planet.
Read the full article here and then I'd love to hear your thoughts. I personally found it utterly ludicrous.
Related: This was a great video on the subject from FOX News (there's a commercial you have to sit through before the video loads).
posted by Crystal Paine at 7:27 PM
61 Comments:
I saw this on another news site the other day. I am sad that she cannot see what a blessing children are.
This woman has the courage and the tenacity to live her convictions.
Bravo.
inmoral for her to have children??? but ok to murder childern??? murder her own but might adopt someday?? how would you like to be adopted just to 'save the earth'?? what about all the birth control drugs she used, now studies show that they hurt the planet.
who would 'care for the earth' w/out people?
this woman's confused. blinded. lost.
I saw this article a few days ago. She is a whack-job!!
a friend of mine showed me this article earlier. It makes me sick to my stomach. :(
Let's see:
Here's a quote at the beginning of the article
"Having children is selfish. It's all about maintaining your genetic line at the expense of the planet," says Toni, 35.
and a few paragraphs down she says "... Ed and I married in September 2002, and have a much nicer lifestyle as a result of not having children. We love walking and hiking, and we often go away for weekends. Every year, we also take a nice holiday - we've just come back from South Africa."
Exactly who is being selfish?
And then another quote about midway
"I was horrified. I knew straight away there was no option of having the baby. I went to my doctor about having a termination."
compared with
"When I tell people why I don't want children, they look at me as if I was planning to commit murder."
Uh.... hmmmm well I guess one time is ok?
I wonder what pollutes the air more: quick trips in the car to the grocery store or a 20 hour air flight to South Africa?
I'm being sarcastic, I know, but please. But how can anyone read this and not see how crazy this whole thinking is?
I will not watch the video, but after reading what you wrote that is enough to know that satan is roaring like a lion.
I am so saddened and horrified! "Fill the earth and subdue it," "Be fruitful and Multiply!" Commandments STRAIGHT from God! And yet they take birth control medications that are totally NOT eco friendly.....these women are so blinded and have conflicting convictions of the enviroment and family.
The article referenced two couples, and the second seemed much more consistent in their perspective, although I feel sad that they both chose to miss out on God's blessing and the opportunity to train another generation to cherish His creation.
The first woman made me cringe at first, and I couldn't help responding after reading on. She says she wants to reduce her carbon footprint, but says having no children allows them to live a nicer lifestyle. Hmmm . . . She says now they are free to go on one long haul flight a year for holiday. So, not having kids makes up for her long vacations every year? This may be less traveling than some do, but if you are truly trying to do your best it shouldn't be about just doing more than others. If she is truly convicted about her effect on the environment she should never fly, as the second couple says they do. She could have had a more positive impact on the world having a number of children and raising them on a self-sustaining farm,learning how to live and passing along her viewpoint.
The line that made me feel the most sorrow for her was when she said that when she tells people she doesn't want kids they look at her like she is planning to commit murder. Well, clearly she doesn't understand what she did during her pregnancy.
You see Christians with this same attitude at times. Don't want to have kids because they are afraid of messing up the world more than it is already, or they would not be able to be involved in ministry as much as they want. When in reality, if we receive God's blessings and focus on raising them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, we can be an instrument for God in changing the world. If God is truly calling someone to a life focus that would not include children, then maybe they should remain childless -- single and celibate (something that obviously didn't go hand-in-hand in her convictions).
I think being sterilized for the sake of the planet is pretty ridiculous, given how green families can be. I know quite a few people who think this way [ie having children is environmentally irresponsible], and naturally, I disagree.
However, I find it troublesome when Christians show a total disregard creation and our stewardship of the planet. Having large families and being given "dominion over all the earth" is no excuse for abusing what God has put us in charge of. I believe Christians should be the first to embrace greener technology, earth-friendly living, and responsible habits...like using fluourescent lightbulbs, reducing waste, recycling, and driving less.
I believe her environmental awareness is great, but she's definitely gone overboard.
I'm saddened by this as a woman who would give her two front teeth to get pregnant. It literally makes my stomach churn.
I don't really know what to say.. there are so many things that could be said. This is just one more thing to show that the value of a child has been lowered once again below the value of an animal. The enemy has victory in the lives of these people. I agree with the above commenter, he is a roaring lion seeking to destroy. I'm just thankful that everyone doesn't feel this way. We'd be in a lot of trouble in a short amount of time. And overpopulation? Have you driven through the praries?? There's still plenty of room!
Well, if someone is that nuts, maybe it is not such a bad thing that they aren't reproducing themselves.
