Celebrate with Russia tonight: "Day of Conception"

crib.jpgMarried couples only, of course.

From CBC News, September 11:

Don't be surprised if the streets are empty and curtains drawn in this central Russian region Wednesday as residents take up an offer by the regional governor to help stem Russia's demographic crisis.

Ulyanovsk Gov. Sergei Morozov has decreed Sept. 12 a Day of Conception and is giving couples time off from work to procreate.

Couples who give birth nine months later on Russia's national day - June 12 - receive money, cars, refrigerators and other prizes....

Russia, although the world's largest country in terms of land mass, now has just 141.4 million citizens, making it one of the most sparsely settled....

Experts expect the population decline to accelerate, estimating that Russia's population could fall below 100 million by 2050....

In his state of the nation address last year, President Vladimir Putin called the demographic crisis the country's most acute problem and announced a broad effort to boost the birth rate, including cash subsidies for couples giving birth to more than one child.

Women who give birth to their second or third child receive vouchers worth the equivalent of C$10,500 that can be used to pay for education or home repairs.

According to the CIA World Factbook, Russia ranks 196th out of 222 countries with a fertility rate of 1.39 children per woman. A rate of 2.1 is necessary to sustain a population. Hong Kong ranks last, with a fertility rate of just 0.98.

Any married couples reading this who celebrate Russia's Day of Conception tonight and deliver on June 12 will get a special prize. I don't know what it is yet, but it will be special. How about a blog shower?

[HT: Fox News]


Comments:

Hmm... that's a bit odd. But you gotta do what you gotta do, I guess. As long as no one is being forced, I'm okay with the idea.

Posted by: Leah at September 12, 2007 8:28 PM


Leah, why is promoting conception odd to you to combat the underpopulation crisis?

You apparently do not think it odd to promote contraception and abortion to combat the pseudo-overpopulation crisis.

This simply demonstrates you're brainwashed, my friend.

Posted by: Jill Stanek at September 12, 2007 8:32 PM


I'm not brainwashed, love. It's simply an unusual idea to give people the day off to attempt to conceive. I'm not against it, you'll notice I said.

No brainwashing here.

Posted by: Leah at September 12, 2007 8:40 PM


Leah, point taken and understood.

Posted by: Jill Stanek at September 12, 2007 8:48 PM


I want a baby sooo bad right now.

But I'm in college, where would I keep it?

Ok, I'm not going to TRY but if it happens...

Then you guys can throw me an online baby shower : )

P.S. Is there nothing hotter then when a guy is holding a baby?

Posted by: Jess at September 12, 2007 8:49 PM


There's over 6 billion people in the world. This is an underpopulation crisis?

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 8:49 PM


People who would crank out a child in order to win a fridge?

If that doesn't define PERFECT parent material, I just don't know what does...

(Gee, here in the US we used used to give women money to have more and more children. It didn't work out well.)

Posted by: Laura at September 12, 2007 8:50 PM


*My BF reads this and runs away*

Posted by: Jess at September 12, 2007 8:50 PM


JK, there is indeed an underpopulation crisis, particularly in Europe. Google it. Click on the CIA link I provided.

Populations are aging, and there are no young to care for the elderly either financially or physically, and entire countries are dying out.

Posted by: Jill Stanek at September 12, 2007 8:52 PM


There are plenty of people in Europe, from what I've seen.

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 8:54 PM


My Grandmothers friend visited her home town in Sweden and said it was full of black people.

Posted by: Jess at September 12, 2007 8:55 PM


No... more... Parisians. Please!

Posted by: Leah at September 12, 2007 8:56 PM


Jess, LOL

I went to Italy, and it was also full of black people, and Asian people. Not to mention the plethora of Americans...

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 8:58 PM


JK, 8:54p, said: "There are plenty of people in Europe, from what I've seen."

JK, love ya but that was stupid.

Posted by: Jill Stanek at September 12, 2007 9:00 PM


Why is it stupid to say that I've been to Europe and the streets were swarming with people?

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 9:03 PM


There's over 6 billion people in the world. This is an underpopulation crisis?

Can The Entire World Population Fit Within The Boundries of Texas?

LEGEND

1 Acre = 43,560 Square Feet

1 Square Mile = 640 Acres or 27,878,400 Square Feet (640 x 43,560)

——————–

World Population = 6,276,000,000 people

State of Texas = 268,601 Square Miles or 171,904,640 Acres (268,601 x 640) or 7,488,166,118,400 Square Feet (268,601 x 640 x 43,560)

———————-

Average Size 2-Story Home with 3-4 Bedrooms = 1,500 to 2,400 Square Feet (Thus 750 - 1,200 Square Feet is Needed on the Ground Floor).

