Although this woman’s action appears to be extreme, most people do something, even if it is little, to contribute to the effort to preserve the environment. This lady took one action that not everyone may agree with. On This Morning, a recycling consultant from San Francisco explained how she decided on getting sterilized at age 31 in order to save the planet by Gwynn Mackellen.
Mackellen told the interviewers that she wouldn’t want to have children because of she would “feel bad” if she had kids because of the “negative impact” it would have on the planet. She said: “I would feel bad bringing another person in the world.”
She continued, “All the other choices that you can make [to help the environment] are very small in comparison. Once you have that person they have impact, and they could have offspring.”
She believes that her decision is the proper one, stating, “I didn’t ask to be born, so it wasn’t something I caused. But I feel responsible that any negative impact I have ends with me.”
Are you sure other individuals are “selfish” for having children? “I don’t want to judge somebody else” she added.
What are the advantages to the environment if there are fewer children? Mackellen said: “It’s something that’s just not talked about, even though it’s the most effective thing we can do to reduce our environmental impact.”
Those who posted comments on the story on the Daily Mail included those who feel it is her choice to make, but that it didn’t have to be a big deal, with notes such as: “Personal choices don’t need public reasons” and “Individual choice, what does it matter if it was due to lack of maternal instinct or otherwise. It’s absolutely none of my business, since it’s not effecting me or others.”
Another person wrote: “So what it’s her choice. More responsible this way then leaving pregnancy to chance.”
Some individuals also made the point that birth rate figures had been brought up: “People need to look at the birth rate statistics around the world as this woman is not rare. 30% and rising of Japanese women are deciding to not get married or have kids and the rest of the women in the free world are following.”
Some readers felt it was a good choice, as one person wrote: “If people don’t want kids, they should be proactive in preventing pregnancy. Why make fun of her? Less unloved or resented kids being brought into the world is a positive.”
Another said “She had her tubes tied, nothing newsworthy about that, and quite honestly if you don’t want kids, a good idea. Think of how many unwanted kids are out there because people don’t practice safe sex or measures fail. The world IS overpopulated.”
One person saw both perspectives, remarking: “I agree with some others on here that she should keep it to herself. However, she has a good point — especially with some seven billion people on this planet and the impact that the growing population has on this planet.”