I think the second couple seemed more sensical and consistent with what they believed. The first one, I had to read it twice just to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding--they think having babies is selfish, and they want to live a green lifestyle, but they take vacations (presumibly by airplane) all the way to South Africa, and seem to be living a rather nice lifestyle...so much for being green.
Though, in all seriousness, I'm relieved to know that she is sterilized and therefore is one less person polluting the water with birth control pills, and won't be aborting any more so-called "accidents". :(
I am shocked, but should I be? As another has already said, this woman is obviously blinded by Truth because she doesn't have the Holy Spirit. It is incredibly sad to think that she sees God's precious gift of a child as something to destroy in order to protect the planet, which He also created. She was full of contradictions and hypocrisy. So sad, truly so very selfish.
How heartbreaking! This is such a reminder of how we need to reach the lost with the message of God's love! Apart from His Word, there is only confusion.
Well, if they are that whacky, maybe it's better they aren't having kids. :P
Seriously though, this was the exact subject of a movie that I cannot recommend at all because it had tons of base humor and swearing, but it was a "humorous" and very possible look into the future. One of the beginning expositions showed two families...one family was presented as "trailer trash"...wasteful, ignorant, and populating the planet by cheating on his wife etc. The other couple was well-educated, monied, attractive, and ecologically-minded. They didn't have kids. They put them off for their careers, for the planet, until it was too late. So then it showed how their family line died out...but the wasteful, illiterate family that had terrible values grew like a rabbit due to all the cheating and teenage sex etc. Eventually, all the smart and rich and "good-moraled" people died out...leaving all the stupid, illiterate, immoral people to run the planet. And the result was not pretty.
But, considering how many countries are in the deficit for births, I just think the idea that having a baby at all is bad for the environment, is ridiculous. I noticed she was wearing tailored clothes and she was so "unselfish" as to fly once a year--those are bad for the environment. :P
Wouldn't it just be better overall if we used our resources wisely and taught our children to as well?
I agree with many comments about the first couple. They say they that it is selfish to have children and want to be "as green as possible", but yet they don't live the life they say they do. The only reason they say that is because it is more "admired" for someone to "sacrifice" motherhood for the planet than for selfish reasons like traveling and being able to do as one pleases.
This article seems simply ludicrous to me. She says, and I quote - "We both passionately wanted to save the planet - not produce a new life which would only add to the problem." A new life would be an addition to the problem? Couldn't she raise her child up to be like-minded - to want to save the planet? Also, the whole basis of Mother Earth is that she is constantly regenerating, and our carbon footprints are damaging this regeneration. As Christians, we are called to be fruitful and multiply, and in a sense, we are regenerating the population which would go hand in hand with saving Mother Earth!
If everyone alive today had the same conviction, within 100 years (give or take) this planet would be devoid of human life . . . guess that would reduce the carbon footprint, wouldn't it?
I feel sorry for these people. Not only are they totally deceived, but they are missing one of the greatest blessings of life.
Yes, it's sad. In the amount of time it took to read this article, form a judgement about this woman, read through the comments, form your own comment AND post it, you could've been a better steward of the time God has given you and prayed for abortion to stop and salvation for the lost of the world. Just a thought. I'm speaking to myself primarily!
I don't get how she can kill her child but take a long flight every year. If she is so gung ho on this why doesn't she get a canoe and paddle over. How sad that she is so deceived.
Another thought. What about all the paper, supplies and energy that was used to abort her child and sterilize her? How is that eco friendly?
Ditto Kimberly Eddy's coments. It may be better that she not have kids. I, too was struck by the mention of a more lavish lifestyle by couple #1, given that it usually signals a less green lifestyle.
What's the point of saving the earth if there's no one here to inhabit it? And if a baby pollutes the earth... imagine what the airplane that flies them to South Africa does.
This *is* for real, isn't it? Unbelieveable.
These are the kind of people whom we need to pray for-God can change their hearts!!
The former director of a crisis pregnancy center that I used to volunteer for had her tubes tied after an abortion-somewhere along the line God changed her -so this can happen to Toni and Sarah.
I will not vilify the women for choosing not to have any children, as I have chosen to have only one child. I am very content with my daughter and step-daughter and do not feel the need to have any more children. Not because I want to be the next Captain Planet, but I simply feel our family is complete.
Now, I can even *understand* her decision to have an abortion, although I do not agree with it. You cannot expect an unsaved woman to have the same convictions and beliefs that we Christians do.
HOWEVER, having an abortion and justifying it as a way to "save the planet" is just deplorable.
