I'm concerned about the well being of the only planet I've ever really had close personal contact, Are you?

Question

Earth is extremely unique.

Being close to a steady star of a certain size (Our sun is in or near the top 10% of stars in terms of size)
Not so close as to make water boil off and not to far away that water is always or nearly always frozen.

It also has a moon that is large enough that its gravitational forces have keeped the inner core of the planet molten creating a magnetic field around the planet that helps sheild it from the forces of the solar wind.
That solar wind might be stripping away the air of the planet Mars which has no magnetic field , is really to cold for liquid water and has to little mass to hold liquid water because the water would vaporize due to the extremely low atmospheric presure.

It is my opinion that many aspects of the american way of life (the automobile & suburbia, greed, oil dependence among a few) is extremely harmful to the long term well being of society.

Do you give this much thought ?

Why ?

When ?

What Now?

Answer 1

I agree with the unique Earth bit. But the Sun is an average star in terms of heat and size, very mainstream. Western society, with its reliance on consumerism, is a drain on society, and is influencing developing countries to compete and produce these goods very cheaply, leading to increased pollution and reliance on fossil fuels. As to the long term survival of society, who knows. It seems that governments throughout the world are waiting for it to be too late before doing anything and then blaming other people.

Answer 2

Thank you for that thoughtful list of things that make our planet our home.

Interesting just how important scientific understanding is to this end, isn't it? Because there's no way you could have made any of those statements without drawing on centuries of astronomical observation and physical conclusions.

Anyway, an acquaintence pointed out recently that the environmental movement has become increasingly harmed because of its unrelenting "doom and gloom" message. Example?

When was the last time you saw a headline devoted to the alarming amount of lead in our children's bodies?

It used to be that gasoline was leaded (to keep engines from knocking)... then slowly the word got out that having lead particles was Not Good in the lungs.

We eventually unleaded our gasoline, at considerable expense and trouble. This was a solid victory for the environmental wing; so how often do we celebrate this?

I'm serious. I'm not saying you're mistaken in your concern at all... but don't you think that your concern wouldn't be helped by celebrating environment victories?

If people think that it's ALL disaster, they'll give up.

Answer 3

The earth is unique by that it allows the existence of water based life, there is no similar celestial body in the solar system, although some other bodies have many similarities to earth (magnetic field, atmosphere) but none is suitable for life.
what you call the American way or the culture of consumerism, is by no means an American invention but it reached its peak in the USA.
The main danger from this culture of excess is ecological (global warming, mass extinction, etc.) and not social.

Answer 4

You have serious concerns for planets Earth and Mars.Every-one is concerned. Earth will survive as it has done in the past , and I am sure that Mars will still be here with us for eternity too.

Answer 5

I'm not worried.

Earth has survived at least 6 mass extinctions. It will sort itself out.

Of course, getting rid of us may be part of its solution.

Answer 6

Or course I do. I just hope for some solution to all this.