Are you as ashamed of what is happening to our environment as I am?

Question

I am getting sick of hearing about environmental problems and the lack of action being taken to correct them. Is this world going to lose it's ability to support life because of a handful of selfish greedy bastards? Worse yet, is everyone so brainwashed and complacent that they would allow this catastrophe to continue until it's too late?

When are we going to reach a breaking point and say "ok, things are pretty messed up now, I guess we should all band together and do something about it"?

I find it hard to believe that this isn't the number 1 issue on everyone’s mind. If people don't start doing something soon, we are, without a doubt, completely doomed. There will be no one to bail us out of this one. Don't say Jesus Christ is going to swoop down and save the day, that is a total pipe dream. There is no one to rely on but ourselves, and that is troubling, because if history has taught us anything, the people who have held the power have been blatantly irresponsible.

Answer 1

Sadly money is such a concern todays survival takes precedent over tomorrows. Good point though.

Answer 2

Before you can fix something you have to know it is broken and what caused it.

Global warming is a theory that has been proved to be scientifically weak and has become the darling of the environmental activist. Many scientists speak against it and use good scientific research and fact to do so rather than GW propaganda which has very little scientific or factual backing.

For that reason it is becoming far more preferable to call it 'Climate Change' which recognises the climate is changing and seeks (WITH AN OPEN MIND) the reasons for it.

The same amount of rain is falling - just in a different place - causing floods.

The same amount of sunshine and lack of rain occurs - just in a different place - causing draughts.

Whilst there is an apparent increase in tornados and tropical storms this falls well within the expected fluctuations of the system.

Finding new and cleaner methods of energy production and usage is good. Even better and far more effective is the increase in fuel and energy efficiency in transport and electricity generation.

The poles flipped a number of times in the earths history and many scientists believe it is starting to happen again but do not know whether it will happen quickly or slowly. (Concensus appears to be 100,000 years.)

A number of volcanoes have shown different types of lava and gases than they have produced up until now in recent years. This may or may not indicate something changing in the inner mantle.

There is an old adage that says measure twice, cut once. The most important thing for the planet right now is for scientists to research heavily and not act unless they are sure:

(1) that they are right about the cause. (Fix something that is not broke and you cause a worse problem).
(2) the action will be positive. (Medical research shows bolstering a weak substance can actually cause the body to produce even less).
(3) they have explored fully any consequences of continuing the action too long. (warm water too long and it turns to steam and disappears).
(4) the consequences of the action on other things. (DDT used to kill insects nearly wiped out the entire flora and fauna of the earth).

The best thing that we can do to protect the earth is to challenge the environmental extremists and those who talk bad or unthinking science and ensure that all decisions and judgements are made from a clearly understood scientific basis, properly researched and quantified.

Answer 3

You make a good point. Plenty of people like myself care a lot about the environment but lack the resources or the power to do much about it. I would love to crush my suv, buy a prius and put solar panels on the roof of my house. But I'm just an average joe barely making a living and I have to put feeding my family first. Most wealthy people are too busy buying 24" rims for their hummers and bentleys and building 6000 square foot houses to notice or care what they are doing to the planet. These are the very people that could be doing something to reduce their energy consumption and carbon output. Fortunately there are a few people that care. Sierra club is a good example. Even people with modest incomes can add more insulation to their homes, reduce the use of heating and air conditioning, use lower wattage light bulbs, and reduce unnecessary car trips. If everyone would do the simple things it would do more good than a few people making major lifestyle changes. Also, be sure to vote in the upcoming elections for the candidate with the best environmental record. These people can't make a difference if they don't get elected.

Answer 4

i am not ashamed, because i do the best i can. i reuse everything, i recycle when i can, and i reduce by repairing things, or passing them down the line to someone who can use them instead of throwing them away. if i'm out hicking, i pick up whatever garbage i come across. if i see an opportunity to educate someone on an important issue, i do that too. it used to be i started my day by spending hours at the panda website, sending emails all over the world, campaigning for or against whatever was going on in environmental policy. i don't have time for that now, but i'll get back to it when i can.

but i do share your awe at how nobody seems to care. most people seem to either be deep in denial or safe in the belief that when the excrement hits the ventilator we will all be saved by the authorities that now assure them there is nothing to worry about. i think the excrement will hit the ventilator, a lot sooner than everyone seems to think is possible, and that we'll be on our own, because no one can prepare for a problem they won't acknowledge.
there won't be a miracle cure, like the infamous missile that somehow manages to restore the ozone layer in a matter of seconds, just as it was moving in over California, in a movie i saw once. it will hit the fan, and we will all be covered in it. i just hope people wake up in time to prevent total destruction

Answer 5

Whoholdsthepower,

That is exactly why I am an environmental engineer.

Industry, for the most part, does everything it can to limit it's pollution and negative effects on our environment.

Unfortunately, people, as individuals, do not.

Our cars put more pollution into the air than anything else.

A. The emissions
B. The oil and gas, which comes from refineries (which do not pollute as much as you think)
C. The paint jobs

How many of us recycle everything?

How many of us conserve electricity and water?

Conserving electricity will use less fossil fuels at our power plants.

Answer 6

OK, I'm like an eco-freak, and I think that we could do alot more to help the environment thrive and prosper, but I also believe that we'll be OK for now. Global Warming is not real, and we are doing a little bit to help with energy problemos, so I guess the only thing we can do now is to get these rich jerks to stop cutting down our forests to build resorts that no one's going to go to, and stop using so much oil and fossil fuels before they're all gone. So there you have it. The world according to me.

Answer 7

Be reasonable. The Earth is supporting way more people today than it did in the time before industrial pollution. You are falling for radical eco-propaganda from people who want us to give up all technology and live by organic farming without machinery. There is action being taken. CFCs banned. Wind and solar power getting billions in government help. Cleaner industrial processes being developed. And on and on.

Answer 8

Yeah, I agree, you should see the air out here in Vegas, we live closer to the mountain and you can see the city and all the smog from our backyard, it makes me sick. It looks nasty, I can't see how people in even bigger cities like LA and NY deal with it. Not to mention the quality of our water...ughh. There are way too many pollutants in our tap water and Lake Mead I believe, is the main source of water consumption. The lake is nasty, polluted, just plain funky. I'm almost ready to move back to Michigan.

Answer 9

what i also hate is how ppl are always like oh its the rich ppls fault. they all buy big cars and use tons of electricity. that is not true, dont make stereotypes. i also think its stupid that bush isnt doing anything about it. but i do what i can. i recycle, turn off lights and yell at my mom when she leaves the fridge open.

Answer 10

Yes!