It's a fact that the earth has limited resources. It is also a fact that the earth's population is growing exponentially faster with each passing year. Whether you choose to believe that our world can hold only a billion people or a thousand billion people, every day we come closer to being "overpopulated." We come closer to being forced to live in theoretically uninhabitable places (ocean-floor cities, anyone?). We come closer to running out of many of our resources -
fresh water, as an obvious example. We come closer to realizing the truth of this quote:
"If we don't halt population growth with justice and compassion, it will be done for us by nature, brutally and without pity - and will leave a ravaged world."
~ Dr. Henry W. Kendall.
Yesterday I wrote about why I don't want children. A few people commented in regards to this idea of overpopulation.
Some mentioned that because of this fact, they don't want to have children. Some mentioned that they'd like to further help with the issue by adopting.
Most people who plan to become parents have in mind how many children they'd like to have. Sometimes that number isn't followed exactly, but it's a good guideline.
Here is my theory: If every one of those potential parents chose to adopt at least one of their children instead of having all of them personally, we would be far better off in the world, for three reasons:
1. Population growth would be slowed - perhaps not dramatically, but at least a little bit. And it will certainly be with justice and compassion.
2. Millions of orphans in our world would have parents to love and take care of them.
3. Millions of parents who do not have the means to take care of their children won't be left feeling awful and guilty for putting their children in adoption centers or orphanages - they will know someone will soon be there to take care of their child in a way that they cannot.
So, I'm going to ask a favor of everyone.
Take a moment, and consider your future children, or the children you have now. Do you think they will mind having a brother or sister - a new friend - that didn't come directly from you/your SO's womb? Now take another moment, and this time consider your SO. Will he/she mind? And take a third moment, and this time consider yourself. Do you mind?
Take a moment, and consider adoption. You might just help save the world.
"If we don't halt population growth with justice and compassion, it will be done for us by nature, brutally and without pity - and will leave a ravaged world."
True 
Lifetime
Comments (38)
I considered it. And then I researched it. And then I found out how much it costs and how long it can take, and the kinds of risks involved. Honestly, having a child placed with me and having the kid taken away? I think I'd prefer a miscarriage.
A few things I have learned about adoption (from adopting, and being adopted myself).
1. Adoption can be financially free. Contact your local DSV or CAS, or private agency. The only thing it will cost you for sure is your heart. You can even get money from your government for helping these children!
2. Adoptees will have more issues to deal with (especially when it comes to identity and rejection) then bio-children.
3. If you are not sure you can commit to adopting, become a foster parent. Lord knows we need more good loving forever homes for children in care. The foster system has such a terrible rep, and we need to change that. Starting today.
4. Stop adopting internationally until all the children in your own backyards have been adopted. There a thousands and thousands of young people who long to be adopted. We need to start looking after the children in our own communities before we take them from other countries.
5. There is no such thing as a "normal" adoption. Even an child adopted a birth will carry with it baggage from the bio-parents. Its just a fact of life.
6. Adoption is not for everyone. Some people just cannot handle the fear of having the birth mom want her child back. There are also people who just cannot handle raising "some one else's" baby. Hey I understand! People should not be looked down on because they chose not to adopt, its a freaking scary process.
7. the world is not overpopulated, running low on resources.. or any of that nonsense. And hey, if your country is running out of space, you are welcome to move to Saskatchewan. They need some fresh blood! (LOL)
thats my.. 7 cents worth on this subject!
@SeeBeeWrite@xanga - Same here. Though I strongly believe in adoption (my cousin was adopted), it is an expensive and mentally draining process. I don't think I could put myself through it. Though we're stopping at 2 kids, so I guess I've done my part to "control population".
20% of the world's population uses 80% of it's resources... overpopulation is NOT the world's issue.. it's governments and economics... you have people in the world suffering from malnutrition and starvation... then you have people suffering from diabetes and obesity from TOO much food.
There's a stark imbalance that needs addressing... the poorest people in the world live in lands rich with natural resources. There are problems in this world and sadly "overpopulation" is the scapegoat.But anyways- adoption is a WONDERFUL thing! I have always wanted to adopt, and I hope to someday :)
I have a lot of respect for parents who adopt, but personally having children for me isn't so much about having kids, it's about having MY kids. When I was falling in love with my husband I wanted to have children with him, not with anyone else. I can't wait to see which traits our kids (I'm about to pop with baby #1 right now) will have that come from which side of the family, what they'll look like, etc. Intimate is the best word I can think of, but it doesn't even begin to cover the wonder of creating a living person with someone else.
@Nina1981@xanga - Exactly. We also produce enough food on this planet to feed everybody 3500 calories a day in just grains alone. If you adjust that to fit a 2000 calorie diet, that's enough food to feed an additional 3 billion people on top of the 7 billion we have now.
My husband says we'll only adopt if we cannot have our own biological children. At least he has admitted to me that he could never love an adopted child as much as his own flesh and blood. So if I can never get pregnant then I won't adopt. I would never put my husband into an uncomfortable situation like that.
@ayisha881 - I think it is great that you and your hubby are that self-aware and very smart to talk about it before hand. My hubby and I have been hoping to conceive for 5 and a half years with no success yet, which is why we have gone the route of fostering/adopting. Good for you two to admit how you really feel though.
@Morningstarrising@xanga @SeeBeeWrite@xanga - we are adopting and its not costing us any money at all. If this is something you really want to pursue, contact your local government offices or social services and they will help you.
@LadyGwenivere@xanga - great list and great points!!!!
There is no such thing as overpopulation.
