Voluntary Human Extinction Movement: Difference between revisions
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major edits, more references. needs expansion in the criticism section tho |
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[[Image:Voluntary Human Extinction Movement logo.png|right|thumb|230px|VHEMT logo]] |
[[Image:Voluntary Human Extinction Movement logo.png|right|thumb|230px|VHEMT logo]] |
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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.<ref name="independent1"/><ref name="TuckerCarlson1"/> VHEMT's motto is ''May we live long and die out.''<ref name="independent1"/> VHEMT is pronounced "vehement" and proponents of its philosophy are call themselves ''extinctionists''.<ref name="independent1"/> |
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The '''Voluntary Human Extinction Movement''', or '''VHEMT''' (pronounced "vehement"), is a movement which calls for the ''voluntary'' self-extinction of the human species.<ref name=VHEMT-about/> |
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VHEMT's unofficial motto is "May we live long and die out."<ref name="independent1"/> |
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|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10339030/ |
|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10339030/ |
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|title=Taking on the Human Extinction Movement |
|title=Taking on the Human Extinction Movement |
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|publisher=CBC News |
|publisher=CBC News |
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|accessdate=2010-04-26 |
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}}</ref> In VHEMT's view, the human race is akin to an "exotic invader", whose population is out of control and threatens other species, and only |
}}</ref> 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 the natural [[ecology|ecological]] order.<ref name="independent1"/> VHEMT's primary goals are to influence people to choose to not reproduce<ref name="fox1"> |
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"The Movement presents an encouraging alternative to the callous exploitation and wholesale destruction of Earth's ecology. [...] the hopeful alternative to the extinction of millions of species of plants and animals is the voluntary extinction of one species: Homo sapiens... US. [...] When every human chooses to stop breeding, Earth's biosphere will be allowed to return to its former glory [...] the day there are no human beings on the planet."<ref name=VHEMT-about>VHEMT, [http://www.vhemt.org/aboutvhemt.htm "About the Movement"], www.vhemt.org, accessed October 2009</ref> |
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In addition, the VHEMT ideology distrusts the motivations of why humans choose to breed.<ref name = "VEHMT and Babies">[http://vhemt.org/biobreed.htm#babies VHEMT and Babies]</ref> VHEMT does not support violence nor does it advocate suicide, but rather seeks only to influence people to choose to not reproduce.<ref name="fox1"> |
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{{ cite news |
{{ cite news |
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| title=Anti-People Group Pushes for Man's Extinction |
| title=Anti-People Group Pushes for Man's Extinction |
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| url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,30834,00.html |
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}}</ref> and to advocate ready access for all human beings to methods of birth control.<ref name="CBC.CA"/> VHEMT also questions why humans choose to breed, citing influences such as culture and religion.<ref name="CBC.CA"/> The organization does not advocate suicide, believing that extinctionists have value in discouraging reproduction,<ref name="independent1"/> nor does it endorse mass sterilization or forced abortion.<ref name="fox1"/> 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.<ref name="TuckerCarlson1"/> |
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}}</ref> |
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The movement does not have member as such. There are participants in the online forums, and a newsletter ''These Exit Times''.<ref name="independent1"/> Anyone who decides not to procreate whether or not they are aware of VHEMT is considered a volunteer.<ref name="CBC.CA"/> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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| date=2007-03-07 |
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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="independent1"/><ref name="sfgate1"> |
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}}</ref> |
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{{ cite news |
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|title=GREEN Maybe None / Is having a child -- even one -- environmentally destructive? |
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|date=2005-11-16 |
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|first=Gregory |
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|last=Dicum |
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|accessdate=2010-04-28 |
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|url=http://articles.sfgate.com/2005-11-16/home-and-garden/17397333_1_two-billion-planet-human-population |
