Toni Vernelli, 27, got herself sterilized because she wanted to save the planet!
At the age of 27 this young woman at the height of her reproductive years was sterilised to "protect the planet".
Incredibly, instead of mourning the loss of a family that never was, her boyfriend (now husband) presented her with a congratulations card.
While some might think it strange to celebrate the reversal of nature and denial of motherhood, Toni relishes her decision with an almost religious zeal.
"Having children is selfish. It's all about maintaining your genetic line at the expense of the planet," says Toni, 35.
"Every person who is born uses more food, more water, more land, more fossil fuels, more trees and produces more rubbish, more pollution, more greenhouse gases, and adds to the problem of over-population."
While most parents view their children as the ultimate miracle of nature, Toni seems to see them as a sinister threat to the future.
Link (Photo: Indira Flack)
A bit extreme in my opinion, but what's your take on it? Did Toni do the right thing?
LOL
" thinking " people shouldn't even have the choice of reproduction .I suggest her husband should be sterilized too to eliminate the possibility to reproduce his part of genetic line .
We already have millions of morons.
At least you'll have ur kids visiting u when ur old.
Pitty that most kids choose to put their parents in an old peoples homes
so they dont have to bother anymore.
it just logically doesn't make sense. why doesn't she just commit suicide, and save the world from another parasitic human. it's a good thing she won't have children though, obviously she is irrecovably stupid.
There are plenty of happily childfree types out there, including me. I'm now 42 and I regret nothing--but I must admit I'm still, after all this time, baffled by th outright hostility some people think they have a right to display about my life and choices.
Yes, it's possible that some day they'll decide they wants kids. If so, they can ADOPT. There are already millions of kids who need parents.
Still... it is a little scary when smart girls like these decide not to reproduce, and all the dopes start hollerin' about the sanctity of breeding. Next stop: "Idiocracy".
a) I also want to have some fun myself and not go through the cycle of suffering ("school - uni - work - mother" and nothing else in between)
b) I am not sure if I could cope with being a mother. I think I would be a bad one :/
other than that, there are, of course, quite a few reasons pro having kids.
but well... just my 2c.
However, I am amazed at how many people think that my decision is misguided. I find it highly insulting and absurdly patronising when I am told that I will "change my mind" by people who failed to have the courage of their convictions and purport to know my mind better than I do!
I made my decision based on three factors: 1) I don't like kids, they make me nervous that I will screw up their lives. 2) I would rather own a porsche some day than spend my money on some mewling cabbage who will probably grow up to a) dislike me and b) resent me. 3) I don't like poop. At all.
However, I don't see why she has to dress up her perfectly logical decision in an environmental argument. The increased strain on our planet's resources, food supply problems and dwindling space are engineering problems and the only way to solve them is to apply human ingenuity and creativity. This is the one resource we have that is truly limitless; provided of course that we maintain a plentiful supply of human grey matter! So breed one you cheerful breeders, just please keep your kids away from me.
one less nutjob's kids to have to worry about i guess.
Unfortunately though, for every one person who does not heed the inborn need to breed, there are several billion who pump out progeny on a more or less continual basis.
It's a further pity that most of these "blessed events" even in the educated "Western World" have no more planning associated with them than the careful selection of a reasonably inexpensive bottle of wine.
It's never a good idea to have major, unnecessary surgery when you have simpler options:
a) quit having sex
b) use contraceptives
c) vasectomy - way less drastic and often reversible (in case you change your mind)
Having this type of surgery has repercussions for your body, including hormone changes, etc...
That's why it's a dumb idea.
'Cos, you know, she's a woman. How can she NOT have babies? That's what women are for, right?
And she could never act in accordance with her belief of helping the planet by adopting one of the millions of children who were born to irresponsible* parents who felt no reason to use the brain evolution gave them to think about or avoid that baser urge to breed themselves silly.
I think ted has the only rational criticism of this woman.
*yeah, yeah, super-generalisation, especially in consideration of the amount of war and famine and disease in the world that can leave kids orphaned (of course, why try taxing your body to nurture a fetus and give birth to a child in that kind of environment...?)
The Earth is like a woman. She goes through cycles. It's natural and normal for her.
If she had done this becasue she sees herself as not good parent material, or that she just doesn't want children in her life, or that the world isn't a good place for a child, fine.
