Population Control 5: Sex Education, 7 Billion People, and Congestion,

I posted in my facebook wall my earlier discussion, Population Control 4: "Excess People" and Government last October 26, 2011. It attracted some healthy exchange with some friends. I am posting below portions of those exchanges, I removed postings or comments not related to the topic.

Kat: I am having a hard time accepting your premise that population control is wrong, especially in the case of the Philippines.

Emmanuel: I agree with Nonoy...In the Philippines, high population is blamed for a host of problems, but the real causes are related to the general lack of productivity and terrible government policies especially those supported by significant numbers of people...I remember living in the Philippines when the population was much less; the levels of poverty were still very high...Even when the population was only 25 million, same situation....A large percentage of people were still poor.....

Stephen: Interesting discussion, and a worthy one. We being "pro-life" isn't just about whether or not one wants to protect babies. We must have strong efforts to promote quality of life. We see people living under bridges, or on landfills, and just say "Well, that's the way it is." But it doesn't have to be that way. And a true "pro-life" advocate would be working to change THAT, so that the babies who are born will be as productive as possible. Each of us is created in the image and likeness of our God. We must work so that these creations don't live in garbage.

That said, I'm not entirely certain of how the term "population control" is defined. Suggesting restraint and self-control is arguably "population control." I suggest that we try to adopt language that is more clear and removes or at least reduces ambiguity in our assertions. What I may see as "population control" may not even be on your "radar screen." Thus, we're talking but with two different directions.

Kat: I do not agree with Nonoy's point in anti-RH bill because I think women are the ones to suffer from the lack of sex education in the country.

I will take it over none at all. Even if inadequately done, it will provide sex education to students now. They will not have the capacity to offer consultations/ services to all mothers in the community, but it will open up information to students. Give teachers a chance to clarify misconceptions. Isn't that better than none at all?

I will even agree to rationalization/ streamlining or a revamp of bureaucracy. But does the same extend to continued prevention of sex education in the country? I don't think so.

Emmanuel: How is it that civilization managed to exist and thrive for so many thousands of years without sex education?

Kat: I am coming from a point where I hear male teenagers say that it was the girl's fault that she was pregnant because she was a slut and he does not hold responsibility for it.

Emmanuel: Sex education has been taught in American schools for decades and American boys still get girls pregnant and call them sluts....So if you think sex education is the solution, think again....The real problem in the U.S. and the Philippines with regard to getting young girls pregnant is a lack of morals, and you cannot resolve that through "sex education." If the government shows irresponsibility, how can I trust them to do other things right, even when teaching "sex education.?"