The extent of my worrying has increased incrementally with the birth of each of my children. Now, after 3 children, my worries are limitless. I worry a lot about what some would say are the little things: too much poo, too little poo, too much food, too little food, the baby not sitting at six months, our president’s dental status, school options, to use a dummy or not…
The bigger things to worry about are also endless: the working parent’s juggle, violent crime, car accidents, the credit crunch, the credentials of our next president…

But most worrying, and frightening, is climate change. What kind of world are we leaving our children? Our own is troubled enough, theirs will be more so. There will be more food shortages, rising sea levels, dramatic weather events, heat, and lots of other  horrible changes.

Last week on my way home from the overcrowded little island up north I came across an article in the British Medical Journal suggesting that a way to deal with the climate change, is for people to have fewer children – population control! Not 3 or 4 children. Only 1, maybe 2 at a stretch.
The article says:
“The world’s population now exceeds 6 700 million, and humankind’s consumption of fossil fuels, fresh water, crops, fish, and forests exceeds supply. These facts are connected. The annual increase in population of about 79 million means that every week an extra 1.5 million people need food and somewhere to live. This amounts to a huge new city each week, somewhere, which destroys wildlife habitats and augments world fossil fuel consumption. Every person born adds to greenhouse gas emissions….. ”  and  “Something active needs to be done to separate sex from conception—namely, contraception.”

Can’t remember my excuse about contraception with the accidental conception of my third child. Nevermind, the third is  here. She’s cute, lovely and smiles endlessly at me.

So I find myself thinking whether my reproductive rights should become part of a political discussion on environment.
And yet, I feel terrible. I am guilty. I have have personally contributed to this frightening thing called global warming and it’s causing me sleepless nights.

 PS: Have a look at this marvelous picture of Dame Helen Mirren in a bikini. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1036785/What-men-REALLY-think–Helen-Mirren-bikini-62.html

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