But to see a child as bad for the planet, and making this public statement out of it, she chooses "the planet" over her future children. This reflects an opinion that humanity is a disease infecting the earth. I'll assume she doesn't wish for a desolate, lifeless planet; so logic dictates that other life forms are good, just humans bad. Or is it all mamals that are bad for "the planet?" Or all animals and there should just be plants? I wonder.
Actually we're doing a wonderful job managing the planet. We exploit our resources to provide fullfilling lives for the vast majority of humanity, being the only species to often live long enough to know our grandchildren. Don't even get me started on color TV, dentistry and indoor hot running water. This contrasts with the more virtuous forms of life, which often die of starvation, or being eaten by a neighbor or relative.
She can make her public statement that she is a disease infecting this planet. But she doesn't speak for me, or my family. We're more important than a ball of dirt.
She can do what she wants, but why are we reading about this? Also, I am amazed by the amount of closed minded, sheep responses this has brought on.
Our planet can sustain us, and at the rate we are/could be growing without thinking like a lot the above posters. The real problem is that it cannot support so many greedy “Westerners” (of which, I am one).
We are as nature intended us to be. We just do not live as nature intended us to. We all know that the excesses of North America could feed the world but we don't change our society. We come up with ideas like zero population growth so that we can continue to do all the unnatural and destructive things we love so much.
Above this post are numerous postings spewing praise for one lady doing what she feels is right and contempt for others who do what they feel is right. It is so arrogant and hypocritical. We all have a role, why do we need to judge each other and take such harsh responses to their choices.
I just hope she looked at the studies that connect divorce to voluntary infertility and the projected US age ratios. When she is old no one will be able to take care of her. The infrastructure will not be there, simple economics. The only reason modern science is calling for a cut in birth rate to “save the planet” is because the scientific community thinks it is the only option with the chance of by in. Like Aeris said, for a lot of people voluntary infertility appeals to their selfishness not their selflessness.
Smart people breed stupid people everyday and most of our respected human brothers and sisters that have changed this world for the better came from “stupid breeders” like the people being cut up in these comments.
Our society shapes our children us much as we do. Own up people. If you are a capitalist consumer (like most of us with internet access), it is our society that is bringing this planet down.
In any case, the argument for the environment is baseless and nothing more than political. If she can sell her childless idea to the Chinese/Indians etc. where the population density makes our western hemisphere look downright barren then go for it.
This is simply a stupid mediastunt.
And anyway, everyone here is calling her smart? psh. hardly.
Population controls should be used appropriately to
fit social need for balance, and that balance is
changing as technological advances occur.
While many will serve current social roles,
we constantly need role models to stretch and shape society's view of what's needed and normal.
She is a role model making a statement to society
to think about. New norms are needed for balance.
She's not a 'hero' any more than people who have children are 'evil.' It's we as a society that are evil, we refuse to control our population and eventually it WILL catch up with us. When it does it will result in millions or horrible deaths all of which could be prevented is we (as a society) took some preventative action.
That was the smartest comment made. We have more than enough to take care of everyone but we just aren't willing to change the way we use our resources. I certainly hope people like you keep breeding.
Whoa whoa whoa. I hope that's ironically-intended because otherwise... You think it's selfless to have a child for the purpose of, what, imprinting your personality and beliefs upon it?
And for all you who keep talking about her would-have-been child being destined to solve the world's woes: a)Statistically unlikely. b)If there is such a thing as destiny that would foretell this, destiny would also have already dictated her particular child would not be the one to do it, as it would be her destiny to not be a mother.
if she had kids, she would know what an unselfish act it is to raise kids correctly.
Now that everyone's all inflamed about some woman who doesn't want kids, in the interest of equal time please post a story about how "neat" it is that the Duggers are at 17 kids (and probably counting) so we can unleash our vitriol on them too.
If she does decide maybe one day to have kids, then adopt! The world really is overpopulated and there are so many uncared for kids who may not ever have a chance.
personally, it's her body and her decision, who am i to judge?
If she is so worried about the negative effect of each individual on the planet's welfare she could commit suicide as the ultimate selfless act. Or she could go on a killing spree and then commit suicide. By her logic, the more people she could take out the better off the planet will be.
I don't begrudge anyone deciding not to have children. The reasons for or against are extremely personal. Unfortunately she has decided to judge me and declare me selfish.
And wouldn't it be a more truly selfless act if she did it in silence without seeking 15 minutes (probably more like 15 seconds) of fame?
I personally can't ever see myself wanting children...I have never felt maternal feelings in my life. Having children just so you'll have someone to look after you when you're old is a pretty sad reason to reproduce in my opinion.
