to be feeling guilty for adding to an already overpopulated world?

[LDNmummy]

This is not about the other thread, I have just been thinking about this since contributing to that thread.

I had my first DC six weeks ago and since then the population of the world has passed seven billion.Overpopulation is obviously going to cause a lot of problems for the human race in the not too distant future as food, water, resources and space will have to be shared with more and more people.

When I decided to have kids, I decided to have one or two max and this was in part because I feel the world is already overpopulated enough and I don't want to add to that problem. This wasn't the major deciding factor (for me two kids seem enough anyway), but it was part of the reasoning behind my decision. Now after having my first, I definitely want to have another, but I have started thinking how nice it would be to have three kids. Having a baby is so amazing that having two doesn't seem enough anymore. The thing that stops me, is that I almost feel it would be selfish of me to have a third child with things as they stand.

A lot is said about countries like China and Nigeria when it comes to overpopulation, but what about western countries like Britain. Should we as individuals be more conscientious of how many children we choose to have?

I really dont see how we can determine the long term carrying capacity of the earth, there are way too many variables that we just cant account for

In this country we need more babies, not fewer, to fund the pensions for our ageing population.

OK so if the problem is over consumption, should there be a cap on how many children can be had by individual families in countries that are notorious over consumers? Thus decreasing the amount of over consumers in developed countries? It would be a novel incentive to encourage more awareness of the environment, though please bear in mind I am suggesting this light heartedly.

There's alot of scaremongering about over population.

Global population 1747 - .5 billion

Global population 1943 - 2.3 billion

Global population 2011 - 7 billion

That terrifies me, especially for my 3 year old's future.

Dirtylie, what variables can't we account for?

advances in technology cant be accounted for accurately, we'll be able to produce food & energy more efficiently & cheaply..that kind of thing.
Generally speaking it's just not possible to make accurate predictions, especially about the future

Interesting question!

Two is a good number as I know I'm not adding to the population crisis, and hopefully two is enough bodies to help sustain the ageing population that we will become. Although I do have an older stepdaughter too, so not sure how that fits into my logic.

In this country we need more babies, not fewer, to fund the pensions for our ageing population.

This is the big lie. If this is true then the population of the UK needs to grow forever, which is clearly not feasible. We all need to fund our own retirements, not rely on the next generation to do it.

We won't destroy the planet. We may destroy ourselves and many other species, but the planet will survive in some shape and form.

I stand by the fact that we are just another species, albeit a highly destructive one. The danger lies in the fact that we think we are not and we think we can beat the rap.

why not consider adoption? I would only ever adopt anyway because I feel very strongly about bringing another child into the world when there's already kids who don't have a home (not saying everyone needs to be like me - just how I feel).
oh and having kids to pay for our pensions - ponzi much?

RealLifeIsForWimps

If this is true then the population of the UK needs to grow forever, which is clearly not feasible

I'm not necessarily saying that the population will continue to age forever (in fact with the obesity epidemic, it is possible that the longevity trend will reverse). I'm saying that over the next couple of decades, the projected figures for the retired population will put a heavy burden on the shoulders of the working population.

We all need to fund our own retirements, not rely on the next generation to do it

Unfortunately the state pension was designed as an unfunded scheme and I don't see how this decision can ever be reversed (without requiring one generation to pay for two lots of pensions - their own as well as the previous generation's). Of course you are right that individuals should fund their own private pensions, but there will always be a certain number of people who cannot afford to do so and need to be supported by the taxpayer.

I hope that helps to clarify my original statement.