Population control will NOT save our environment; and why Stephen Hawking was right.

[wickerwoman]

34. At the moment that's at least 1.47 more than is sustainable

in terms of the kind of energy we can generate from non-carbon emitting sources. We already have several billion more people than we can adequately feed, clothe, house, educate, etc. Any growth represents a continuing threat to the climate, ecosystems and social stability.

And the fact is there are still many places in the world (including in the US) where it is completely socially acceptable to have 18 kids. That is insane. I don't support a mandatory one child policy but I do think tax incentives for large families need to go. People should pay the real cost of having massive numbers of kids, not be subsidised for it. And birth control education and condoms need to be *everywhere* as they are in China where every convenience store has a rack next to the register.

The one child policy may represent an unacceptable restriction of personal freedom but at least in China you don't see kids on the street eating garbage as you do in India. Nothing has done more to lift the standard of living for the average Chinese person and to create a thriving middle class than the one child policy has. Use whatever metaphor you like for irresponsible procreation... I think rabbits are a pretty kind comparison for people who have many more kids than they can reasonably provide for and then sit around waiting for God/the government/the older siblings to raise them.