I know, I know, we have bigger concerns, like terrorism, "saving" a braindamaged woman, and gas prices, but here's another credible organization telling humanity that we need to change our ways before we destroy much of the planet as we know it. Even so, I have no doubt the next set of presidential campaigns won't even address environmental issues.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in=Science&cat=Environment_and_Nature

So what do you suggest be done then? To save the planet..?

Originally posted by Leper
I know, I know, we have bigger concerns, like terrorism, "saving" a brain woman, and gas prices, but here's another credible organization telling humanity that we need to change our ways before we destroy much of the planet as we know it. Even so, I have no doubt the next set of presidential campaigns won't even address environmental issues.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in=Science&cat=Environment_and_Nature

you can't destroy the earth. she is inviolate, it is humanity and other life on her that is suspect to go towards extinction.

we can destroy the earth but cant save it. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Perhaps the first thing we should figure out is how to get volcanos to stop erupting

Originally posted by Innocent Sweety
So what do you suggest be done then? To save the planet..?

Cut population growth as soon as possible, decrease consumption, and change to more sustainable consumptive practices.

All easier said than done of course, since the measures require basic changes in the way most societies are governed (e.g. restricting capitalist consumerism), deprioritizing humanitianism, and restricting the human right to give birth to as many people as you please.

If humanity really wishes to save the Earth, it won't be done by raising taxes aka the Kyoto Treaty.

As for population growth. It is slowing in Europe and in America (the only reason why the population is still growing in the West is that immigrants keep showing up) as the rest of the world developes populatoins will slow in those countries as well.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
If humanity really wishes to save the Earth, it won't be done by raising taxes aka the Kyoto Treaty.

As for population growth. It is slowing in Europe and in America (the only reason why the population is still growing in the West is that immigrants keep showing up) as the rest of the world developes populatoins will slow in those countries as well.

That's fine and dandy, but the damage is happening NOW. Population growth is slowing but even if the global population caps at 9 billion, the world will be overloaded. Furthermore, the heavily-populated, poor sectors of the world (e.g. China and India) are Americanizing their consumptive patterns, which is undisputably just not sustainable on a global level.

A big part of the problem are these passive attitudes that believe the problem will fix itself harmoniously, despite the vast majority of expert opinion telling them otherwise. The problem may fix itself, but it will be anything but harmonious, and much of mother nature will suffer as an innocent bystander.

we need more abortions!!!!! open an abortion clinic on every high school campus!

Originally posted by Travh20
Perhaps the first thing we should figure out is how to get volcanos to stop erupting

LOL hehehe

i agree Leper.. we probably aren't being very good treaters of earth.. but there isn't a damn thing we can really do about it... i mean, do you think all these people making money off of this lifestyle will just give it up in the name of saving earth?

fat chance.

the earth ill not be destroyed. it will go on. It seemed to have recuperated from the big meteor hit that took out the dinosaurs who were here for hundreds of millions of years, i am sure it can recuperate from anything we are doing. We may not be around to see it, but the earth will not die from humans.

Yes, we can encourage anything feisable to help make the environment friendly to life forms.

Also, nature will cull the herd when necessary.

Leper, I agree that we should be doing more. It's one of the few areas in which I think Rush is wrong (who, the other day, explained how habitat destruction benefits the polar bears), I just don't think you can artificially slow population growth.

The ACLU fights chemical castration of rapists and argues against requiring abusive mothers to use Norplant. Good luck asking more typical citizens to limit themselves.

Leper;

I agree with a few we won't destroy the earth it will still be a big ball floating through space. What we are destroying is the very things that give us life, and most people are just to stupid to give a sh**. Lets build another 100,000 Mc D's, and wal-sh** super stores boy we really need that load of crap. Maybe it is time for another big crash in mother nature humans sure don't relize what they have. Maybe if people weren't so damn greedy and stupid, things could change but hey why change before the next guy. Humans are a sad poster child for inteligence.

Originally posted by Leper
That's fine and dandy, but the damage is happening NOW. Population growth is slowing but even if the global population caps at 9 billion, the world will be overloaded. Furthermore, the heavily-populated, poor sectors of the world (e.g. China and India) are Americanizing their consumptive patterns, which is undisputably just not sustainable on a global level.

.

don't worry the planet is creating diseases as we speak, and diseases are mutating to take care of the human problem. ever watch a petri dish? it will grow in its own way until it is unsustainable, and then everything in it dies off. but keep in mind a petri dish is not dynamic as the earth is. things will go one way for only so long before it goes the other way. the earth and nature work in a cyclic pattern, not a straight line be all end all.

I ought and ought don't buy the idea that McDonalds and Wal Mart are at the core of what is destroying the planet.


I've also pointed out that as a nation's wealth increases, the rate of population growth decreases, there is a lesson in that.


People have pointed out, or at least implied, that us humans need to at new ways of doing things that are not as environmetally destructive. But as I pointed out in my "crap environmentalist post" everytime we move in the direction of doing something different, it gets opposed. By the exact same ones who are screaming the loudest that the planet is being destroyed.

Geez.

The planet is doomed. Humans are using more energy than the planet can replenish. It took billions of years to build up those energy stockpiles and only a few hundred to deplete them. The only thing we can do now is buy time.

Originally posted by Darth Be'lal
I ought and ought don't buy the idea that McDonalds and Wal Mart are at the core of what is destroying the planet.

I never said they were the core of the problem, but they sure don't help a damn thing and they do add to the problem. The core of the problem is human greed and just simple stupidity.


I've also pointed out that as a nation's wealth increases, the rate of population growth decreases, there is a lesson in that.

I understand somewhat as to what you are saying, but in all farness it is false otherwise we would have leveled off allready. We have been a rich nation and societies wealth has increased, but with this the population has also increased. Just go back 20yrs population of the world 4+ billion now it is over 6+ billion and keeps on growing. I do not see where the population is going to slow down, if you could please show me some study about how this is going to happen? I realize we don't have the familys of 8 kids anymore but we have more adults giving birth and a longer life rate. Just because the smith family isn't going to have 8 babies does not mean society as a whole as slowed down.


People have pointed out, or at least implied, that us humans need to at new ways of doing things that are not as environmetally destructive.

I totally agree, but is Bob willing to change when his neighbor Joe won't? We live in a materialistic world and as the saying goes monkey see monkey do.

But as I pointed out in my "crap environmentalist post" everytime we move in the direction of doing something different, it gets opposed. By the exact same ones who are screaming the loudest that the planet is being destroyed.

Can we change without the government telling us to do so? Look at how much 1 person will waste in a week, it's crazy. The problem is that alot of folks today don't know what it is like to be without and they don't give a sh**. American lives are spoiled for the most part they don't relize how much they are wasting even when they're doing it.

Here is something to think about as far as saving some of our resources. Stop all motor sports in their tracks, :eek: uh oh now I've pissed some off? Lets face it I like tractor pulls, boat racing, etc... but I do not and will not pay to see these things again. I think it would be interesting to see how many resources are wasted on stuff like this? Not only do you have all the vehicles that are racing but you have the pit grew machines, personal vehicles to get there, etc.... We b***h and complain but I have yet to see the majority change their ways. Just food for thought, nothing will change until we change our own style of living 1st.