The next endangered specie could be the babies.  Everyone is passing the buck.  Instead of consuming less, buying less, and discarding less, now those that wish to exercise a basic human right of family are becoming the new scapegoats for our planetary ills.  Consider this article from the UK, labeling the Beckmans as “bad role models” for having a fourth child.  “David and Victoria Beckham may have been overjoyed to welcome their new daughter, Harper Seven, last week but, according to a growing group of campaigners, the birth of their fourth child make the couple bad role models and environmentally irresponsible.

As the world’s population is due to hit seven billion at some point in the next few days, there is an increasing call for the UK to open a public debate about how many children people have. via Beckhams a ‘bad example’ for families | Life and style | The Observer.

So rather than look at the many other horrific and inefficient  uses of our planets resources, now our future children are being sacrificed on the altar of capitalism and misplaced values.  “Land used for pasture occupies twice the area of land now under the plow. Although livestock raising produces less protein per hectare than grain, especially in developing countries, it enables farmers to take advantage of marginal land that is less suitable for growing grain.” 

Is it the population or the exploitation of the natural resources that’s the problem?  Consider the following Rainforest facts below as an example.

• We are losing Earth’s greatest biological treasures just as we are beginning to appreciate their true value. Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth’s land surface; now they cover a mere 6% and experts estimate that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years.

• One and one-half acres of rainforest are lost every second with tragic consequences for both developing and industrial countries.
• Rainforests are being destroyed because the value of rainforest land is perceived as only the value of its timber by short-sighted governments, multi-national logging companies, and land owners.

• Nearly half of the world’s species of plants, animals and microorganisms will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter century due to rainforest deforestation.

• Experts agree that by leaving the rainforests intact and harvesting it’s many nuts, fruits, oil-producing plants, and medicinal plants, the rainforest has more economic value than if they were cut down to make grazing land for cattle or for timber.

• The latest statistics show that rainforest land converted to cattle operations yields the land owner $60 per acre and if timber is harvested, the land is worth $400 per acre. However, if these renewable and sustainable resources are harvested, the land will yield the land owner $2,400 per acre.

I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires.  To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit  my website.