Discuss: The Story About the One

I am very familiar with Sandra’s work, but this moved me profoundly, especially the end. I do not have children, and only recently became an aunt (thus creating a genetic link to the future, in coldly evolutionary terms, that I never had before), but I have worried for decades about the stew of chemicals and radiation in which all fetuses (human and not) bathe. All the “black magic” that comes out of research labs should be deemed guilty until proven innocent - not the reverse, which is the case now. What chance do environmentally aware people like us have of alerting the world to endangered frogs or abused chimps if we cannot even extend the most basic protection to our own species at its most vulnerable stage of development? Thanks, Sandra, for more of your usual insight - and a very strong rhetorical slant that provokes discussion.

Finding common ground is always a good place o start. However, it is important, I believe, that common ground focus on the cause and not the consequence. Sandra wrapped this article up nicely by addressing an important issue that focuses on the cause of what in turn becomes difficult decision.

Thank you for your candid and thought provoking article. Mother of five, I had a midterm miscarriage in the 1980s, along with five other local women. The cause was never determined but I never stopped wondering about environmental factors.  Changing the kitty litter? Low blood sugar? Endocrine disruptors? The point is that the environment does affect the mother and her yet to be born child. It is paramount that we continue to keep the earth a good place to propagate our species.