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Discussion » Questions » Environment » If the powerful people and agencies of gov’t who could act to reduce carbon emissions won’t save us....

If the powerful people and agencies of gov’t who could act to reduce carbon emissions won’t save us....

are we who try, in our individual ways, to lessen our own footprint, WASTING OUR TIME? 

Posted - February 16, 2020

Responses


  • 46117
    YES
    Unless we ban together like we have not banded together before and use gorilla warfare to attack these monstrous conglomerates?  What chance do we have?  Do we bomb these industrial conglomerates?  

    I see no way out.  NONE.  Money is the bomb that will kill us all. Money and greed and no thought of the future.

    Greta Thunberg is Getting Her Own TV Series and Some People are Mad About It

    February 15, 2020

     

    Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg became an overnight sensation back in September 2019 when she gave a speech about climate change at the United Nations Summit. There, she scolded world leaders about their lack of action or urgency on the matter.

    Immediately, she drew both praise and criticism, even drawing the ire of President Donald Trump. However, the Swedish teen is not slowing down and she’ll soon be taking her message to a new platform.

    Greta Thunberg
    Greta Thunberg | RvS.Media/Basile Barbey/Getty Images

    Thunberg is getting her own TV show

    In partnership with BBC Studios, the teen crusader is launching a television series that will explore environmental issues around the world and how to address them. According to a press release from BBC, Thunberg will be traveling “to some of the most extraordinary places on earth” and meet with experts.

    “As she travels Greta meets not only leading scientists but political leaders and business heavyweights, exploring the scientific evidence with them and challenging them to change.

    The films will also charts her own journey into adulthood as she continues to be confronted by the real world consequences of inaction; and will share some of the quiet moments as she writes the impactful speeches that are now broadcast and analysed around the world, as she lives a teenage life like no other.”

    This post was edited by WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH at February 16, 2020 12:06 PM MST
      February 16, 2020 9:21 AM MST
    3

  • 44175
    Good for her...but it is probably all for naught, just as the teens in FL and their large gatherings of protests against gun violence. Governments and corporation don't give a crap about us as long as we pay taxes and buy stuff.
      February 16, 2020 10:24 AM MST
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  • 46117
    Just because you don't research what is going on?  Doesn't make it true.  There are countless gatherings by the young about this.  Too many to even count.  That is what is giving some momentum.  But it is not enough.  OF COURSE.

    That said, I disgustingly agree with you.  Not disgusted at YOU, disgusted at the fact that you are right.
      February 16, 2020 11:13 AM MST
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  • 44175
    Unfortunately you may be correct. There are 7+ billion of us and we still have to go about our daily business. I have no guilt about driving my car or using natural gas to heat my home and water. The only reasonable, however impractical solution, is to reduce the population.
      February 16, 2020 10:31 AM MST
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  • 46117
    AN even more impractical solution, EDUCATE the people on the planet the RIGHT way.  To conserve and care. 

    It would be good for ALL of us.  We all need to be mindful and grateful and not greedy and wasteful.  It is the wrong path.
      February 16, 2020 11:15 AM MST
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  • 4631
    Have you checked out solar thermal?
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_thermal_energy

    The States already have many thermal power stations.
    They produce phenomenal output at a cheap rate, are safe, and do not pollute the air.
    Industrials already know that they are a far better deal than fossil fuels.


    This post was edited by inky at February 17, 2020 2:20 PM MST
      February 16, 2020 8:29 PM MST
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  • 4631
    I'm surprised.
    I totally agree about reducing the world's population. And there are easy and ethical ways to do that; provide universal free education (esp. for girls) and universal free medicine. Experience has shown that women are the ones who really control the birth rate. Where ever they have education they achieve jobs, better economic outcomes and understand how to limit their families. Where medicine ensures that most children will survive to live a natural lifespan and be there to look after their parents in old age, the women prefer to have only one or two kids.

    But there are also two other major areas for reducing greenhouse gases.
    One is technical. Replace all fossil fuels with renewable energy. We have technologies. They are proven and reliable. They are already being mass-produced, available at more affordable prices, and the prices continuing to come down. The take-up rate among private citizens and by businesses around the road is gathering momentum everywhere. Farmers are beginning to realise that sustainable practices are more economic.
    Reliability of supply is starting to be resolved by Tesla's improvement of batteries, and the building of far-carrying powerlines. In third world countries, solar power on rooves is being interlinked by neighbours throughout towns and communities so that they share collection and usage.
    Much to the displeasure of the neighbouring countries, Brazil's most recent president has finally declared the Amazon to be one of the three major lungs of the Earth. In Brazil, the clearing of rainforest is now both a crime and a sin. The work of protection of the remnants and reaforestation has begun. In Indonesia, there is still the same problem of disastrous clearing, but they too are beginning to see the problem.

