"hatching" a new life

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/04/05/japan.baby.hatch.ap/index.html
This is a difficult topic because I agree with what the community is doing to try to provide a place for parents of unwanted children to bring them, however it's just the situation as a whole that saddens me.We might agree that these "hatches" are certainly better than a bathroom in a shopping mall, or worse still - the garbage. But where is the humanity in any of this? How do the precious cries of a newborn not strike the chords of love and protection in even the most callous parent's heart? Not that our so-called "Christian culture" doesn't share it's own lack of respect for the sanctity of human life, but I believe the next to last paragraph does give some insight into this alarming trend in Japan:

With no law against abortions and no clear religious taboos in predominantly Buddhist Japan, the procedure is readily available and widespread.

I'm no expert in Buddhism, and frequently confuse the beliefs with Hinduism, but my understanding is that they believe in reincarnation - a view diametrically opposed to the Christian worldview of resurrection. Because they believe in reincarnation, life has less purpose, less value because it's only the state of one's consciousness at their death that will determine their rebirth. In contrast, the Christian view of life is that it is a sacred gift from God to be guarded and protected for the short time it is given.

How then do the Buddhists reconcile these selfish actions with their desire to improve their karma?