Audio for this is talk here: https://archive.org/details/KatieBa
That link also has further information about the talk, the conference where the talk was given etc.
2. BEFORE WE START…
Talking about human overpopulation is a topic many people find
difficult and there can be strong opposing views
It can be particularly divisive among the vegan community
Human overpopulation is not the only factor contributing to the
destruction of the planet, but it’s a significant part of it
This talk is about thinking about what can we do in our lives to help
others and do the least harm in regards to human population
At the end there will be time for questions and I want to have a
respectful discussion that truly listens and evaluates the views of others
3. HISTORY OF HUMAN POPULATION & IMPACT
Humans stopped living in harmony with other animals arguably when
we shifted from a nomadic existence to agriculture – around 10,000
years ago
We started hunting other animals to extinction, such as the mammoth
18th Century - the Industrial Revolution led to an explosion in the
population due to advances in food production, medical care and
sanitation
However, industrialisation led to enormous pollution of the air, seas
and the exploding human population began to have an even bigger
impact on the other animals
4.
5. WHY DOES THIS MATTER FOR OTHER
ANIMALS?
We are just one species of millions
More humans = more land is ‘cleared’ and stolen from the other animals
who live there (as well as native human populations)
80% of the world’s forests have been destroyed (World Resources Institute)
70% of the non-human animal population live in forests (National
Geographic)
In Australia, since European invasion, about 90% of native vegetation in the
eastern temperate zone has been removed for agriculture, industry,
transport and human habitation.
About 50% of Australia's rainforests have been cleared
The proportion of Australia covered by forest or woodland has been
reduced by more than one third (Source: Creating Markets for Biodiversity,
Productivity Commission, Canberra, April 2001).
6. LAND CLEARING IN AUSTRALIA
National Forest Inventory, cited by Department of the Environment, Australia
7. JUST ANOTHER FACTOR TO CONSIDER
When doing a calculation of our carbon footprint we take into account
our transport, diet, overseas holidays and consumption habits
But what about our reproductive choices?
A 2009 study found:
“Under current conditions in the United States, for example, each child
adds about 9441 metric tons of carbon dioxide to the carbon legacy
of an average female, which is 5.7 times her lifetime emissions.”
Reproduction and the carbon legacies of individuals, Murtaugh and Schlax,
Global Environmental Change. Volume 19, Issue 1, February 2009
10. YOU’RE NOT ONE OF THOSE ANTI-
NATALISTS ARE YOU?
No. I am talking about thinking about what is the most ethical choice to
make, taking into account how humans impact other animals – doing the
most good and least harm to the world
Anti-natalists argue that it is wrong to bring a new person into this world
knowing that suffering in inevitable
It is a philosophical theory and states that birth, ‘natalism’ is a wrong
Many people criticise anti-natalists arguing that:
Even with suffering, life can be joyous
(Male) anti-natalists should not tell women what to do with their bodies
These people are just assholes (Yup, some of them are. I left some of these
groups due to ableism or sexism)
On the flip side, by choosing not to reproduce they are still aiding the
planet, their reasons are just different to others
11. WHAT ABOUT THE VOLUNTARY HUMAN
EXTINCTION MOVEMENT?
This a movement that advocates for humans to voluntarily stop reproducing, in
order to save other animals and the planet from further destruction –
Many people in VHMET are also vegans
Volunteers of the movement believe it would be ideal for the human species to
voluntarily die out
Supporters of the movement don’t agree with extinction, but at least think there are
too many humans at the moment and we should stop producing any more
Whether you agree with extinction or not is a moot point as it is high unlikely
humans would voluntarily stop reproducing
THE KEY ISSUE IS: what is an ethical choice for me to make in my situation?
12. WHAT’S UNETHICAL?
There are any unethical ways to deal with overpopulation, so let’s rule
those out first of all:
No killing or mass genocide
No biological weapons to prevent breeding
No forced sterilisation or abortion
No pressuring pregnant women into an abortion
This about future choices – not the children who already exist or mothers
who have decided to continue with the pregnancy
13. SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
If you are part of the tiny percentage of people in the world’s history
that truly have a choice about whether to bring a new person into the
world consider: what is the most ethical option?
One child? No child? Or adopting or fostering a child?
Massive shortage of carers Australia wide – for fostering and permanent
care
20,000 Australian kids in need of permanent homes
305,377 new births in Australia in 2015
So if 6% of those new parents instead adopted or fostered all kids would
have a stable home to live in
There are problems in the system, we need to encourage more people to
adopt with financial assistance – e.g. NSW will give up to 37k to adoptive
parents
14.
15. WHAT ABOUT COUNTRIES WHERE PEOPLE
DON’T HAVE A CHOICE?
Promote women’s empowerment and reproductive rights
The more empowered and educated women are, the fewer children
they have
In particular, access to contraception and abortion – an area religious
aid groups often refuse to assist with
Donating to groups such as Women’s Global Network for Reproductive
Rights
