I’m often asked how can I make a difference I’m just one person as a
difference I’m just one person as a
difference I’m just one person as a sustainability coordinator I can come up
sustainability coordinator I can come up
sustainability coordinator I can come up with all sorts of reasons for you to
with all sorts of reasons for you to
with all sorts of reasons for you to make a difference like riding your bike
make a difference like riding your bike
make a difference like riding your bike to work buying in bulk at the grocery
to work buying in bulk at the grocery
to work buying in bulk at the grocery store and not releasing your exotic pet
store and not releasing your exotic pet
store and not releasing your exotic pet Burmese python into the wild when it
Burmese python into the wild when it
Burmese python into the wild when it gets too big there are all sorts of
gets too big there are all sorts of
gets too big there are all sorts of things that we can do and just imagine
things that we can do and just imagine
things that we can do and just imagine that you are one of a hundred a thousand
that you are one of a hundred a thousand
that you are one of a hundred a thousand or a million people doing the same
or a million people doing the same
or a million people doing the same action small actions do matter but there
action small actions do matter but there
action small actions do matter but there are things that have a greater impact on
are things that have a greater impact on
are things that have a greater impact on the planet I got to thinking about this
the planet I got to thinking about this
the planet I got to thinking about this when I was early in my youth and I saw
when I was early in my youth and I saw
when I was early in my youth and I saw pictures of kids that didn’t have a
pictures of kids that didn’t have a
pictures of kids that didn’t have a family or a house or even a place to
family or a house or even a place to
family or a house or even a place to live and then as a college student when
live and then as a college student when
live and then as a college student when I was studying environmental education
I was studying environmental education
I was studying environmental education in the 80s I learned that the earth has
in the 80s I learned that the earth has
in the 80s I learned that the earth has a limited carrying capacity before the
a limited carrying capacity before the
a limited carrying capacity before the intricate balance begins to Teeter so
intricate balance begins to Teeter so
intricate balance begins to Teeter so what’s up with the Earth’s population
what’s up with the Earth’s population
what’s up with the Earth’s population today well a United Nations Department
today well a United Nations Department
today well a United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs report
of Economic and Social Affairs report
of Economic and Social Affairs report recently released has our population at
recently released has our population at
recently released has our population at 7.3 billion it’s predicted to increase
7.3 billion it’s predicted to increase
7.3 billion it’s predicted to increase to eight point five billion by 2030 nine
to eight point five billion by 2030 nine
to eight point five billion by 2030 nine point seven billion by 2050 and over
point seven billion by 2050 and over
point seven billion by 2050 and over eleven billion by the middle of the
eleven billion by the middle of the
eleven billion by the middle of the centre by the 22nd century with this
centre by the 22nd century with this
centre by the 22nd century with this number of people how will this impact
number of people how will this impact
number of people how will this impact our planet well the International Center
our planet well the International Center
our planet well the International Center for Strategic Studies wanted to consider
for Strategic Studies wanted to consider
for Strategic Studies wanted to consider how planet with nine billion people by
how planet with nine billion people by
how planet with nine billion people by the middle of the century would would
the middle of the century would would
the middle of the century would would affect and you know we’re gonna need
affect and you know we’re gonna need
affect and you know we’re gonna need more of lots of things like fresh water
more of lots of things like fresh water
more of lots of things like fresh water more fresh food housing and let’s be
more fresh food housing and let’s be
more fresh food housing and let’s be real enough Legos for all those kids to
real enough Legos for all those kids to
real enough Legos for all those kids to play with and slippers for the parents
play with and slippers for the parents
play with and slippers for the parents that step on them in the middle of the
that step on them in the middle of the
that step on them in the middle of the night to just try and imagine the
night to just try and imagine the
night to just try and imagine the increased demand on all the resources
increased demand on all the resources
increased demand on all the resources you know as Americans we love to buy
you know as Americans we love to buy
you know as Americans we love to buy stuff
stuff
stuff and we love to throw away stuff and
and we love to throw away stuff and
and we love to throw away stuff and before you know it our kids will be
before you know it our kids will be
before you know it our kids will be snowboarding down a mountain of garbage
snowboarding down a mountain of garbage
snowboarding down a mountain of garbage and the snow could be made of plastic
and the snow could be made of plastic
and the snow could be made of plastic pellets instead of the real powder that
pellets instead of the real powder that
pellets instead of the real powder that we get up on Mount Hood well that’s a
we get up on Mount Hood well that’s a