    The last issue is runaway ecomonic growth. It is unsustainable because the world's resources are finite. The answer is to reintroduce regulation and this time tailor it to the environment. A carbon price is one of the most effective ways to achieve it. It has already proven to work well in Europe.

    Change is possible if we act NOW.
    I'm not sure how probable it is - it depends on the collective will of humanity.
    It's too late to stop the serious and disastrous effects of climate change.
    If we could halt all emissions today, it would take us over a hundred years for the warming to plateau and begin to return to the previous norm (prior to industrialisation.)
    But if we start now and make the necessary changes within 12 years, there is still time to prevent mass global catastrophic extinctions.
      February 17, 2020 9:16 AM MST
    2

  • 44175
    Don was referring to individuals making a difference. Our part of the country is ill suited economically for individual use of solar and thermal energy. It would cost me at least ten thousand dollars to install solar panels to provide my electrical needs. It would take ten years to recoup our investment.  And they would be usable for about nine months; when the sun is low in the winter months our house is shaded and we only get sunlight about one third of the days. On usable days we are still connected the the regular electrical supply and there is a service charge even if we don't use it.
    Something else that is not mentioned...yes, forestation provides a major carbon dioxide sink for the planet, but plants also use oxygen for growth. I am awaiting a call from my son, a microbiologist, to give me an approximate amount of oxygen used per carbon dioxide used.
     I could go on and on with various others examples, but I imagine I am putting you to sleep by now LOL.
      February 17, 2020 2:52 PM MST
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  • 6023

    I don't think it's impractical.
    As civilizations advance technologically, especially in the area of medicine, the birth rate decreases.
    Currently, the birth rate in America (and most "First World" nations) would result in a decreasing population if not for immigration.

    If inexpensive technology to decrease infant mortality became globally available, it's possible there would be global birth rate decreases until we reached a point of equilibrium of a lower global population.

    (Of course, nobody trying to sell such technology with such reasoning will be accepted because it sounds too much like eugenics.)

      February 17, 2020 3:05 PM MST
    2

  • 5391

    Abstinence is free (if highly implausible) and condoms are cheap (where they aren’t forbidden by religious edict). Education costs only freewill and time.
    Some cheap tech already exists, we are not strong enough to apply it. 

    How much would it cost the world to see to the empowerment of women (?), in that it has been demonstrated time and again as a highly effective solution for poverty and overpopulation, and hence all of the attendant ills. Too obvious, I suppose. 

      February 17, 2020 3:59 PM MST
    0

  • 6023
    Your points are valid.
    However, the main reasons for high birth rate in those areas is high infant mortality rate and lack of employment opportunities.

    I know, the second seems kind of counter-intuitive.
    "There's a lack of jobs, so let's have more children."
    But with a lack of employment opportunities - there's also a lack of entertainment opportunities, other than "making babies".

    The most expensive cost of education is time.
    When you're so busy scrounging for the bare essentials, education is (or at least seems like) a luxury you can't afford.
    Especially when combined with the lack of employment opportunities, even for those who manage to get an education.

    Theoretically, it would be simple to break the cycle.  It just needs massive socialism.  lol
    Step 1 - create a global currency, with a global minimum wage and worker's rights.
    Step 2 - micromanage where corporations could set up facilities, and require them to train and use local labor.
      February 18, 2020 7:25 AM MST
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  • 4631
    Greta Thunberg is showing us how democracy can make a difference.

    Democracy is not just about voting at the polls. 
    It's also about public debate, lobbying, activism, journalism exposing the facts
    and writing letters to the editor.
    It's up to us to join the protest movements in whatever way works according to our talents and preferences.

    The politicians need to see the numbers of people marching in the streets.

    They need to see how we spend our money, what we boycott -
    that it changes which businesses boom or bust -
    that we can and do walk our talk. This post was edited by inky at February 17, 2020 2:23 PM MST
      February 16, 2020 8:24 PM MST
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  • 5391

    How true.

    The climate reality becomes evident every day, but it is not good for business; business funds campaigns, and props up false narratives for their own vested interests. 

    The planet always loses as long as naked capitalism takes the lead, to the detriment of reason and public benefit. The forces for a sustainable world need to mount a groundswell and press the message into every ear, public servants are to be bent to serve our interests, not us (or the earth) to theirs. 

    This post was edited by Don Barzini at February 17, 2020 4:20 PM MST
      February 17, 2020 4:19 PM MST
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