This home would fit 5-6 people per house comfortably!

Therefore 150-240 (750 to 1,200/ 5 people per household) Square Feet of Ground Space Per Person is needed to fit 5-6 people comfortably in a 2-story home in the state of Texas.

——————–

State of Texas = 7,488,166,118,400 Square Feet/ 6,276,000,000 people in the world = 1,193 Square Feet Per Person is available for the entire world’s population to live in the state of Texas.

As noted above only 150-240 Square Feet of Ground Space is needed per person to fit 5-6 people comfortably in a 2-story home in the state of Texas!!!

——————

You can double check my math!

Mike

Posted by: Mike at September 12, 2007 9:04 PM


June 12... Holy Geminis, Batman!

Posted by: Doug at September 12, 2007 9:05 PM


A lot of people I know have double digit siblings. A lot of people I know are also Catholic.

Posted by: Jess at September 12, 2007 9:05 PM


Hey, wouldn't we all like to live on top of each other in the state of Texas!?

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 9:08 PM


Ah, but Mike, what if we don't want to live in Texas?

: )

Posted by: Jess at September 12, 2007 9:08 PM


This worries me. You're going to have people concieving for the wrong reasons.

Posted by: Erin at September 12, 2007 9:15 PM


Ah, but Mike, what if we don't want to live in Texas?

Jess,

Then you can have the rest of the world to yourself.

Just you, a hammock and unlimited beer.

Have a great time!

-------

I'll stay in Texas with everyone else. Didn't you know there was a reason why people migrate to the cities?

People like to be around other people.

Mike

Posted by: Mike at September 12, 2007 9:16 PM


I like people. How about YOU come to MY hammock!

Posted by: Jess at September 12, 2007 9:17 PM


As noted above only 150-240 Square Feet of Ground Space is needed per person to fit 5-6 people comfortably in a 2-story home in the state of Texas!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you have any idea the amount of acreage of timberland it takes just to frame that house? How much acreage it takes to produce a square yard of denim? How much pastureland it takes to produce enough beef and dairy to feed 5-6 people over a lifetime? How much farmland it takes to produce the fruit, greens and grains it takes to provide for 5-5 people? The mining and factory acreage to proce cars, electronics and other goods for 5-6 people over a lifetime? The power (gas, electric, ethanol) needs of 5-6 people over a lifetime? The acre-feet of water 5-6 people will go through in a lifetime?
Who the heck would ever tolerate living on 240 square feet without murdering someone? Do you KNOW any human beings?

Texas?
Nope.

Posted by: Laura at September 12, 2007 9:18 PM


Didn't you know there was a reason why people migrate to the cities?

Didn't it really have something to do with the industrial revolution?

Posted by: Jess at September 12, 2007 9:18 PM


I think there are things you haven't considered. There need to be offices, factories, way more water sources. Sanitation would be a nightmare. Where would we bury the dead? Plus the fact that living in such tight quarters makes people crazy.

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 9:22 PM


If God had meant for everyone to live in an area the size of Texas, he would have made this planet the size of Texas. Instead he gave us this big one. Who are we to deny God's wishes?

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 9:26 PM


JK: That is so true. I am going crazy in the "city," ie: suburban Detroit. Not even really a "big city." Give me the country with lots of space and cows wandering the winding dirt roads...

Posted by: Leah at September 12, 2007 9:27 PM


Laura,

I know my example of Texas makes liberals like you angry. Nice rant you had anyway.

By the way, one farmer can feed thousands of people! I know this is hard for Pro-Aborts to comprehend but "people" are the worlds greatest resource.

Mike

Posted by: Mike at September 12, 2007 9:30 PM


I know this is hard for Pro-Aborts to comprehend but "people" are the worlds greatest resource.

I know it's hard for you "pro-lifers" to understand, but no one wants abortion to get rid of people.

If that wasn't your point, then that comment was completely nonsensical.

Posted by: Leah at September 12, 2007 9:33 PM


Oh, and in today's corporate, highly capitalistic world, I think you mean to say--one successful farmer can feed 10,000. Do you know how hard it is to get a farm going? And running?

Posted by: Leah at September 12, 2007 9:34 PM


JK, 9:03p, said: "Why is it stupid to say that I've been to Europe and the streets were swarming with people?"

JK, you're basing your analysis on whether there's an underpopulation crisis on what you see, not what you read and analyze. I'm guessing one of your ancestors was a flat-earth theorist?