we get up on Mount Hood well that’s a global snapshot for you but what are we
global snapshot for you but what are we
global snapshot for you but what are we seeing closer to home according to the
seeing closer to home according to the
seeing closer to home according to the 2016 US census we’ve got a population of
2016 US census we’ve got a population of
2016 US census we’ve got a population of over 323 million in the States it’s
over 323 million in the States it’s
over 323 million in the States it’s estimated that a child is born every
estimated that a child is born every
estimated that a child is born every eight seconds and here in the Portland
eight seconds and here in the Portland
eight seconds and here in the Portland metro region our comprehensive plan
metro region our comprehensive plan
metro region our comprehensive plan update recently adopted by our City
update recently adopted by our City
update recently adopted by our City Council estimates that over 260 thousand
Council estimates that over 260 thousand
Council estimates that over 260 thousand more people will arrive here 2035
more people will arrive here 2035
more people will arrive here 2035 that’ll bring our population up to about
that’ll bring our population up to about
that’ll bring our population up to about eight hundred and eighty thousand in the
eight hundred and eighty thousand in the
eight hundred and eighty thousand in the city wow you know we’re already seeing
city wow you know we’re already seeing
city wow you know we’re already seeing the growing pains of increased
the growing pains of increased
the growing pains of increased population here can’t you feel it more
population here can’t you feel it more
population here can’t you feel it more cars on the road right rising rental
cars on the road right rising rental
cars on the road right rising rental prices increase water demands but you
prices increase water demands but you
prices increase water demands but you know what thankfully in Portland
know what thankfully in Portland
know what thankfully in Portland there’ll be enough microbreweries for
there’ll be enough microbreweries for
there’ll be enough microbreweries for everybody don’t have to worry so what
everybody don’t have to worry so what
everybody don’t have to worry so what does this mean for us we can talk about
does this mean for us we can talk about
does this mean for us we can talk about sustainability from the perspective of
sustainability from the perspective of
sustainability from the perspective of how far food travels or what our
how far food travels or what our
how far food travels or what our products are made of or maybe what kind
products are made of or maybe what kind
products are made of or maybe what kind of toxins are found in our home but we
of toxins are found in our home but we
of toxins are found in our home but we rarely talk about it from a cultural or
rarely talk about it from a cultural or
rarely talk about it from a cultural or family perspective so what might this
family perspective so what might this
family perspective so what might this mean for living a sustainable lifestyle
mean for living a sustainable lifestyle
mean for living a sustainable lifestyle one of the things that makes humans
one of the things that makes humans
one of the things that makes humans unique is language and culture but I
unique is language and culture but I
unique is language and culture but I think one of the roadblocks that we have
think one of the roadblocks that we have
think one of the roadblocks that we have when we’re talking about overpopulation
when we’re talking about overpopulation
when we’re talking about overpopulation is culture we think it might cause too
is culture we think it might cause too
is culture we think it might cause too much tension to talk about the personal
much tension to talk about the personal
much tension to talk about the personal aspects that our choices create we feel
aspects that our choices create we feel
aspects that our choices create we feel it might cause us to be uncomfortable
it might cause us to be uncomfortable
it might cause us to be uncomfortable for us to want to wade into the unspoken
for us to want to wade into the unspoken
for us to want to wade into the unspoken expectation that you will reproduce if
expectation that you will reproduce if
expectation that you will reproduce if we were to think the old advice think
we were to think the old advice think
we were to think the old advice think globally while acting locally how much
globally while acting locally how much
globally while acting locally how much more local can we get than talking about
more local can we get than talking about
more local can we get than talking about eggs and sperm
eggs and sperm
eggs and sperm how does this population growth affect
how does this population growth affect
how does this population growth affect our sense of self and culture around us
our sense of self and culture around us
our sense of self and culture around us you know even for me coming from a
you know even for me coming from a
you know even for me coming from a blue-collar family I felt as if as if I
blue-collar family I felt as if as if I
blue-collar family I felt as if as if I could achieve the American Dream by one
could achieve the American Dream by one
could achieve the American Dream by one day getting a decent job maybe buying a
day getting a decent job maybe buying a
day getting a decent job maybe buying a home and reproducing those 2.5 children
home and reproducing those 2.5 children
home and reproducing those 2.5 children and being a 21st century career focused
and being a 21st century career focused
and being a 21st century career focused Portland mom I thought I’d just split
Portland mom I thought I’d just split
Portland mom I thought I’d just split that 0.5 kid with another free range
that 0.5 kid with another free range
