Guest Author - Previous BellaOnline Editor

Did you know that we every 14 years, we are adding ONE BILLION people to the world’s population?

When we entered the 20th century the world’s population was less than 2 billion. As we entered the 21st it was a staggering six billion – and counting!

According to ZPG – The Population Connection, a non-profit membership organization, “Increasing population growth puts enormous pressure on the environment. Every day, we use more resources, damage more of the earth, and generate more waste. This makes it increasingly difficult to meet people’s needs and improve our quality of life.”

Too many people think that this is only a problem in developing countries with a population explosion. The truth is, the United States is at risk too.

We have 77 people per square mile. Our population was 284.5 million in 2001, and by 2025 it is projected to reach 346 million. With the number of families living in poverty, it is unimaginable what life will be like in 25 years, even in the richest country on the planet.

For most of you, the choice to remain child free is probably more personal. I know my decision was based on my lifestyle more than anything else.

But it does feel good to know that I am not contributing to the catastrophic explosion of the world’s population.