Posted by: Jill Stanek at September 12, 2007 9:39 PM


And how hard would it be to get a farm going if every inch of land available was inhabited by 6 billion people?

And if conservatives love farmers so much why do they continue to take away their livelihoods? Yes give us our food but don't expect any compensation for it....

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 9:39 PM


Leah, while you may not know anyone who supports abortion for population control, I know plenty. Many of the hardcore pro-abortion/choice vegans are supporters of the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement (I kid you not), and support using contraception (oftentimes NOT vegan - a big bone of contention within vegan circles), the morning after pill (once again, NOT vegan), and abortion to prevent more children from being born.

Several of my (formerly or almost-formerly) pro-choice vegan friends that did become pregnant and decide against abortion have found that many of their "friends" turned against them for not aborting (showing just how pro-"choice" they really were).


Oh, and there's China too.

Posted by: Phil at September 12, 2007 9:43 PM


It all depends on the bias of what you read and analyze. Flat Earth theorists read the Bible (the source of irrevocable truth in the eyes of the religious) and discerned that the Earth was the center of the universe and it was flat. You can concoct some cockamamie plan where you fit the entire population of the world into as small an area as you can, but it is just theory, extremely impractical, and done to justify your own opinions. We don't take care of all of the 6 billion people who live here now, and how many more do you want to create an "acceptable" population for the Earth?

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 9:46 PM


You can feed more people on a grain/plant based diet than one based on meat and animal byproducts.

Go vegan! :)

Posted by: Phil at September 12, 2007 9:49 PM


That is the oddest thing, Phil, because I've never heard of such a thing in my life... with the possible exception of China, but I'd have to do more research on that.

I suppose I can understand extremists supporting such a thing--but those are extremists, which are rare. Again, more research is needed.

Abortion as a means of population control is indeed an extreme idea and one that will never be found on a regular pro-choice agenda.

Posted by: Leah at September 12, 2007 9:50 PM


The one child policy was adopted in China because of overpopulation, not a lack of land area, but there were way more people than the economy could handle

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 9:53 PM


Leah, they are extremists, yes. But that movement is growing (as is veganism as a whole).

I do, however, recall a Methodist preacher in my old hometown of upstate NY who, according to a member of his congregation, supportive of contraception and abortion as population control from the pulpit. The congregant who told me this was a fan of his, and agreed with his position.

Posted by: Phil at September 12, 2007 9:58 PM


I am very unfortunately underinformed a propos to the China thing.

Posted by: Leah at September 12, 2007 9:59 PM


Abortion as a means of population control is indeed an extreme idea and one that will never be found on a regular pro-choice agenda.

Hmmmm...

http://klanparenthood.com

Leah,

Looks like you need to do much more research.

Mike

Posted by: Mike at September 12, 2007 10:00 PM


I have a vegan friend and she is very chill.

Lets stereotype all vegans based on my friend!...

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 10:00 PM


Yes, let's also trust a source called klanparenthood........

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 10:02 PM


Mike. Do you honestly think that "klanparenthod" is a good source to cite to me? Seriously.

Abortion as population control is NOT a normal idea for ANYONE who should even consider affiliating with the pro-choice side.

Posted by: Leah at September 12, 2007 10:05 PM


I am a vegan, and know dozens of vegans personally who support the pro-abortion viewpoint. While most will still claim to be pro-choice, some do consider themselves pro-abortion.

While it is an extremist viewpoint, you can't deny that these people do exist within the pro-choice movement. Bill Maher even said on his show years ago (while on ABC, before the 9/11 comments) that he was definately pro-abortion because he thought there were too many kids on the planet. He's a comedian, but he wasn't joking.

Posted by: Phil at September 12, 2007 10:10 PM


Leah: Abortion as population control is NOT a normal idea for ANYONE who should even consider affiliating with the pro-choice side.

Despite any and all spin about this, abortion simply is birth control or "population control," by definition. It's not pregnancy prevention, but the others apply.

I don't see "population control" as any significant part of the Pro-Choice platform. If we see somebody saying that "we desperately must reduce the population," that sounds to me like they're not going to be pro-choice in this matter in the first place.

The point with population pressure is not that we "need" more abortions, it's that we don't need to increase the rate of population growth beyond what it is now, certainly not to the extent of denying the desires of pregnant women.

Doug


Posted by: Doug at September 12, 2007 10:10 PM


"Ah, but Mike, what if we don't want to live in Texas?"

