But what about clean power? Even if I buy less stuff, I still have to have a roof over my kid’s heads. What about the electricity and the heating (god, the heating!) that comes from those?

Over 20% of all power generated (mostly from nasty coal plants – even still today) goes to the residential market. That amount can be reduced 80% easily (and 100% if we really try) with simple, proven solar, geothermal and wind technologies.

Solar power is the future!

The point of the article, in my opinion, is that YOU should change. Meaning each one of us. “Think small, act big.” It amounts to much. It’s a shift of perspective from all the negativity into a more optimistic outlook.

I think the suggestions in this article is great. It only means that “we can only do so much” in this lifetime, in our range of control. And this much, we can do. If we all do it, it amounts to a staggering change in the world.

Secondly: if some people stop procreating and others don’t that will lead to the extinction of the genes that support “not procreating”.

I personally think that limiting yourself to one child as they did (are doing?) in China is a more attainable goal for the average person.

If the population still explodes we will probably get some nasty infectious diseases (HIV,H5N1, Ebola) to curb our growth. I’d prefer not doing it that way but I’m not sure we’re capable of taking the more humane route.

And as much as we like to think our child will be the one to cure cancer or become the next leader of our country…chances are their impact is going to be little more than consuming more goods, producing more waste and indirectly exploiting populations abroad to meet their ever growing needs and desires. Of course they will add joy and biological “purpose” to our lives, but is it really worth it? Is this not incredibly selfish?

I know this is a completely radical standpoint today, but take a moment to think about all of the things you yourself use on a daily basis and all the people and things that go into supporting and creating those things. What a huge impact that is.

I truly believe life is precious, but as the His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said…there is simply too much preciousness. Live and enjoy your life responsibly, but seriously reconsider the necessity to bring more life into this world at this juncture in humanity.

I’m middle class, educated, in my late 20s and have absolutely no intent of ever creating or raising a child at my standard of living. And amazingly, I have friends who are both single and married, male and female who are making the same decision for the same reasons.

Stop breeding! That’s the single biggest thing one average person can do to help save the world.