I have heard from many folks "oh, you must have children-they would be so cute!" Or, "What does your husband think?" (now ex-husband for non-related issues. In case you are wondering-I left him, not the other way around.) "You're not fully a woman until you give birth"... and on and on.
While I have three (incredibly cute) nieces from my younger brother, my family has finally accepted that I will "bear no fruit." It's simply a personal choice, just as it is of those who had children.
Good for you and your choices. Thank goodness that we think differently from one another. I appaude her for making a well thought out choice. She made a choice based on her belief system. America is full of those who simply follow the status quo (talking about everything here from clothing styles to car choices.) It may be out of line for you, but for her and her husband, it was a perfect choice.
So, I kneel before you and place my neck on the chopping block and expect the enevitable...
i only have a problem with her calling me 'SELFISH' for having them.
gee... it's a natural inborn desire (and some would say, 'be fruitful and multiply') to have a child.
oh and SELFISH?
uh, yeah, the hundreds of dollars i spend on my kids teeth, the thousands when i had to put them BOTH in the hospital when they were sick together, not to mention the every day getting up early just to make the breakfast eggos they love (and NOT the plain ones mommy! the choc. chip kind! please!), the waking up in the middle of the night to clean vomit off the beds, and to have 2 inches of sleeping space in my own bed because someone got 'scared', the reading 'goodnight moon' for the 5th time today, and the not going out with my husband all month to save money because i wanted to have a great party for my 7 year old and make her memories wonderful...
yeah, us parents are horribly selfish people. i really should start thinking of others more.
if she truly was that dedicated to being 'green' she'd be out of the limelight and volunteering to teach kids how to keep the earth clean. you know, cause i'm too selfish to do it myself.
but he doesn't look at me like i'm a selfish person and that i'm destroying the planet because i've had his niece and nephew.
although, they do a great job or destroying the living room...
All Lady MUST have baby! Or not REAL Lady!
Lady not want baby.
So Lady not want to live...
So Lady must die!
Good old Daily Mail.
Sorry to see that a few points of IQ doesn't often over ride 2 million years of "breed then die" evolution for most of the planet.
I'm curious though; did she get this out into the mainstream through a press release or what? Attention seeking behavior at its extreme?
Honestly, she sounds sanctimonious and very, very judgemental. The whole 'overpopulation' argument is flawed at best. In many countries there is a significant demographic transition occurring, where people are having fewer children and populations are growing older. This is a problem which will bite us on the arse in the future (note; someone probably commented to point this out, but what can I say? I love jumping the gun).
I am certainly not denying that we're facing an epic environmental crisis. But sanctimoniously tying your tubes and snitting about those who just 'poop out kids' is hardly going to help. We need to radically change the way we use our planet's resources if we are going to survive.
And, also, making comments about how we need her 'gorgeous, intelligent bloodline' really does make my skin crawl. I thought we'd moved past eugenic thinking. Reproduction is a basic human right. Think about the ideological and political implications when you bitch about how 'morons need a licence to breed.'
Get a grip people, Eugenics was popular in Hitler's time, it's totally discredited in 2007. She's wrong. You're wrong. Eugenics is wrong.
Oh. And has anyone heard of these guys?
http://www.vhemt.org/
In my opinion, this woman is hiding her selfishness beneath the veil of some insincere concern for the planet. That being said, parenthood is not for everyone. It's better to not have kids if you aren't absolutely sure that you want to. There is nothing more tragic than an unloved, unwanted child.
Here is mine : Natural selection at work. Period.
Here's the situation: there are too many people on the Earth. Our population is using the Earth's resources at the rate of 1.6 Earths. It's completely unsustainable. So, no there isn't enough to go around.
A lot of people are having too many children. We are living too long and too many children are surviving to adulthood. Global warming or not, we are using up this planet.
China's been doing the 1 child thing for years with limited success. Unless the entire world does it, nothing is going to change. Within the next few decades, disease, famine and drought is poised to do what the lack of birth control has not done, take this planet's population to a manageable level.
When your children are starving, what will you tell them? "Oh, honey, I just had to have a baby, because I didn't want to be selfish."
It's interesting that people feel so threatened by this woman's choice that they need to respond with such hatred. The need to have your own decision validated is pretty basic, I guess, but to respond that she needs to kill herself is incredibly immature. And pathetic. The world will keep spinning even if we all don't agree with your views.
Also, there are just as many selfish reasons to have children are there are selfish reasons NOT to have children.