I don't think that sentence makes sense. "Don't," "want," "to live," "in Texas" -- I'm pretty sure putting these words/phrases in that order in a sentence MUST be grammatically incorrect. It makes it sound like you would want to live somewhere other than Texas!! :P Maybe I'm just reading it wrong. ;)

Posted by: Michelle Potter at September 12, 2007 10:11 PM


And we certainly don't need to be telling people with AIDS that its a sin to wear a condom.

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 10:13 PM


Michelle, are you perchance a native Texan?

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 10:15 PM


Didn't you know there was a reason why people migrate to the cities?

Didn't it really have something to do with the industrial revolution?

Jess, that sure sounds good to me. Going from more of an agrarian society to a more centralized one - the presence of industry - would make for that.

.......

In a sort-of-related vein, do you know why the chicken crossed the road?

--Because Colonel Sanders was coming.

Okay, okay, I know that's juvenile and old as the hills, but it leads to the real question I want to ask:

Why did the punk-rocker cross the road?

--Because he had a chicken stapled to his lip.

Doug (that still cracks me up)

Posted by: Doug at September 12, 2007 10:15 PM


Okay, let's say we moved everyone in the world into Texas. Would Mexicans be allowed to come too? Or do they have to stay in Mexico lest they steal jobs from all the other people of the world...

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 10:17 PM


JKeller: Jess, LOL. I went to Italy, and it was also full of black people, and Asian people. Not to mention the plethora of Americans...


JK, I LOVE Italy. My wife's been there six times, and we went on our honeymoon 7 years ago and in 2002 also. Now, the exchange rate is brutal, but I'm hankering to go again. Everything there just tastes so good....


It's funny how many different views there are about other places and "them" - other people.

My wife used to work with a very straight-laced and parochial woman, who went to Branson, MO, every year with her husband. That was their thing. To each their own, but I see it as fairly bland and "whitebread."

The woman gloried in it, saying "There's no weirdos there."

Doug

Posted by: Doug at September 12, 2007 10:21 PM


Yeah, darn that exchange rate (thanks a bunch dubya!), but at least there's no sales tax...

My grandparents have been to Branson, MO on a bus tour with other people their age...

Posted by: JKeller at September 12, 2007 10:25 PM


Laura,

I know my example of Texas makes liberals like you angry. Nice rant you had anyway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I work in agribusiness. Your Texas paradigm BLOWS, and the people of Baja Oklahoma would skin you alive for your blasphemy.

Posted by: Laura at September 12, 2007 10:29 PM


My wife used to work with a very straight-laced and parochial woman, who went to Branson, MO, every year with her husband. That was their thing. To each their own, but I see it as fairly bland and "whitebread."

The woman gloried in it, saying "There's no weirdos there."

Doug
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Doesn't our good friend Ann take her motorhome to Branson on a regular basis?

Posted by: Laura at September 12, 2007 10:33 PM


Jess, I had my son in college. We turned out just fine :)

Also, it just so happens that we are trying and I am pre-ovulatory today so... (lol, more than you guys EVER wanted to know about me!)

We're also moving. Isn't that supposed to boost your fertility or something?

Posted by: lauren at September 12, 2007 11:09 PM


Michelle, I agree. Why would anyone NOT want to live in Texas?! I've lived in alot of places, but TX is def. my fav. We're moving from Dalls to Austin in a few months and all I can say is "hook 'em horns!"

Woohoo

Posted by: lauren at September 12, 2007 11:11 PM


Leah, Amanda Marcotte from Pandagon supports it. She thinks we should use gental incentives and to avoid in sliding into overt coersion to get people to have abortions and obtain zero population growth.

Posted by: lauren at September 12, 2007 11:13 PM


Leah, I don't know if you or anyone in the above discussion will read this post, but here goes:

Leah wrote:

Abortion as a means of population control is indeed an extreme idea and one that will never be found on a regular pro-choice agenda.

Whose agenda are you referring to?

Abortion was and is on the agenda of the United
Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation. Population control theory began with British economist Thomas Malthus who, in 1793 raised the spectre of overpopulation.

About 125 years later, Margaret Sanger received much financial and political support from the Rockefellers, Carnegies and the Mellons for her Birth Control League (now Planned Parenthood Federation of America) because she promoted abortion and other means of birth control to control populations, mostly those of the *undesirable* races.

The following study is worth reading. Download it, save it, and read it gradually:

The Inherent Racism of Population Control

It is an ADOBE pdf document, (383 Kb)

Just replace the blank spaces with periods.

www lifesite net/waronfamily/Population_Control/Inherentracism pdf

Posted by: Paul at September 13, 2007 5:47 AM


Oh, and in today's corporate, highly capitalistic world, I think you mean to say--one successful farmer can feed 10,000. Do you know how hard it is to get a farm going? And running?