that 0.5 kid with another free range supporting neighborhood neighbor they
supporting neighborhood neighbor they
supporting neighborhood neighbor they wanted to it’s not just the statistics
wanted to it’s not just the statistics
wanted to it’s not just the statistics that need to be revised as we grow but
that need to be revised as we grow but
that need to be revised as we grow but the way we think about the impact of our
the way we think about the impact of our
the way we think about the impact of our behaviors and the way we live our values
behaviors and the way we live our values
behaviors and the way we live our values I think this is a perfect time for us to
I think this is a perfect time for us to
I think this is a perfect time for us to start to reconsider our our previous
start to reconsider our our previous
start to reconsider our our previous paradigms but how this great opportunity
paradigms but how this great opportunity
paradigms but how this great opportunity for us to rethink our vision of
for us to rethink our vision of
for us to rethink our vision of community as humans we do well in
community as humans we do well in
community as humans we do well in community I mean we like to do sports
community I mean we like to do sports
community I mean we like to do sports together we have hobbies a lot of us
together we have hobbies a lot of us
together we have hobbies a lot of us practice our faith with friends family
practice our faith with friends family
practice our faith with friends family and our social groups but visualize a
and our social groups but visualize a
and our social groups but visualize a world in which we were to reconsider and
world in which we were to reconsider and
world in which we were to reconsider and rethink family and culture and how this
rethink family and culture and how this
rethink family and culture and how this might affect the livability of our
might affect the livability of our
might affect the livability of our planet we can go to world watch
planet we can go to world watch
planet we can go to world watch Institute’s website to study the nine
Institute’s website to study the nine
Institute’s website to study the nine population strategies to stop short of
population strategies to stop short of
population strategies to stop short of nine billion by the middle of century
nine billion by the middle of century
nine billion by the middle of century some of those include providing
some of those include providing
some of those include providing universal safe and effective
universal safe and effective
universal safe and effective contraceptive options for all
contraceptive options for all
contraceptive options for all guaranteeing education through secondary
guaranteeing education through secondary
guaranteeing education through secondary school for both sexes especially girls
school for both sexes especially girls
school for both sexes especially girls and eradicating gender bias from law
and eradicating gender bias from law
and eradicating gender bias from law economic opportunity and education well
economic opportunity and education well
economic opportunity and education well that’s kind of heady stuff of NGOs and
that’s kind of heady stuff of NGOs and
that’s kind of heady stuff of NGOs and international aid workers again I’m
international aid workers again I’m
international aid workers again I’m somebody asked me Elaine what can I do
somebody asked me Elaine what can I do
somebody asked me Elaine what can I do today well there are some things that
today well there are some things that
today well there are some things that you can do today and one of those is the
you can do today and one of those is the
you can do today and one of those is the choices you make in creating a family so
choices you make in creating a family so
choices you make in creating a family so let’s talk about sex
let’s talk about sex
let’s talk about sex okay now that I’ve got your attention
okay now that I’ve got your attention
okay now that I’ve got your attention here are some ways that you can make a
here are some ways that you can make a
here are some ways that you can make a difference one make a plan for yourself
difference one make a plan for yourself
difference one make a plan for yourself with your partner for your future to
with your partner for your future to
with your partner for your future to wait or practice a lot before starting a
wait or practice a lot before starting a
wait or practice a lot before starting a family right enjoy being single take
family right enjoy being single take
family right enjoy being single take that trip on your bucket list do your
that trip on your bucket list do your
that trip on your bucket list do your dating homework but please use
dating homework but please use
dating homework but please use contraceptives number three do the math
contraceptives number three do the math
contraceptives number three do the math yikes do you know that a married couple
yikes do you know that a married couple
yikes do you know that a married couple middle-income with two kids is estimated
middle-income with two kids is estimated
middle-income with two kids is estimated to spend over two hundred and thirty
to spend over two hundred and thirty
to spend over two hundred and thirty three thousand dollars to raise a child
three thousand dollars to raise a child
three thousand dollars to raise a child born in 2015 according to a US
born in 2015 according to a US
born in 2015 according to a US Department of Ag report released in
Department of Ag report released in
Department of Ag report released in January and that’s just from birth to 17
January and that’s just from birth to 17
January and that’s just from birth to 17 it doesn’t even include college yeah
it doesn’t even include college yeah
it doesn’t even include college yeah number four make a choice to be child
