US Fertility Rate Hits 35-Year High and Environmentalists are Unhappy About It

| No Comments

The fertility rate, which is the average number of children a woman would have during her childbearing years, hit a 35 year high of 2.1.

The overall rate hit a high in 1957, and then dropped thereafter, possibly due to the news and development of the pill.

How could the pill have made an impact on the fertility rate, when it wasn't approved for use as a contraceptive until 1960?

While the pill wasn't officially approved for use as a contraceptive until 1960, it was approved for use in controlling menstrual disorders in 1957. By late 1959, and prior to approval for use as a contraceptive, at least half a million women were using the pill - far more than were believed to suffer from such disorders. [1]

But the news of the development of the pill in 1956 may have had a significant impact on the public's idea of the desired number of children as well. And while the pill wouldn't be accessible until 1957, the condom industry was flourishing.

Due to limited data, it is not known just how much either the pill or condoms may have affected this rate, or if they actually affected it at all prior to the 1960s, but nevertheless it is reasonable to suspect that they helped keep it down for the past 35 years.

The new high of 2.1 children puts the U.S. fertility rate back at the minimum replacement level - and environmentalists aren't happy about it.

In a Washington Post article on the news, environmentalists expressed their concern:

But not everyone sees that as encouraging, given that the United States remains a leading consumer of increasingly scarce natural resources.
"The world is now consuming resources faster than the Earth can sustain over the longer term," said Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute. "Forests are shrinking. Fisheries are collapsing. Water tables are falling. Large parts of the world's grasslands are deteriorating. The U.S. is already disproportionately responsible for that because of our very high consumption levels."

The increase certainly can't be good news for environmentalists.

I'm sure that University of Western Australia's Professor Barry Walters, a clinical associate professor of obstetrics, who in the December edition of the Medical Journal of Australia, proposed that couples who have more than two children should pay an annual carbon tax, is not happy about it. And Toni Vernelli, who aborted her child out of concern for the planet, probably won't jump for joy about the increase.

As environmentalists increasingly focus on population levels, expect more attempts to reduce the fertility rate through abortion and/or contraception.

What a brave new world we live in, where the weakest among us are targeted in misguided efforts to protect the environment.

------------------------------------------------------------

Sources

[1] Tone, A, (2001). Devices & Desires, A History of Contraception In America (1st ed.) New York: Hill and Wang, p. 226.

Talk Back - leave a comment


Receive Updates

Enter your Email



Blogs4Life

button02b.gif

Categories

Archives

Recent Comments

Veeja: "Come What May is not impressive. Not only ..."

Fiona: "Yes, I agree that anyone pro-life should be ..."

Pro-life atheist: "Steve, if it makes you feel any better, ..."

Jayme: "This is a free country, and everyone is ..."

Ronald Johnson: "Yes they should. There are children being murdered ..."

Bekah Ferguson: "Steve Sanborn, you should note that in my ..."

Steve Sanborn: "Bekah, Sinless? It's obvious that I do not ..."