God forbid we did anything that required effort, sacrifice or hard work...you know, like having babies or farming...

Posted by: mk at September 13, 2007 6:12 AM


My wife used to work with a very straight-laced and parochial woman, who went to Branson, MO, every year with her husband. That was their thing. To each their own, but I see it as fairly bland and "whitebread."

The woman gloried in it, saying "There's no weirdos there."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laura: Doesn't our good friend Ann take her motorhome to Branson on a regular basis?

Ha! I don't know but it sounds right up her alley....

Posted by: Doug at September 13, 2007 7:14 AM


June 12, 2008 - Sun in Gemini, Moon in Libra, serious Air sign action.

Posted by: Doug at September 13, 2007 7:18 AM


June 12, 2008 - Sun in Gemini, Moon in Libra, serious Air sign action.

Sounds like a "mental" case...lol

Posted by: mk at September 13, 2007 7:32 AM


And just what did I miss? What is June 12, 2008?

Posted by: mk at September 13, 2007 7:41 AM


Duh! I see it now...who'd have thunk we'd actually still be talking about the topic?!? lol

Posted by: mk at September 13, 2007 7:42 AM


God forbid we did anything that required effort, sacrifice or hard work...you know, like having babies or farming...

MK, that was clearly not my implication. I'm saying that even hard-working farmers can fail, unfortunately. In fact, it's virtually impossible to have a farm and not work hard unless you just want to watch everything around you die. I have the greatest respect for farmers.

I'm quite sure you misunderstood my words.

Posted by: Leah at September 13, 2007 9:05 AM


Leah,

And I believe you missed Mike's point. He was not suggesting that we all live in Texas. He was pointing out that ALL of the people in the entire world could fit into Texas...which does not further the argument of over population.

If, for whatever reason, we did all move to Texas that would leave the rest of the world for farming.

I would imagine farmers could farm in Hawaii or anywhere else that the "growin' was good"...

Posted by: mk at September 13, 2007 9:21 AM


I believe that overpopulation has very nearly nothing to do with available land area, and everything to do with socio-economic factors.

Posted by: JKeller at September 13, 2007 9:36 AM


You know what, MK? I was thinking that same thing this morning. I was wondering whether you (the pro-lifers) didn't get it or what. But I know that--sure the whole world could fit, but we couldn't survive.

But that wasn't what was being discussed at that point. I was only commenting on his statement that one farmer could feed 10,000 people. It isn't really even that important anymore. It was sort of off-topic. Or something.

Posted by: Leah at September 13, 2007 9:40 AM


Leah,

Sorry if I snapped...this ongoing war with Doug can sometimes make me forget who I'm talking too...

The point is, (and Keller has it right) it is the lack of food and resource distribution that makes it seem like there are too many people. There is no OVER poplulation...there is just UNDER distribution of the wealth.

Unfortunately, even sending food and resources to the poorest nations doesn't work if their governments won't let us distribute it to them...

There is definitely a problem of world hunger, but it doesn't come from too many people. It comes from too many people that are out for themselves...something can will not be stopped by lessening the population. People will always be greedy and the poor will always be with us.

It's how we respond that matters, not whether we eliminate the people. But whether we eliminate the obstacles that prevent us from helping the people.

Posted by: mk at September 13, 2007 10:57 AM


I would probably have a baby every year if I lived there!! I would be rich by now with my third baby! lol.

Posted by: Ruth at September 13, 2007 11:54 AM


My wife used to work with a very straight-laced and parochial woman, who went to Branson, MO, every year with her husband. That was their thing. To each their own, but I see it as fairly bland and "whitebread."

The woman gloried in it, saying "There's no weirdos there."

Doug
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Doesn't our good friend Ann take her motorhome to Branson on a regular basis?

Posted by: Laura at September 12, 2007 10:33 PM

.........................
When she isn't staying in Shaumberg becuase of it's 'good' census.

Posted by: Anonymous at September 13, 2007 2:47 PM


MK-- Of course I forgive you. You are MK, after all, and I love you.

And cheers to everything you said. We have so many resources to share with the world, I wish it were an easier thing to do, not blocked with so much red tape and violated by corporate competition.

I raise my glass also to all farmers out there and I greatly admire all the hard work you do. I love your food!

Posted by: Leah at September 13, 2007 3:35 PM