number four make a choice to be child
number four make a choice to be child free okay now some of you may recall
free okay now some of you may recall
free okay now some of you may recall this old acronym was around a while ago
this old acronym was around a while ago
this old acronym was around a while ago Dinks not what you’re thinking
Dinks not what you’re thinking
Dinks not what you’re thinking dual income no kids there’s a new one
dual income no kids there’s a new one
dual income no kids there’s a new one ginks stands for green inclination no
ginks stands for green inclination no
ginks stands for green inclination no kids so you know this one’s already
kids so you know this one’s already
kids so you know this one’s already being socially normed so you don’t have
being socially normed so you don’t have
being socially normed so you don’t have to feel like a weirdo with this with
to feel like a weirdo with this with
to feel like a weirdo with this with this choice number five make a choice to
this choice number five make a choice to
this choice number five make a choice to port a child by being a mentor in some
port a child by being a mentor in some
port a child by being a mentor in some way you could be a auntie and uncle a TR
way you could be a auntie and uncle a TR
way you could be a auntie and uncle a TR tio or big brother or big sister this
tio or big brother or big sister this
tio or big brother or big sister this has a very low commitment right you can
has a very low commitment right you can
has a very low commitment right you can take the kids to movies you can go to
take the kids to movies you can go to
take the kids to movies you can go to corn mazes in the fall maybe take them
corn mazes in the fall maybe take them
corn mazes in the fall maybe take them on a college visit and all the while you
on a college visit and all the while you
on a college visit and all the while you get to miss out on the late-night vomit
get to miss out on the late-night vomit
get to miss out on the late-night vomit fest full-on puberty and vetting those
fest full-on puberty and vetting those
fest full-on puberty and vetting those prom dates number six you could create
prom dates number six you could create
prom dates number six you could create your chosen family right you know those
your chosen family right you know those
your chosen family right you know those people that you want in your life that
people that you want in your life that
people that you want in your life that don’t all have to be biologically
don’t all have to be biologically
don’t all have to be biologically related it’s okay those people that you
related it’s okay those people that you
related it’s okay those people that you want sitting around the Thanksgiving
want sitting around the Thanksgiving
want sitting around the Thanksgiving table and
table and
table and front of a large juicy tofurkey seven
front of a large juicy tofurkey seven
front of a large juicy tofurkey seven consider limiting your child to just one
consider limiting your child to just one
consider limiting your child to just one birth child now if you start waffling on
birth child now if you start waffling on
birth child now if you start waffling on this one because you think I might have
this one because you think I might have
this one because you think I might have a tendency to raise a spoiled kid well
a tendency to raise a spoiled kid well
a tendency to raise a spoiled kid well find those aunties and uncles plan lots
find those aunties and uncles plan lots
find those aunties and uncles plan lots of playdates and maybe set up in an
of playdates and maybe set up in an
of playdates and maybe set up in an expensive rental kit program for your
expensive rental kit program for your
expensive rental kit program for your child-free fans that might work
child-free fans that might work
child-free fans that might work number eight last one consider adoption
number eight last one consider adoption
number eight last one consider adoption there are many ways that you could adopt
there are many ways that you could adopt
there are many ways that you could adopt via international adoption domestic
via international adoption domestic
via international adoption domestic adoption or foster care well I know this
adoption or foster care well I know this
adoption or foster care well I know this list might seem overwhelming to some of
list might seem overwhelming to some of
list might seem overwhelming to some of you but uh you know what I’m living
you but uh you know what I’m living
you but uh you know what I’m living proof that you can manifest something
proof that you can manifest something
proof that you can manifest something off of this list and I want to share
off of this list and I want to share
off of this list and I want to share briefly how it showed up in my life when
briefly how it showed up in my life when
briefly how it showed up in my life when I was a young adult I’d always kind of
I was a young adult I’d always kind of
I was a young adult I’d always kind of considered I might create my family
considered I might create my family
considered I might create my family through adoption then I met my husband
through adoption then I met my husband
through adoption then I met my husband and you know we took those trips on the
and you know we took those trips on the
and you know we took those trips on the bucket list and we had a lot of fun and
bucket list and we had a lot of fun and
bucket list and we had a lot of fun and by the time I got serious about a family
by the time I got serious about a family
by the time I got serious about a family as a mature couple in our late 30s my
as a mature couple in our late 30s my
as a mature couple in our late 30s my eggs were getting pretty tired and his
eggs were getting pretty tired and his