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|newspaper=SFGate.com |
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}}</ref> Knight is the owner of vhemt.org and he is credited in some publications as the founder of VHEMT.<ref name="independent1"/><ref name="TuckerCarlson1"/>He is also credited with originating the name ''Voluntary Human Extinction Movement'' for the movement.{{cn}} |
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Knight is the owner of vhemt.org and he is cited as the founder of VHEMT in different publications.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} |
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He is also credited with originating the name ''Voluntary Human Extinction Movement'' for the movement.<ref name=VHEMT-about/> |
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==Criticism== |
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VHEMT recognizes two levels of support:<ref name = "JoinVEHMT">[http://vhemt.org/join.htm How to join VHEMT]</ref> |
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*Volunteers are people who believe in the VHEMT goal of eventual human extinction, and have decided not to breed (adopted children are not an issue). Or, if they already have offspring it's still permissible to be a Volunteer if there is not any further breeding. |
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VHEMT has been criticized as advocating a "[[lemming]]-like" approach to population control.<ref name="independent1"/> A spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, Joseph Zwilling, claimed the notion that it is "absurd to suggest that the world would be better off without the human race."<ref name="fox1"/> |
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*Supporters are people who believe in the VHEMT statement "Intentional creation of one more of us by any of us is unjustifiable at this time, but extinction of our species goes too far." |
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==Interviews and media coverage== |
==Interviews and media coverage== |
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Revision as of 00:32, 29 April 2010
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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.[1][2] VHEMT's motto is May we live long and die out.[1] VHEMT is pronounced "vehement" and proponents of its philosophy are call themselves extinctionists.[1]
Purpose
The primary motivation of VEHMT as a movement is the belief that the Biosphere of the planet Earth would be better off without humans, and as such, humans should choose not to breed.[2][3] 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 the natural ecological order.[1] VHEMT's primary goals are to influence people to choose to not reproduce[4] and to advocate ready access for all human beings to methods of birth control.[3] VHEMT also questions why humans choose to breed, citing influences such as culture and religion.[3] The organization does not advocate suicide, believing that extinctionists have value in discouraging reproduction,[1] nor does it endorse mass sterilization or forced abortion.[4] 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.[2]
The movement does not have member as such. There are participants in the online forums, and a newsletter These Exit Times.[1] Anyone who decides not to procreate whether or not they are aware of VHEMT is considered a volunteer.[3]
History
VHEMT was founded by Les U. Knight of Portland, Oregon in 1991.[1] 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.[1][5] Knight is the owner of vhemt.org and he is credited in some publications as the founder of VHEMT.[1][2]He is also credited with originating the name Voluntary Human Extinction Movement for the movement.[citation needed]
Criticism
VHEMT has been criticized as advocating a "lemming-like" approach to population control.[1] A spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, Joseph Zwilling, claimed the notion that it is "absurd to suggest that the world would be better off without the human race."[4]
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."[6]
Discovery Channel’s Planet Green hosted Bob Woodruff and Knight in the episode "Focus Earth: No More Children".[7] and a follow-up episode "Focus Earth: Too Many People".[8]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Adams, Guy (2007-03-07). "How to save the planet". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ a b c d Carlson, Tucker (Dec. 5, 2005). "Taking on the Human Extinction Movement". MSNBC.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d Savory, Eve (2008-09-04). "VHEMT: The case against humans". CBC News. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
- ^ a b c Park, Michael (2001-07-29). "Anti-People Group Pushes for Man's Extinction". Fox News. Fox. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ Dicum, Gregory (2005-11-16). "GREEN Maybe None / Is having a child -- even one -- environmentally destructive?". SFGate.com. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
- ^ Sean Hannity. Televised on Hannity & Colmes (Fox News Channel) "Should Humanity Let Itself Die Out?", August 14, 2001.
- ^ "Focus Earth: No More Children". Discovery Communications. – Bob Woodruff (Sept. 11, 2009) – VIDEO
- ^ "Focus Earth: Too Many People". Discovery Communications. – Bob Woodruff (Sept. 12, 2009) – VIDEO