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Revision as of 11:53, 16 May 2011

The VHEMT logo shows an inverted Earth. Upside-down emblems are symbols of distress.[1]

The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement, or VHEMT (pronounced "vehement"), is a movement which calls for the voluntary gradual self-extinction of the human species through abstaining from reproduction.[2][3] VHEMT's motto is "May we live long and die out."[4]

Proponents of VHEMT concepts are characterized either as supporters,[5] or as volunteers (extinctionists). VHEMT's founder, Les U. Knight, estimates there are millions of volunteers worldwide.[2][6]

History

Les U. Knight of Portland, Oregon is generally cited as founding VHEMT in 1991[2][3] although he does not take credit for it.[7] Knight is the owner of vhemt.org and acts as a spokesman for the movement.[2][3][7] Knight became interested in the environmental movement in the 1970s after returning from Vietnam, becoming a member of Zero Population Growth and choosing to have a vasectomy while in his twenties.[2][8]

Purpose

The primary motivation of VHEMT as a movement is the belief that the biosphere of the planet Earth would be better off without humans.[3][9] In VHEMT's view, the human race is akin to an "exotic invader", whose population is out of control and threatens other species with extinction, and only removal of the human race can restore the natural ecological order.[2] VHEMT's primary goals are to influence people to choose to not reproduce[10] and to advocate ready access for all human beings to methods of birth control.[9]

VHEMT also questions why humans choose to breed, citing influences such as culture and religion.[9] The organization does not advocate suicide, believing that extinctionists have value in discouraging reproduction,[2] nor does it endorse mass compulsory sterilization or forced abortion.[10] According to Knight, VHEMT advocates "whatever it takes to avoid creating a new human".[7] VHEMT also considers itself to be supportive of children, believing that the lives of existing children will benefit from reductions in the rate of population growth.[3]

The movement does not have members in the usual sense and is very informal in structure.[7] There are participants in the online forums, and recipients of a newsletter These Exit Times.[2] Anyone who decides not to procreate, whether or not they are aware of VHEMT, is considered a volunteer.[9]

Criticism

VHEMT has been criticized as advocating a "lemming-like" approach to population control.[2] Criticism has also been raised about the inevitability of human beings approaching a carrying capacity on the grounds that humans have significantly more control and understanding of their environment and reproductive choices than most animal species.[11] A spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, Joseph Zwilling, stated that it is "absurd to suggest that the world would be better off without the human race".[10]

According to VHEMT, "...some people assume that VHEMT Volunteers and Supporters must hate people and [...] want everyone to commit suicide or become victims of mass murder".[12] VHEMT replies to that assumption by declaring, "The Movement is voluntary." [emphasis in original][13]

Interviews and media coverage

Knight has appeared on Hannity & Colmes to present VHEMT's ideology. During the program, he stated "...as long as there is one breeding pair of humans, there's too great a threat to the biosphere" and "...voluntary human extinction is unlikely, but it is the moral thing to do."[14]

Discovery Channel’s Planet Green hosted Bob Woodruff and Knight in the episode "Focus Earth: No More Children"[15] and a follow-up episode "Focus Earth: Too Many People".[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Symbolism of the logo for the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement". Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Adams, Guy (2007-03-07). "How to save the planet". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  3. ^ a b c d e Carlson, Tucker (Dec. 5, 2005). "Taking on the Human Extinction Movement". MSNBC. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Motto Analysis". Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
  5. ^ "How to join VHEMT". Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  6. ^ "About VHEMT". Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  7. ^ a b c d Schilling, Chelsea (2008-05-11). "Wanna help planet? 'Let's all just die!'". WorldNetDaily. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  8. ^ Dicum, Gregory (2005-11-16). "GREEN Maybe None / Is having a child -- even one -- environmentally destructive?". SFGate.com. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
  9. ^ a b c d Savory, Eve (2008-09-04). "VHEMT: The case against humans". CBC News. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
  10. ^ a b c Park, Michael (2001-07-29). "Anti-People Group Pushes for Man's Extinction". Fox News. Fox. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  11. ^ Keck, Kristi (2007-10-05). "Earth a gracious host to billions, but can she take many more?". CNN. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  12. ^ "About the Movement: Are some people opposed to VHEMT?". The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
  13. ^ "Is VHEMT Misguided? Perhaps so. We're only human". The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
  14. ^ Sean Hannity. Televised on Hannity & Colmes (Fox News Channel) "Should Humanity Let Itself Die Out?", August 14, 2001.
  15. ^ "Focus Earth: No More Children". Discovery Communications. – Bob Woodruff (Sept. 11, 2009) – VIDEO
  16. ^ "Focus Earth: Too Many People". Discovery Communications. – Bob Woodruff (Sept. 12, 2009) – VIDEO
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