This is totally going against scripture, not only through the killing of unborn babies, but in calling wrong what God has commanded us to do: Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: ....."
I am not even sure what to say to that... I think its ironic that despite her attempts at contraception, "nature" won out at least once and a pregnancy was conceived. This is what happens when we believe world views (aka whatever the media is telling us is important) versus biblical views... what God says is important.
I also think its interesting that they have no qualms about using the fuel it takes to fly to South Africa.... ugggh...
You know, if you just don't want to have children because you want to preserve your lifestyle...then be honest about it... don't say your doing it to "protect the planet"....
This is the most idiotic thing I have ever read. Ever. OK, so you never have children and "protect the planet". If the human race dies out, who is going to be around to keep protecting it? Talk about convoluted logic!
My heart breaks for that poor baby whose life was ended because of its mother's very unbalanced view of environmentalism.
Having a "green" adult child, but one who wants a child or two, I can tell you that they are so confused and not consistant at all in thinking or lifestyle. But then if you do not believe in GOD, you already are in an unsteady position. Certainly horrible to abort...and when you have never had a child, you have no concept of what you threw away, yet I am glad to hear someone with such thinking is not going to raise children. Think of the poor child being raised with someone who has such values! Saving the earth is great, we are to be good stewards, yet I cannot agree with some of their kind of logic as to how to do it. I thought the newspeople made some good comments!! In a few decades, no one to run the "green organizations" anymore. Most of these "green" people are not so careful about being green in their private lives, however. Example: Doesn't Al Gore (one of the foremost spokemen) have at least 4 children? Isn't that at least 2 more than was his fair share to have? Elitest to think his children are doing more for mankind than mine are!!
Okay, so it's more selfish to have a child than to totally live for youself and travel the world according to this article. There are alot of ways to be environmentally concious while still having a family. This is so nauseating.
As long as people aren't making wholistic judgements and grouping her with people like me, who are environmentally conscious in a way that is logical and makes sense...
I must say that I find that very very distrubing. How sad for her to be caught up in that kind of belief system. We need to be on our knees daily praying for her and the people with her mindset. They will be the ones to limit the number of children you will be permitted to have when the chance provides itself.
I saw this story several days ago and also shook my head at the immorality of it.
Her argument, carried to its next conclusion, is that she should commit suicide for the sake of the planet, because the planet cannot even sustain her life!
God gave man the Earth to use--in a wise fashion--but to use. Just as sin affects every part of our lives, sin also affects our use of the Earth...I'm sure not every use of the Earth meets with God's approval, but that doesn't mean abortion is the answer.
Praise God that Christ will return to set everything straight.
Anonymous - who says we can't read and pray at the same time? ;-) Many of us are doing just that, even as we post. We're moms - we multi-task.
Also, the whole subject is interesting to me while at the same time horrifying. It is almost as if saving the planet has become a religion for many. We can respect the planet, and be good stewards, without worshiping it. Dr. Albert Mohler grapples with the issue of the power environmentalism wields over contemporary culture in his blog entry entitled "When Ecology Replaces Theology"
What the women featured in the original article may not know is that the global birthrate is decreasing at an almost alarming rate, especially in Europe. Also, the global temperature, according to satellite data in an article I read just yesterday on the Telegraph (one of Britain's top newspapers), is cooling, not warming. "...The latest US satellite figures are showing temperatures have fallen since 1998, declining in 2007 to a 1983 level - not to mention the newly revised figures for US surface temperatures showing that the 1930s had four of the 10 warmest years of the past century, with the hottest year of all being not 1998, as was previously claimed, but 1934."
It is truly sad for me to see people viewing other people as only polluters and planet destroyers.
Um, this woman can start preaching to me about how selfish she is not when she starts adopting.
Since she probably can well afford it, she could trade the trips and thier organic food and adopt some needy children and teach them how to be earth worshipers. Then, I will consider her "sacrifice" to the planet.
BTW, the president of PETA did the same thing. She boasts that adopting is the better thing to do with all the needy children out there, but she has a total of zero adoptions under her belt.
These people are using their nutty beliefs as excuses to not have children. They really are just as selfish as the couple who choose to be childless for materialistic reasons. They obviously have commitment problems, too. so it is better that they don't have children. Too many people with God-like complexes in this world as it is.
-Zan
Very sad. Not as uncommon a sentiment as we would hope, unfortunately. We know several people from our academic world (my husband is almost done his PhD) who don't try to disguise that it's for selfish reasons they choose not to have children. At least they are consistent and honest about it, though it is still sad.
