Very nice!

I'd only take exception to one point:
"Is it any coincidence that in a male-dominated society, the medical
establishment has thus far focused on birth control methods that leave the
burden solely on women?"

I don't know what society he's referring to as male-dominated, but it's
certainly not the one I live in. The medical establishment has focussed on
methods that give the OPTION solely to women. It was pressure from feminist
groups that saw the pill released with far less testing than many medical
folk were happy with, hence possibly many of the early problems. Women have
a far greater range of options for controlling their own fertility than do
men. Abstinence is possible, but pretty much rules out any serious
relationship; condoms are a joke; vasectomy is effectively permanent, not
controlling one's fertility but forfeiting it. The day that men have
anything close to the range of contraceptive options that women do, is the
day you'll see a lot fewer pregnancies everywhere.

Yours Uncut,
John

-----Original Message-----
From: Why_VHEMT@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Why_VHEMT@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Augie
Sent: Wednesday, 10 June 2009 8:10 PM
To: Why_VHEMT@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Why VHEMT? Why My Vasectomy Will Help Save the Earth's
Resources


Why My Vasectomy Will Help Save the Earth's Resources
By Matt Leonard, Earth Island Journal
June 10, 2009

http://www.alternet.org/sex/140543/why_my_vasectomy_will_help_save_the_earth
%27s_resources/
http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/140543
http://www.alternet.org/story/140543/

Last year, I became castrated impotent sterile. That is, I had a vasectomy.
While it's actually a very common procedure (nearly 500,000 are performed
every year in the US), it raises eyebrows -- and a lot of questions.

The first one is always simply: Why?

Although this was a very personal decision for me, it was also a choice I
made out of larger societal, political, and environmental motivations. I
consider the environmental ones paramount. In an economic system that
demands infinite growth with finite resources, not doubling my own
consumption is one small stone in a big river.

More importantly, I live in the US, and any child I had would have been
raised here and would consume (despite my best efforts) far more resources
than I am comfortable accepting. Living even a modest lifestyle in the US
comes as a direct result of the oppression, domination, and deaths of many
unseen people, not to mention the exploitation of natural resources at rates
that threaten the ability of our planet to sustain life. These facts
shouldn't be cause for guilt or shame; instead, they should spur us to
organize to confront the systems and institutions that have created these
problems. On a personal level, contributing another person to the system
that I have spent my adult life fighting is just not something I'm willing
to do.

The next question is usually: But what if you change your mind?

I view my decision as permanent. As I see it, I already made the decision
years ago not to have children, based on sound, rational reasons. If I
change my mind in the future, I believe that change would be fundamentally
selfish, and I am comfortable committing myself to rational reasons now.

People typically follow up with: Aren't there other forms of birth control?

Yes, of course, and most of us here in the US are lucky to be able to choose
the form that is best for our lifestyles, our preferences, and our
relationships. A vasectomy fit my needs best.

I guess there's always abstinence, but that's no fun, right? I suppose the
rhythm method is an option, but almost everyone knows how (in)effective that
is. Condoms are fine and dandy in many situations, but they have their
downsides as well, and can seem pointless if you are in a monogamous
relationship.

All the other common birth control methods have one aspect in common: They
place the onus on women. Not only does our society expect women to deal with
the logistics of birth control, but these methods also have severe
physiological drawbacks, from roller-coaster hormonal changes to
intensifying menstruation cycles to weight and skin changes. Although these
methods have come a long way in a few decades, they still burden women and
their bodies. Is it any coincidence that in a male-dominated society, the
medical establishment has thus far focused on birth control methods that
leave the burden solely on women?

For men, vasectomies are simple. There are almost no side effects and no
long-term impacts; it's a quick, low-cost, outpatient procedure. Having
decided that I want to take an active role in birth control, a vasectomy is
fair, easy, and it confronts my privilege on this issue.

What if you decide you want children in the future? people ask.

Many of my friends whom I deeply respect have chosen to have children or
will do so in the future. Some people do feel that there is something
special and important about having a blood-related child. I just don't share
that feeling.

There are thousands of beautiful children all over the world who need
parents, and if I ever decide that being a father is something I want in my
life, I would be remiss to ignore the existing children needing support and
love. For me, adoption is the best option. We need more parents in this
world, not more kids.

Finally, But don't we need the smart, progressive people to reproduce?

I'm of the nurture-over-nature camp. I think the whole "passing on genes"
obsession can sometimes border on eugenics. I'm fairly confident there is no
gene that instructs your child to fight for justice, peace, and
sustainability. That comes from living those values and instilling them in
the communities we are a part of. That's what I want to prioritize in my
life -- and I feel I can share those things more effectively without a
child.

And besides -- I've got messed-up teeth, I'm legally blind, bald, and have a
history of heart disease. Let Matt Damon pass on his genes instead.

Matt Leonard lives in San Francisco, where he works on climate justice and
energy issues, rock climbs, rides his bike, and eats yummy vegan food. He
currently works with Greenpeace and Rising Tide North America.

= = =

Comments:

http://www.alternet.org/sex/140543/why_my_vasectomy_will_help_save_the_earth
%27s_resources/#comments

Your life, your choice.
Posted by: Honky the Nihilist VI on Jun 10, 2009 12:23 AM
Good for you. I tried to get a vasectomy at 22 and again at 25 but was
turned down because I'm "too young".

When are the equal rights advocates going to give men the same post
conception "out" that women have? Are women inferior to men and therefore
need "separate but equal" policies that deny men equal protection under the
law as guaranteed by the 14th amendment to the Constitution?

Karen Decrow, The only Feminist that was not a complete hypocrite stated:
"If women have the right to choose if they become
parents, men [should] have that right too. There is a
connection between legalizing abortion for women
and ending of paternity suits for men. Giving men their
own choices would not deny choices to women.
It would only eliminate their expectation
of having those choices financed by men."

I have seen pictures of female protesters holding signs that say "Take your
laws out of my vagina and shove them up your ass". Change "Vagina" to
"Wallet" and that sign expresses my sentiments.

I hate children and will never make a concession for them even if they have
23 of my chromosomes.

Augie
Live Simply So That
Others May Simply Live
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yoga-With-Nancy/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SignSoFla/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoFlaVegans/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SoFlaSchools/



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