Ante-natal classes

[Big RR]

Well said Andrew, I agree. We can either address the problem now, or have its effects basically plague us later. Contraception should always be an option promoted and available to all.

As for your nephew, all the positive thoughts and karma I can muster are being sent his way; it is simply unfair that one so young should be made to suffer so much, and I fervently hope his improvement continues (I lost a friend to the same disease while I was in college (many years ago) and think medical advances in the area of liver cancer is pretty astounding--he may well go one to lead a long and healthy life). As for prayer, although I do believe in god, i am skeptical about the effects of collective prayer. Yes, it can engender positive thoughts and feelings and may well provide some small comfort to those suffering (and I encourage it for these reasons), but I do find it difficult to believe that a caring supreme being will take a poll as to what course of action to take. The positions and sufferings of those involved are undoubtedly understood by god, and i don't think the votes of 50 more people will somehow sway god into action; but I do pray that all who are involved will be comforted.

[Crackpot]

Mayhap I was. And mayhap reading into this:

Avoiding one birth in the developed world will contribute to solving that resource problem as much as avoiding five or six (perhaps more) births in the developing world.

any implication that anyone should be lowering their standard of living is the product of an overimaginative mind.

That is because by and large standard of living is closely linked to resource consumption (at least, on an individual basis) and any other factors I could think of regarding location of birth would have a negligible effect on resource usage.

Perhaps I should have said:

Care to expand on that statement?

[Beer Sponge]

Give to Planned Parenthood. They help to reduce unwanted fertility and ensure that wanted children are better cared for.

Give to organizations which provide birth control and health education to woman in 3rd world countries. Educating and empowering women has the largest effect on reducing fertility.



yrs,
rubato

Sure looks like all of you glossed right over this post. Educating women in developing countries is the best way to lower birth rates. Later everyone!

[loCAtek]

Best wishes and healthy recovery to your godson, AndrewD.

[Andrew D]

Give to Planned Parenthood. They help to reduce unwanted fertility and ensure that wanted children are better cared for.

Give to organizations which provide birth control and health education to woman in 3rd world countries. Educating and empowering women has the largest effect on reducing fertility.
yrs,
rubato

Sure looks like all of you glossed right over this post. Educating women in developing countries is the best way to lower birth rates. Later everyone!

I did not gloss over it at all. As I have pointed out repeatedly, education about contraception is very important.

But in order for such education to be of any real-world value, there has to be contraception to which one can apply that education. Learning how to use something which one will have no opportunity to use is not valuable.

One can learn everything there is to know about condoms, but if one cannot get one's hands on any condoms ....

One can learn everything there is to know about diaphragms, but if one cannot get one's hands on any diaphragms ....

One can learn everything there is to know about spermicides, but if one cannot get one's hands on any spermicides ....

One can learn everything there is to know about birth-control pills, but if one cannot get one's hands on any birth-control pills ....

Yes, "[e]ducating women in developing countries is [an important part of bringing about] lower birth rates." But even an endless supply of education will accomplish nothing without availability. What good would is it to teach people how to use things which they have no opportunity to use?

[rubato]

Give to Planned Parenthood. They help to reduce unwanted fertility and ensure that wanted children are better cared for.

Give to organizations which provide birth control and health education to woman in 3rd world countries. Educating and empowering women has the largest effect on reducing fertility.
yrs,
rubato

Sure looks like all of you glossed right over this post. Educating women in developing countries is the best way to lower birth rates. Later everyone!

I did not gloss over it at all. As I have pointed out repeatedly, education about contraception is very important.

But in order for such education to be of any real-world value, there has to be contraception to which one can apply that education. Learning how to use something which one will have no opportunity to use is not valuable.
,,, "

You have failed to appreciate that women in much of the world did not know the very most basic facts of fertility. All conservative social movements have tried to deny them the most basic knowledge about their own bodies which would allow them to regulate their own fertility, including the rhythm method.

Catholics are notably ignorant. (ok about everything)

yrs,
rubato

[Andrew D]

I have not failed to appreciate the lack of relevant education. On the contrary, I have posted about it on numerous occasions.

You, however, have failed to appreciate the importance of the ability of those who have been educated to put that education into practice. In order for education to accomplish anything significant, those who are educated must also have the ability to put into practice the things which they have learned. Until women around the world have access to contraception, education about contraception will do them precious little good.