I, too, am concerned about the environment. And if I don't raise thoughtful, caring children, who will take care of it? I truly believe I could have 5 kids who would produce less environmental damage than 1 average American child. I believe mindfulness and prayer in all areas of life will have a greater positive impact than this woman is producing - and none of the negative.
The whole idea behind saving the planet is to preserve it for our future generation. But if there isn't going to be one, really,why bother? I don't get her sad logic. It's even more heartbreaking that her mother has apparently made sense of this whole arrangement and supports her.
This is our opportunity ladies! With Catholics, Muslims, and Christians welcoming large families while liberals and atheists reject children, the future of the earth could be a very religious one.
Someone recently told me the best thing I can do for the world is raise a bunch of Christian kids who become leaders for the future!
The logic of these people is absolutely and certifiably crazy! I can't understand how murder is okay, but having kids, as our bodies were naturally meant to do, isn't earth-friendly! And if people are worried about overpopulation, WY has plenty of room!
I think this article really demonstrates that when one thing becomes our idol, our perceptions become really skewed. In this case, Terri's idol was earth-keeping and it has certainly consumed her.
(I can never understand why people can be vegetarians and pro-abortion! It doesn't make sense to grieve an animal's death and not a child's!)
I agree with Kathleen and think that Christians have a great responsibility toward the environment for God has given it to us for our stewarding. A life committed to God-honoring stewardship is critical to preserving the earth for future generations. In this vein, we avoid debt, have only one car, hang our laundry out to dry, and eat a mainly organic vegetarian diet among other things. However, I don't think children add to a carbon footprint, they just make a new one!
I have one daughter and she rides with me on the back of my bicycle to grocery shop and go to the bookstore and park. I hope that she will learn stewardship as well.
We hope for more children -- but we are an older couple already in our mid-thirties.
Since this is a place for controversial questions -- do those of you who do not agree with the use of any type of birth control and think that life is under the sovereignty of God also consider that death is under His control as well? Will you also refuse medical intervention for death?
I would love to hear your thoughts....
caroline
I also find this article sad, even though I am in a much different boat, politically and theologically, from the rest of you. It just screams selfishness, and it also reinforces an (incorrect) assumption that we feminist liberals must hate children and family, while for many folks I know (including myself), that couldn't be further from the truth! I just blogged about this today as well, and while we differ on some things, Crystal, I think we're in agreement when it comes to family being the cornerstone of society. It's sad that women (and men) view children as such a burden; I truly wish that would change.
I blogged about this too. My title is "Six little carbon footprints and counting..." :-)
It would be very funny except for the fact that these people really believe this stuff! What was interesting to me was the lady that takes a 'long haul' vacation... on an airplane... once a year. I wonder why the 'carbon footprint' of air travel doesn't carry the same weight as the 'carbon footprint' of a child. Of course, this is simply the idol of selfishness clothed in the "self-righteousness" of saving the planet. But, I do find their complete lack of logic confounding and a bit amusing.
Wow.... I am speechless. God help us the world is waxing colder and colder.
ludicrous is putting it mildly! What if their parents had felt the same way?? How horrid that people have been so brainwashed to thing that aborting a child or not having children is the best moral choice? We, as Christian home-schooling moms can make such a difference in our own children's lives by showing them what a joy and a blessing motherhood is!
I find it ironic that she claims having children to be selfish
yet, she admits that her life is soooo much easier without children.
I also disagree that people who have kids are definately more poluting to this world than the many eccentric single rich people. YOu kno the million dollar 20 year old singer that has the million dollar mansion, the 4 or 5 gas guzzling cars. When people have large families they tend to be more careful with what they purchase.
I know my frugality has lead to a better planet more so than my single time ever did!
It's hard to believe there are people this crazy out there. What's the point in "saving the planet" if there won't be any people to inhabit it anyway? As a Christian, I do believe we need to be good stewards of that which God has given us, and that means we should do what we can to take care of our planet, but quite frankly, it's going to last as long as God intends for it to and not a day longer. That said, I plan to have all the babies our great God will allow, for His glory!
I have not read all the responses yet (but I will). It seems like she'd want to have children to reproduce more people who think like her who will affect others so they'll think like them.
Also don't fly long hauls if you're worried about the environment. You shouldn't probably fly at all.
I am a Christian and teach my dc about being responsible with God's provision. We recycle, reuse, and use things up.
It sounds like she enjoys her "freedom" as much as she enjoys saving the earth.
Actually I feel sorry for her. I will have to remember to pray for her.