eggs were getting pretty tired and his sperm needed life preservers so after my
sperm needed life preservers so after my
sperm needed life preservers so after my husband’s common fears about adoption
husband’s common fears about adoption
husband’s common fears about adoption were demystified we don’t head long into
were demystified we don’t head long into
were demystified we don’t head long into our journey a brave thoughtful pregnant
our journey a brave thoughtful pregnant
our journey a brave thoughtful pregnant birth mother in our area made it an
birth mother in our area made it an
birth mother in our area made it an adoption plan and chose us to parent
even though we had met her and agreed
even though we had met her and agreed upon our open adoption plan we were
upon our open adoption plan we were
upon our open adoption plan we were still floored to get the call a month
still floored to get the call a month
still floored to get the call a month later that she had gone into labor and
later that she had gone into labor and
later that she had gone into labor and there we were
there we were
there we were a day later with this five-pound little
a day later with this five-pound little
a day later with this five-pound little bundle of joy and I could still recall
bundle of joy and I could still recall
bundle of joy and I could still recall crying uncontrollably as we left the
crying uncontrollably as we left the
crying uncontrollably as we left the hospital I’m trying to fathom what our
hospital I’m trying to fathom what our
hospital I’m trying to fathom what our birth mother was going through knowing
birth mother was going through knowing
birth mother was going through knowing that she’d made the best
that she’d made the best
that she’d made the best vision of her life at that time for
vision of her life at that time for
vision of her life at that time for herself and her child and that was
herself and her child and that was
herself and her child and that was really tough well a year later our child
really tough well a year later our child
really tough well a year later our child number two pro and con list written out
number two pro and con list written out
number two pro and con list written out and fully vetted by my scientist husband
and fully vetted by my scientist husband
and fully vetted by my scientist husband and I we decided we could dedicate our
and I we decided we could dedicate our
and I we decided we could dedicate our life to another tile with this
life to another tile with this
life to another tile with this international adoption we were gifted
international adoption we were gifted
international adoption we were gifted into our life a foster family a birth
into our life a foster family a birth
into our life a foster family a birth family and a 15 month old toddler to
family and a 15 month old toddler to
family and a 15 month old toddler to love amazing way to build a family yeah
love amazing way to build a family yeah
love amazing way to build a family yeah exhausting oh yeah
exhausting oh yeah
exhausting oh yeah transformative you bet yeah but you know
transformative you bet yeah but you know
transformative you bet yeah but you know I wouldn’t trade this in for anything
I wouldn’t trade this in for anything
I wouldn’t trade this in for anything different and things in life that are
different and things in life that are
different and things in life that are difficult and hard can be further
difficult and hard can be further
difficult and hard can be further supported when you’ve got a great
supported when you’ve got a great
supported when you’ve got a great partner and community around you and
partner and community around you and
partner and community around you and something like overpopulation population
something like overpopulation population
something like overpopulation population growth can be supported in a community
growth can be supported in a community
growth can be supported in a community so for a moment please close your eyes
so for a moment please close your eyes
so for a moment please close your eyes take a breath and consider what you
take a breath and consider what you
take a breath and consider what you would like for your future with your
would like for your future with your
would like for your future with your family think about freshwater lakes to
family think about freshwater lakes to
family think about freshwater lakes to swim in schools that have green spaces
swim in schools that have green spaces
swim in schools that have green spaces to play soccer in large mature majestic
to play soccer in large mature majestic
to play soccer in large mature majestic trees to gaze up at and fresh air to
trees to gaze up at and fresh air to
trees to gaze up at and fresh air to breathe now open your eyes and look at
breathe now open your eyes and look at
breathe now open your eyes and look at somebody to your right make eye contact
somebody to your right make eye contact
somebody to your right make eye contact with them feel the love because you know
with them feel the love because you know
with them feel the love because you know what these people are a part of your
what these people are a part of your
what these people are a part of your community and together our collective
community and together our collective
community and together our collective actions can make a big difference on
actions can make a big difference on
actions can make a big difference on this one planet with that we have so
this one planet with that we have so
this one planet with that we have so never underestimate the power that your
never underestimate the power that your
never underestimate the power that your actions can have one child at a time
actions can have one child at a time
actions can have one child at a time thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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