Pro-Life Articles

add your site
Caffeinated Thoughts Jul 4, 2009, 12:32 am
BIG BLUE WAVE Jul 3, 2009, 8:11 pm
www.TheReaganWing.com Jul 4, 2009, 12:46 am
Right Wing News Jul 4, 2009, 1:23 am
Lutherans & Contraception Apr 3, 2009, 5:00 pm
Kevin McCullough's TownHall Blog Jul 4, 2009, 12:04 am
Is Anybody There? Jul 3, 2009, 7:09 pm
BIG BLUE WAVE Jul 3, 2009, 7:31 pm
Sanctus Christopher Jul 3, 2009, 5:58 pm
Pro-Life Unity Jul 4, 2009, 3:26 am
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 10:24 pm
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 3:26 am
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 9:37 pm
Hillbilly White Trash Jul 3, 2009, 5:22 pm
The Lewis Crusade Jul 3, 2009, 11:00 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 10:27 pm
Values Voter News Jul 3, 2009, 4:01 pm
RealChoice Jul 3, 2009, 5:37 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 10:24 pm
Lutherans & Contraception Jul 3, 2009, 5:46 pm
Les Femmes - The Truth Jul 3, 2009, 8:05 pm
Les Femmes - The Truth Jul 3, 2009, 4:05 pm
Guarino Jul 3, 2009, 9:05 pm
The Lady in the Pew Jul 3, 2009, 9:08 pm
Sudan Watch Jul 3, 2009, 9:21 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 9:39 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 9:55 pm
Thoughts of a Regular Guy Jul 3, 2009, 4:13 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 7:43 pm
The Evangelical Ecologist Jul 3, 2009, 7:20 pm
Stop The ACLU Jul 3, 2009, 9:19 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 8:36 pm
Pundit & Pundette Jul 3, 2009, 7:47 pm
Pope Benedict XVI Blog Jul 3, 2009, 2:30 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 7:43 pm
NoisyRoom.net Jul 3, 2009, 8:15 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 7:35 pm
MICHNEWS.COM Jul 3, 2009, 11:36 pm
MICHNEWS.COM Jul 3, 2009, 11:40 pm
Kevin Tracy Jul 3, 2009, 7:54 pm
Chris Dickson Jul 3, 2009, 2:14 pm
Caffeinated Thoughts Jul 3, 2009, 7:59 pm
A Catholic View Jul 3, 2009, 6:16 pm
Wells of Hope Jul 3, 2009, 7:37 pm
Verum Serum Jul 3, 2009, 7:21 pm
Rebelution Jul 3, 2009, 6:46 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 6:03 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 5:34 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 5:40 pm
MCCL Blog Jul 3, 2009, 6:32 pm
HicktownPress Jul 3, 2009, 6:44 pm
Dr Roy's Thoughts Jul 3, 2009, 6:27 pm
The Chatterbox Chronicles Jul 3, 2009, 1:04 pm
causa nostrae laetitiae Jul 3, 2009, 2:49 pm
Values Voter News Jul 3, 2009, 12:01 pm
Thoughts of a Regular Guy Jul 3, 2009, 1:33 pm
Thoughts of a Regular Guy Jul 3, 2009, 1:58 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 6:47 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 6:45 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 6:55 pm
RealChoice Jul 3, 2009, 1:24 pm
Pundit & Pundette Jul 3, 2009, 5:46 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 5:07 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 6:03 pm
My Domestic Church Jul 3, 2009, 2:08 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 5:23 pm
jillstanek.com Jul 3, 2009, 7:04 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jul 3, 2009, 6:01 pm
Hyscience Jul 3, 2009, 6:26 pm
Dr. Melissa Clouthier Jul 3, 2009, 5:54 pm
Sudan Watch Jul 3, 2009, 6:18 pm
Sudan Watch Jul 3, 2009, 5:56 pm
Down on the Pharm Jul 3, 2009, 10:44 am
Cao's Blog Jul 3, 2009, 6:15 pm
#!/usr/bin/mom Jul 3, 2009, 3:54 pm
ScrappleFace Jul 3, 2009, 4:41 pm
RealChoice Jul 3, 2009, 12:57 pm
Quo Vadis Jul 3, 2009, 4:57 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 5:07 pm
Mount Virtus Jul 3, 2009, 4:43 pm
Moms For Life Jul 3, 2009, 4:27 pm
marvelous medley Jul 3, 2009, 4:46 pm
jillstanek.com Jul 3, 2009, 5:23 pm
jillstanek.com Jul 3, 2009, 6:14 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jul 3, 2009, 4:57 pm
faithmouse Adjunct Blogmentary Jul 3, 2009, 12:31 pm
The Common Room Jul 3, 2009, 11:42 am
The Chatterbox Chronicles Jul 3, 2009, 11:59 am
Caffeinated Thoughts Jul 3, 2009, 4:19 pm
World Magazine Blog Jul 3, 2009, 4:32 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 4:57 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 5:09 pm
Pundit & Pundette Jul 3, 2009, 3:35 pm
Pro-Life PA by Sue Cirba Jul 3, 2009, 12:03 pm
One Mom Jul 3, 2009, 3:49 pm
My View of the World Jul 3, 2009, 3:49 pm
