Mother earth is dying, and I`m told to give birth — Oh the irony
Being a woman in my early thirties, I am bound to give the idea of having children some thoughts. It is not unusual to think about choice of partner, timing, life values, what you might be able to offer the child, and other plans such as further education or job opertunities, before starting to engage in reproductive activeties. But there is one question bothering me: What if my child will grow up only to experience the end of the world as we know it?
The birth strike
“To Never Have been born may be the greatest boon of all”
― Sophocles
Some women and men has reacted to the politicians lack of action towards the climate change with a birth strike. In short, they sacrifice giving birth because they do not want to bear children into a world that is heading towards, let`s just say it, no future at all.
You can read more about the birth strike here https://birthstrike.tumblr.com.
Should millennials reproduce?
The millennials are the generation that is currently giving birth and entering family life. Our generation is rumored to be the most narcissistic, self centered and materialistic group of people ever been born. Knowing that our children will contribute to saving or killing mother earth, it is important to question our parenting skills. Really, we are currently raising either little superheroes or materialistic parasites. As we all know from looking at our parents, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
The lifestyle of millennials is alot different from our grandparents who lived through the second world war and our parents who has experienced a large economic growth and large advances within technology during their lifetime. In many ways our parents have taught us that there is, and always will be more, because that is what they have experienced themselves. We, the millenials, are known to socialize differently, our economy is different, we consume a lot more, and we value other things, such as tags in social media. Personally, I have never experienced an empty plate. What we do with our lives on a daily basis in the western world is so resource demanding, that it would take around five planets to sustain it, if everyone on the planet adopted our lifestyle. No wonder mother earth is giving up on us.
If it`s all down hill from here, why should we bear children?
Your future baby is a taxpayer
The birthrate is plummeting in the western world, and politicians in several countries are urging their inhabitants to have more children. In her New years speech, the prime minister of my own country, Erna Solberg, asked Norwegians to give more birth. The birth rate in our country has been plummeting after the financial crisis of 2008. From other countries perspective, having children in Norway probably seems lucrative, because of our arrangements for maternity and paternity leave and funding from the state. Ironically, the prime minister stressed that our birth rate is too low to ensure the continuence of our welfare model. We basically are told to have more babies to ensure that we have enough people to pay taxes in the future, when we, the millennials find ourselves in need of care-taking before leaving this world for good.
I think the prime minister of Norway is a very positive woman
According to scientistis, the world will be a very different place in fifty years because of climate change. I wonder if the welfare model of Norway will be one of the most pressing issues in norwegian politics at that time? I guess I should hope so.
In a save-the-planet perspective, you might say that it`s very good that we are having less children in the western world. It is not important for the planet that we have more Norwegians, in spite of what our Teslas might fool you to belive, we live far from sustainable lives. For instance, most of the food I put in my mouth today was not even grown in soil within the northern hemisphere. I have no idea how many kilometers the ingrediens in my smoothie has traveled and how much emission this transport generated, but I noticed it was instagram friendly.
Still, things might be looking good for the Norwegian welfare model anyway. In a sense we are expecting a population growth in Norway, because of climate change. My prime minister might get what she wishes for regardless of Norwegian birthrate. In urgent future, refugees will be coming to our country as a result of the large consequences of climate change. So, we just need to welcome them and hand out some passports.
However things might turn out, I think all millennials should set aside some extra funding for our retirement. We just don't know how this will play out. Maybe the culture-clashes will result in a full blown World War III. At least, I`ve read somewhere that this is a probable scenario, as well. If so, welfare models might not be up and running.
Is the birth strike really a strike?
We are currently experiencing drought, hunger crisis, floods, changes in weather, soil exhaustion, collapsing ecosystems, extinction of speecies and social conflicts. The future scenarios described by scientist are terrifying, and they urge politicians to act drastically, NOW, in order to decrease consequence of the changes that is already at play. So what kind of drastic measures are the politicians planning out?
By the looks of it.. none.
What typically happens with the fertility-rate in a society when the future looks dark?
Nothing cures the baby fever as good as a big cup of crisis
The fertility rate was low during World War II and the current drop of the fertility-rate in Norway is explained by refering to the economic crisis of 2008. The low fertility rate in the US and other western countries is explained by the recession as well. It is not an unusual trend that people choose not to have children when they are feeling unsure about the future. With the current forcast of our future, it might not be a surprice that the millennials are having less children then the generations before us.
“Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act.”
― Albert Einstein
The ongoing birth strike does currently not include enough people to create any significant drop in fertility rates, and also, if you have read up on them, you know this is not the goal of the strike, either. They are fearing for their potential children's future, not trying to save the world. Actually, they are convinced it is too late for humanity. So, though the numerous mentions of the birth strike in the media might signal otherwise, the choice of not having children at difficult times is typical behavior, not original. It makes me wonder if human population actually self-regulate when the population is experiencing a lack of resources. If so, good, but also, if so, bad. Because, as you know. We do not all agree that climate change is an actual crisis. And another problem is that the majority of the world might not be educated enough to ever find out about what is going on, except from reading the alarming signs mother earth is displaying herself.