There is less than 8 billion people on earth. Sounds like a big number doesn't it? but wait....
Even though there is fewer than 8 billion people, we are going to take the number 8 billion anyway, it helps make the math easier.
Let's take those 8 billion people, and divide them up into families of 4. Then we will give those families of four, 1 acre of land. 1 Acre being enough land to grow enough food to feed a family of four.
Now, we need somewhere to put them right? Did you know that each of our 2 billion families of four, would then fit within the borders of the United States? This would leave us the Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and both poles to grow food, to feed everyone, if we so desired.
Now I am not advocating such a plan to move everyone into america, or to split up the duggar family into 5 different families of four. Or to turn Europe into a vast empty space of farmland. But I am saying that if it was possible to empty the whole world and fit it inside the U.S. How can we have an overpopulation problem?
We do not have an overpopulation problem. We have a misuse of resources by government problem.
We just finished the adoption of our daughters and we will probably never have a biological child, but we will adopt again. Pregnancy seems so gross to me and I'm not a big fan of babies, so we adopt.
It is not as expensive or as horrible as people seem to think it is. If you're not looking for a white girl born to two perfectly healthy parents (ie no drugs, no drinking, etc) there is very little wait for a child. Especially if you are willing to adopt a little boy who is 3 or older.
You CAN love these kids just as much as if you birthed them. I don't know why pushing something out of your body makes them superior children, but if you can honestly look at a child who needs a family and stability and say "Nope, I can't love them" than I don't think you deserve kids biological or otherwise. My husband was worried that he wouldn't love our girls enough but he will be the first one to tell you that as soon as that child calls you Daddy or Mommy, that's it. You're sealed to them forever.
Every single moment of our messy adoption and every single penny we had to pour in to lawyers was worth it because our daughters are the most amazing kids in the world. Our adoption was incredibly outside the norm but it was perfect because we got our kids. In the end, I wanted to be a mom, not pregnant and this was all worth it.
Yes, the world is getting too overpopulated. But most people don't ever think about that. They just want biological children, so they have sex and give birth. And teenagers nowadays, OMG! They are definately not thinking about overpopulating the world, and when most of them become teen mothers and fathers, that is when the world is at trouble!
Congrats on another ISH site...
Actually, the world has enough resources for all of its inhabitants. Its not the amount that is the problem, its the distribution of said resources...
I think adoption is great. I have numerous family members that are adopted or foster kids. Its great
Woah, congrats on getting on another ish site. :D
I have considered adoption, but will not be able to afford it. I plan on having one healthy child.
@ProudToBeAChristianFruitcake@xanga - YES! I agree with you!!@Nina1981@xanga - and you too!!
I never thought of it that overpopulation is the scapegoat for all the other world issues ...but so right.
My other question to all those who believe the "overpopulation" b.s. is: " what about the countries that are PAYING families to procreate because the threat of them dying out is so real?" Here in Canada, the Quebec govt pays families to have more than 1 child. In Australia, you get paid $3000 to have a child! Many European countries, and Russia in particular, have realized that if they don't start populating faster that in another generation there won't be enough workers to actually keep the country going. There are more deaths per day than births in many many countries.
Overpopulation. Bah. Whatever.
Adoption is great .....but "overpopulation" shouldn't be the reason we adopt. Adopt out of love and a desire to rescue an orphan.
Biological children are great too ......and to those of us who have them and continue to want them - all the more power!!
Just my .02 cents worth.
Adoption is a great idea. Good post.
Even tho im still young, i've always thought of adopting my children instead of giving birth, maybe giving birth of one of my own then adopting one not of my race, so people will see racism isnt always the way, but that would of course also be my future husbands decision. I really think this blog is great, if any of u have read among the enemy,among the brave, among the hidden and all the other among the... books by Margaret peterson Haddix, i wouldnt want the world to come to something like that even though it seems very unrealistic it could possibly happen, and really people do u have to let machines do everything to u, dont drive a car to a library few blocks away, unless ur going at night, it'd save some gas and the air if people stop driving to places a few blocks away during the day just because they're lazy
Adoption is an answer.
i definitely think adoption is the way to go, but i think your reasons are a little off. as many people have pointed out, the way we distribute our resources is more of a problem than overpopulation is. i think adoption is great because there are so many unwanted children in the world, and so many people who want to be parents.
also, i do not want children. i really don't like kids, and am pretty certain i would fail as a mother. but if i this ever changes, i will heavily consider adoption or fostering.
It's a nice idea, but the reality is adoption is hard, exclusive and expensive. Even if you meet all the requirements, you may not even get to adopt when you want.
To be a total bastard for a second...
STOP SLOWING THE PROGRESS OF HUMAN EVOLUTION!
That said, the answer to overpopulation is space travel long before its widespread adoption. Adoption is a process completely ruined by the bureaucracy... I'm with you, I don't plan on having kids. But I would consider adoption... if it wasn't a 3-year process that cost tens of thousands of dollars. That's the sort of time and effort I want to spend ON a child... not GETTING one.
@ShimmerBodyCream@xanga - Oh of course you, who aggressively denies any and every biological reality and responsibility, would say that.
Why are there so many children in need of adoption? That is the question and the issue! Where are the parents of these children? Why are these peoples mismanaging their countries so terribly? Why are third world nations having more children than they can properly raise...and then expecting Westerners to either adopt their children, or take them all in as migrants or refugees, both to our eventual destruction?
Family, heritage, and legacy are vital...people should be looking after their own!
@S_K_O_T@xanga - Wow, congrats on making no sense.