Nonviolent Choice Directory: How Anyone & Everyone Can Help: Other Ways to Give Life

Nonviolent Choice Directory
...because there are, and can be,
better ways than abortion...

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HOW ANYONE & EVERYONE CAN HELP: OTHER WAYS TO GIVE LIFE

The Nonviolent Choice Directory does not believe in abortion, but we do believe that it is up to the pregnant woman whether or not she wants to live her life as her child's social as well as biological parent.

And certainly people have the right to reduce/eliminate their chances of conceiving children by any nonviolent means they choose, just as they should be free to pursue parenthood if they wish that instead.

Conceiving and then socially parenting a biological child or children is not the only way to give life to children, by any means. And giving life to children, through whatever means, is of course not the only way to give life. This is true for people who are already biological and/or social parents, those who hope to become parents, and those who do not wish to be parents (whether temporarily or permanently).

If you need information on temporary and/or permanent methods of avoiding conception, you may also want to visit our section on Pregnancy Prevention. If you are currently pregnant and do not feel you wish to raise the child, or are unsure about that, you may want to visit our pages on Crisis Pregnancy & Beyond and on Adoption, Foster Care, & Guardianship.

Alliance for Youth Achievement. Many bright, motivated children--many of them girls and/or AIDS orphans in the Two-Thirds World--cannot afford any school fees. Consider sponsorship.

Childfree.net. Online support for those who choose not to have children of their own, or who are considering that choice for themselves.

Childless by Choice Project. "A research project, a book project, and a documentary project that explores the motives and the decision-making process behind the choice to remain childfree."

Childless Not by Choice. Online support for those who wish children but do not have them. Appears to be Christian-oriented.

Childless Resources. List of book summaries on the subject.

Human Rights Watch: Children's Rights Division. (English, Portuguese, Russian, German, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, among other languages.)

Petfinder.com: Adopt a Homeless Pet. Features animals now waiting for adoption at over 9000 shelters in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Note: If you do not have enough space for a larger animal like a dog, why not consider guinea pigs? (They're under Petfinder's "Small & Furry" category.) They are very social, musical, and comic-spirited little beings who literally jump for joy. Cavy Spirit is an excellent place to learn more about them.

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association (US).

Organ and Tissue Donation. Links to online registries (listed by country) and sites on living donation. Note: This was originally posted in the Nonviolent Choice blog in 2007, but we update it regularly.

Room to Read. Nonprofit headquartered on the beautiful grounds of the Presidio, San Francisco's former military base converted to peacetime uses (which happens sometimes, & should happen more often!) 16% of the world's adults cannot read. This number rises as high as 70% in the rural Two-Thirds World. This nonprofit comprehensively seeks to boost child literacy in Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, and India. Gives girls long-term scholarships.

Tokophobia (sometimes spelled tocophobia). A common phobia of pregnancy and childbirth that affects both women who do not want to have biological children and women who do. Fortunately, phobias of all kinds are highly treatable forms of mental distress. This entry in the Nonviolent Choice Directory's blog gives an overview of tokophobia and its effects, as well as resources for finding treatment, even if you have financial difficulties. If you suffer from this condition, you can seek relief for yourself, whether you wish to raise children or not.