But, if the human population in some way is self regulating when facing trouble, all we need to do is to spread awareness of the crisis and get people worried enough to choose to not have children. That could save a lot of resources and make the human existence eco-friendly, right?
Wrong.
Even with an ongoing, world wide decrease in the fertility-rate, the world population will hit 9.8 billion by 2050. We seem to be at a point of no return when it comes to population growth. With that in mind, it is crucial to discuss what we have learned from previous genereations and what we choose to teach our children. Because if we are going to birth and raise them, we need to teach them how to handle the mess we have made.
And, no, millennials, I don`t think an iPad and internet connection can do that for us.
Ok, maybe the internet.
This might seem out of context
My dad told me a story from his childhood, that not only explained his pressing urge for hard work, but also explained to me why he used to pull his car over every time he saw a plastic bottle along the road. Recycling a plastic bottle in Norway will pay you 1–2,50 Norwegian kroner. Everytime he stopped along the road, he would mention his dream about buying a white mercedes.
Which he eventually did.
My father grew up at a farm in the western part of Norway. He was, as all other his age, a result of the big baby boom after World War II. His parents had sheep, chickens, cows, and some land. The family of five, was self suficciant, and I myself was lucky enough growing up not far from them, eating hunted deer, chicken, eggs and drinking milk from their land. I learned where my food came from, and how it became my food. I understood that my family members worked hard on the farm to produce this food. And they where rightfully proud of their work capacity. It is safe to say that the family culture at my fathers side evolves around hardship.
The answer you give to a childs question might last for generations
When my dad was just a little boy he was outside his parents house playing. His parents had an ongoing building project, and my father suddenly noticed his aunt walking around picking up nails from the ground. The nails where bendt and was thrown away during the build. My dad went over to her and asked her
Why are you collecting those useless nails?
She answered
“Me and your uncle need them for a building project at home, we are going to straighten the nails, and reuse them”
At this time, resources was scarse. My father has told me he never knew they didn't have much. His mother was a great cook, making good meals with fresh food on a daily basis. Like myself, my father never experienced an empty plate. Still he learned, that the plate did not fill itself, and that results cannot come without effort. Also, he learned that even a nail that is bendt, can be straightened and used again, and though it takes time and effort, every small action counts for something.
What do you need?
So, for my father, the answer his aunt gave him learned him that hard work over time can help you achieve your goals. Picking up one nail, straightening it, just to start looking for the next, and then eventually end up with enough nails to complete a building project. Today, my father is getting closer to retirement. He has three jobs, teaching at an elementary school full-time, also he works part time at a hospital and part time at the local grocary-store. Why? Well, honestly, I think he just likes it, maybe even identifies with it, the hardship and working towards goals.
For me, my fathers story made me reevaluate my own “wants” and “needs”. Just two generations ago, my family lived off the land in a sustainable way. My grandmother was a seamstress, she wore her own dresses, and the house was decorated with her curtains. But back then, the aim of a sustainable life was not to save the world, it was to live a good life although there was little resources to live by.
You, know, kind of like it is now.
During his lifetime my father has experienced a huge economic growth. Due to Norwegian oil production the parents of millennials have felt a large upswing in their economy. Dreams they had as children was suddenly achievable. My dad got his big house and white Mercedes, and he told me that anything can be done if I only worked hard enough. But… he also tought me that dreaming about materialistic things and working to get it was A-OK.
Which it really isn`t.
I have many fellow millennial friends that would agree with him, but... Let`s be honest, can we really save the world while living in a capitalistic society?
What do you value?
My grandmother used to perform a little rhyme to me when I was a little girl
Ikkje ta han rike, ta han du like
Which means:
Don`t choose the rich one, choose the one you love
Of course she was referring to love interests, but I think this is adaptable in any given situation, because ultimately what she was referring to, was values. She wanted me to know that the material world cannot make me happy, but beeing with the people I love and doing what I love, will.
What millennials teach their children
Oh god..
The thought of it just makes you want to go on birth strike too, doesn`t it?
Maybe millennials are not that bad. Maybe we can raise superheroes, you know, like Greta Thunberg. Only fifteen years old, she has inspired children (some of them children of millennials I might add) and adults to demonstrate and signal the sitting politicians that the time for change is NOW.
Watch Greta Thunbergs TED-talk here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2QxFM9y0tY
So, what do the children of millennials want?
A future.
Our children does not only need, but must see a shift in values within individuals, society and politics. We can no longer travel as we used to, we can no longer purchase what ever we want, we can no longer feed off the earth like there is an unlimited amount of food, we can no longer disregard the enourmous consequenses of the way we are living our lives today. Our grandparents could not afford it, and neither can we.
Children need to watch and learn from adults that by putting in the hard work that is necessary from each of us, change can happen. If we just take action and work towards sustainable living “one straightening of a nail at the time”, we might become superheroes.
Because, whoever contributes to finding a sustainable way of life for the human population is a superhero, regardless of their birth date.
So, will I have children?
I have no idea.
But if I ever do, I will be channeling the much needed earth saving superhero, like every millennial facing parenthood should be.
