“It’s said, one of our fundamental, basic human rights, is that of procreation. We have the right, as human beings, to conceive new life. It’s fundamental to our entire makeup, all of us adults, have the right, to have a child.”

It stands to reason doesn’t it? We are life, therefore, we have the right to create life. By association, we then have the right to mold this new life, in whatever way we see fit. It’s this association we must take issue with.

We must take issue: because we have the basic human right to create new life, we then have the right to make assumptions. To assume this new life has no influence in deciding how it’s raised. How can we simply assume that we have the right to raise a child, in whatever way we see fit? To do this even if we’re ignorant as to whether this is in the best interests of that child or not.

Of course who decides what is in fact ‘the best interests of the child’ raises more questions than answers. We do place governments in such a position that they hold most of the cards in this regard. Yet most governments – because of their fear of losing power – are no doubt often reluctant to interfere.

We do have social controls in place. Those who work within this field, are authorised to intervene in the most extreme cases. They must intervene when the best interests of the child are being completely ignored, and/or perhaps even abused. However, their intervention is often too little, too late, and therefore ineffective.

“So what about making the case for children’s rights before they’re even born, or better still, conceived?”

Perhaps we can play with the idea of having fewer people in the world. Would this improve things for children and their rights? What about China? Although the intention, was not to defend the rights of the unborn, but to protect the wellbeing of the living, Communist China, and its one child policy, is perhaps a good example. Do children in small families have greater rights?

China is now facing fears of economic disaster in its near future. There are too few youngsters to pay for an ageing population. When we look at the quality of life for the child – who has no siblings and as such is the sole centre of attention – has the one child policy been beneficial to China’s children?

“Interestingly, and much to the dismay of China’s leaders, even though this policy has now been abandoned. Many young couples are staying with the idea of only having one child. It has now become enmeshed into their culture.”

With all this said, even when a family is small, there is no guarantee of this improving quality of life, or asserting and improving the rights of the child. In fact it could make matters worse. Often siblings prove to be the providers/protectors of brothers and sisters, and as such, larger families do have their benefits. And let’s never forget the issue of loneliness.

Back to the point in question: who is protecting the rights of the unborn? What is it exactly that gives parents the right to bring life into a world that many consider broken and overpopulated?

Having children is certainly one of the most selfish activities there is, this is not to say there’s anything wrong with selfishness, there isn’t. The problem, is when selfishness, is mixed with ignorance.

“What would it take for potential parents to realise that the child, they’re asking to bring into the world, is not actually asking to be born?”

They may just as easily be asking to not be conceived. It may well be, that once the child’s consciousness is sufficiently developed, it would much prefer to have never been born; ever increasing suicide rates no doubt the solution.

And so, along with reducing suicide rates and protecting the rights of children, what would it take for humans to make this world – and its people – a more welcoming and pleasant place?

Surely potential parents should be asking themselves: “do we really want to bring a new life into this world that we’ve turned into a hell?” Why are parents so decided on bringing new life into this hell only to perpetuate its existence? Surely any parent would want to bring a child into a heaven, rather than a hell?

The answer, for most, is of course family. We create a little slice of heaven with our families don’t we? We exclude and negate the existence of the hell all around us, by creating the warm bosom of family. When we have family, we can find a little peace of heavenly-safety, longingly returned to each day. Something that’s way and above the depths of this hell we’ve created.

“Thank goodness for family you might say. And as long as we continue to place psychopaths in charge of this hell, then hell – outside our small family units – is all we’ll get.”

This does bring me back to something I’ve mentioned in the past: The Global Family. We know immigration doesn’t work – it will never take over five billion humans out of poverty – and so what is the answer to creating the ease and safety, a Global Family, is likely to create?

The answer is a common understanding of the most fundamental concept to human survival: LOVE. Surely love, and a clean understanding of this, is the first basic, human right to be sought and guaranteed. Consider this definition:

“Love and the ability to teach it, is wanting and needing to empower your partner and children to evolve into whole human beings who are free of fear, because that process gives you pleasure, freedom from your own fear, and brings you closer to wholeness”      – Create Beautiful Partnerships

This definition of love, takes into account the natural tendency toward human selfishness. Indeed it uses this very tendency in a positive way. And what if, rather than simply stating: partners and children, we also include – all those we meet – into the definition? 

If we loved all those we meet, in the manner described above, this world would certainly be a better place. Irrespective of the size of our family, this could be achieved in a very short space of time.

“Removing fear will prove to be the most effective means of controlling the levels of our population.”

So there we are: putting the world to rights before we have children. This includes a common understanding of love, the removal of fear and effective leadership from well reasoned people. Not to much to ask for now, is it?