Edwena
I believe the "eco" argument is just a selfish excuse.
I'm glad to see sterilization over abortion for women who are convinced that they never want children. She is living consistent with her world view. I'm personally insulated from this viewpoint lately, so it's shocking. But it shouldn't be surprising to us that society is going the way of "saving the earth by living green". How sad that it's all they have to trust, instead of a living Savior.
Crystal, am I going mad, or did you allow a very snippy comment APPLAUDING this woman? It's the second comment, by an Anonymous. (Obviously, you don't have to post this.)
Anonymous, yes. :) I asked what people thought and that's what one of my readers thought.
I pretty much don't delete a comment here unless it is vulgar, a potshot comment at me, my family, or someone here, etc. or something I feel would spiral things into a big debate which I don't feel would be beneficial or edifying.
Disagreement is usually allowed so long as it is done considerately. :)
Just more people believing the lie. Not surprising in the least. I really think this radical environmentalism, ie, global warming, etc, is the beginning of a new way to get the focus off the Creator and onto ourselves. Much like evolution was many years ago, and still is, of course.
Absolutely, positively ridiculous! (and that's still not strong enough)
As a young woman, my dream has always been to have (lots and lots of) children - and reading things like this makes me sick.
I also have friends who may not be able to have children, who ARE not able to have children, and I know that they would give anything to be able to have children! I cannot imagine what they might feel like when reading this.
She mentions adoption - I know that I would like to adopt some children, as well as have my own. But I STILL want to have my own! (if the Lord allows)
"When I tell people why I don't want children, they look at me as if I was planning to commit murder."
But she already has - by having the abortion!
"I didn't like having a termination, but it would have been immoral to give birth to a child..."
I can't even say how shocked I was at this statement... it's immoral to have a child, but not immoral to commit murder?!? (I know someone already said that -- just showing I agree!)
I think the title of this article is pretty fitting - "Meet the women who WON'T have babies." And why won't they??!!?? Not having babies so you can do what you want to do is NOT selfish?!?
This really is so sad. Heartbreaking, really.
I will be praying for these people to accept Christ.
I was SOOO saddened...pretty much to tears...when I first read that article. I always wanted a big family and unfortunately the Lord had other plans for us...and if hubby ever says yes...I would happily fill my house with children who are in need of a good home. Children are such a blessing...she is missing out. But thankfully being steralized she cannot have any more abortions. I pray that she gets saved.
I read this article from you link. I think that she's out of her mind. It is the most absurd thing I've ever heard. If she is truly thinks that it is selfish to bring more people to planet Earth, then why doesn't she make the ultimate sacrifice for her beliefs and do away with herself? Now I'm not really suggesting she commit suicide, I'm just following her train of thought and "logic". She needs to be locked up in a crazy house. She's a danger to society! Give me a break.
It's almost laugh-able if it weren't so sad! Ludicrous is right.
I don't know that there is much to say. I began reading the article and as I got to the second picture I quit reading. It was bordering on the ridiculous!
She's right in the sense that babies are very eco-unfriendly. People in general are, especially those of us lucky enough to live in the developed world. Even those of us who try to live simply use up a lot of resources that we really can't afford. Over the course of a lifetime, it ends up being a lot.
personally, I still think that's a sad reason to have an abortion. But it's one of the reasons I plan to adopt children instead of have my own.
This might be a little late in posting, but I just had to comment that yes, we are to be good stewards of God's creation, but it is going to pass away. This earth is not eternal while children are, their soul and spirit are eternal. This woman just gave up something beautifully eternal for the sake of the temporary.
Very sad. I don't understand why she didn't become sterilized immediately upon deciding not to have children. That way at least she wouldn't have murdered her baby.
We also saw this article, and I actually just posted about it on my blog. Feel free to visit, if you'd like to read more of my, ahem, rather strong feelings on the subject. :)
Suffice it to say that I believe the selfishness lies in creating the lifestyle we desire, at any cost. And then to turn it into a self-righteous proclamation of how one is "saving the earth"- I am utterly astounded.
I also see the future of our children as having the ability to transform the destruction that has been done to the earth. Responsible, well educated (lol, by us, not the public school system) children will have far more of a positive impact than simply ceasing to have any children.
... I think the key thing about this young woman's behavior is that it evidences the fruit of despair. It's the loss of hope in a provident God that would lead a mother to kill her child for such far-reaching "reasons."
And another thing- this woman's attitude towards children and human life in general was already well established and evidenced by her prior choices to use contraception. No surprise! Abortion is simply the logical consequence of the contraceptive mindset.
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