Musing Minds Jun 15, 2009, 1:43 pm
Musing Minds Jun 17, 2009, 3:56 pm
Musing Minds Jun 22, 2009, 3:18 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 2:16 pm
Jakubczyk on Life Jul 3, 2009, 6:12 am
Stop The ACLU Jul 3, 2009, 4:19 pm
Catholic Church Conservation Jul 3, 2009, 7:23 pm
2SecondsFaster.com Jul 3, 2009, 3:46 pm
Pro-Life PA by Sue Cirba Jul 3, 2009, 10:50 am
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 1:30 pm
Mary Meets Dolly Jul 3, 2009, 1:59 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jul 3, 2009, 3:01 pm
Why Mommy Is A Republican Jul 3, 2009, 9:30 am
Wheat & Weeds Jul 3, 2009, 9:45 am
Values Voter News Jul 3, 2009, 8:01 am
Pro-Life Unity Jul 3, 2009, 7:26 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 1:30 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 1:06 pm
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 3, 2009, 6:31 pm
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 3, 2009, 7:26 pm
MICHNEWS.COM Jul 3, 2009, 5:37 pm
Mary Meets Dolly Jul 3, 2009, 1:53 pm
John Smeaton, SPUC director Jul 3, 2009, 2:52 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jul 3, 2009, 1:31 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jul 3, 2009, 2:15 pm
Dr Roy's Thoughts Jul 3, 2009, 2:01 pm
The Evangelical Ecologist Jul 3, 2009, 1:08 pm
DEACON FOR LIFE Jul 3, 2009, 9:32 am
Catholic Fire Jul 3, 2009, 8:17 am
C-POL Jul 3, 2009, 1:56 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 2:00 pm
Wheat & Weeds Jul 3, 2009, 7:33 am
Salt and Light Jul 3, 2009, 12:54 pm
Rob Schenck Jul 3, 2009, 12:59 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 1:51 pm
Pro-Life Unity Jul 3, 2009, 6:31 pm
Pro-Life PA by Sue Cirba Jul 3, 2009, 9:07 am
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 11:58 am
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 1:06 pm
MICHNEWS.COM Jul 3, 2009, 5:07 pm
MICHNEWS.COM Jul 3, 2009, 5:22 pm
MICHNEWS.COM Jul 3, 2009, 5:25 pm
LifeNews.com Pro-Life Headlines Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews.com Pro-Life Headlines Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews.com Pro-Life Headlines Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews.com Pro-Life Headlines Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews.com Pro-Life Headlines Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews.com Pro-Life Headlines Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
LifeNews Jul 3, 2009, 1:25 pm
just after sunrise Jul 3, 2009, 8:17 am
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jul 3, 2009, 12:31 pm
Dr Roy's Thoughts Jul 3, 2009, 12:59 pm
THE PASSIONATE PRO-LIFER Jul 3, 2009, 4:27 am
Stones Cry Out Jul 3, 2009, 12:23 pm
Christian Newswire: All Releases Jul 3, 2009, 12:46 pm
Catholic Fire Jul 3, 2009, 7:21 am
Catholic Fire Jul 3, 2009, 7:53 am
A Catholic View Jul 3, 2009, 12:46 pm
Vital Signs Blog Jul 3, 2009, 7:09 am
Spero News Jul 3, 2009, 12:37 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 12:50 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 11:58 am
Operation Rescue West Jul 3, 2009, 11:54 am
Moms For Life Jul 3, 2009, 11:03 am
marvelous medley Jul 3, 2009, 12:07 pm
John Smeaton, SPUC director Jul 3, 2009, 1:10 pm
Jeremiah Films Announcements Jul 3, 2009, 12:24 pm
Hyscience Jul 3, 2009, 1:00 pm
HicktownPress Jul 3, 2009, 11:33 am
Dr. Melissa Clouthier Jul 3, 2009, 11:57 am
Vital Signs Blog Jul 3, 2009, 5:53 am
Vital Signs Blog Jul 3, 2009, 6:43 am
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 9:40 am
jillstanek.com Jul 3, 2009, 11:45 am
Hyscience Jul 3, 2009, 11:22 am
Holy Innocents, Long Beach Jul 3, 2009, 4:02 am
Happy Catholic Jul 3, 2009, 3:49 am
Happy Catholic Jul 3, 2009, 5:02 am
ETC: Everyday Thoughts Collected Jul 3, 2009, 11:03 am
The Lewis Crusade Jul 3, 2009, 7:00 am
The Lewis Crusade Jul 3, 2009, 11:00 am
Sudan Watch Jul 3, 2009, 11:56 am
Studeo Jul 3, 2009, 4:32 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 3, 2009, 10:46 am
World Magazine Blog Jul 3, 2009, 10:15 am
World Magazine Blog Jul 3, 2009, 10:33 am
Vivificat! Jul 3, 2009, 6:20 am
Vital Signs Blog Jul 3, 2009, 4:47 am
Vital Signs Blog Jul 3, 2009, 5:30 am
Values Voter News Jul 3, 2009, 4:01 am
V for Victory! Jul 3, 2009, 4:27 am
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 10:46 am