Are you optimistic or pessimistic of our planet's future?

Question

I am optimistic. Despite how things look now, with population growth, pollution etc, I think we will learn and create a better world for ourselves, though it may take alot of time.I don't believe we will exterminate ourselves through our excesses.
Population growth is slowing faster than expected in many countries.

Answer 1

I am very very concerned about the global warming and environmental pollution !!!

Answer 2

I am Pessimistic, as people like Bush just Talk the Talk and don't try to stop Industry polluting. Whilst Industry continues to fund world government and governmental projects (See NASA projects etc) there will never be anything more that Rhetoric coming from the Hallowed Halls.
Then you have Russia and China, these two country's are only interested in profit and not the consequences. How can you hope to control the uncontrollable?

I'm afraid that we are too far down the slippery slope for salvation. The only hope is that some kind of natural disaster cleanses the areas in most need of cleansing!

The only thing that gives me hope, is that our Children's and Grandchildren's awareness of environmental issues will continue their existences on this fragile planet.

Answer 3

About the Planet - Optimistic - it is unlikely, even with our amazing wasteful short-sighted advancement that we will 'destroy the world'. If we all go the way of the dodo, the remaining biosphere may throw up something a bit more successful.

However, I don't think that humanity can last in its current state - we are not suited to the culture we have created. People confuse wants with needs and often base their status and self-image on external factors they have no control over. If we are to survive we need to change our society to re-prioritise ideas like community and progress instead of individual security and the amassing of wealth.

Unfortunately we also need to separate the factions of our population who cause friction and conflict or find some common purpose which relegates these different ideologies to an interesting debate. Any ideas....?

Answer 4

Sorry, but I am pessimistic. Even if population growth slows, we are still using our planets resources at a frightening rate. I don't believe we will exterminate ourselves but I do feel that if we don't take responsibility for our actions,eg, overfishing, cutting down of rainforests,driving animals to extinction we will be living on a poorer planet than we do now.
Even if it is not carbon emmissions that are causing global warming, it is still happening, and animals like the polar bear face extinction because of it.
Our planet is so so beautiful and so delicately balanced that we are in danger of living somewhere completely unrecognisable 100 years from now. If you think that thats the world our grandchildren and great grandchildren will inherit, it's pretty sad. This is a subject I could parp on about all day. Let's not get started on the rabid consumerism of celebrities like J-Lo and Wyclef Jean supporting the trade in fur.

Answer 5

I'm pessimistic, however I think matters will go into a certain state, when the governments must act, but it is going to be too late. Of course there will be problems, but it will be solved, but not easily.
Global warming and the over-pollution of wealthy states are the main things to be concerned about, in the next 100 years. We are using up not renewable resources, that will have an important effect.

Answer 6

The future lies in the future & none of us will see all of it.
Instead of being optimistic (It's OUR world & the best possible one at that) or being pessimistic (Fearing that the optimist may be true) = we should go out & live in the NOW & do what we can for the planet as long as we are passing through....

Answer 7

Well, major changes are going to have to occur if earth is to be maintained because we are consuming something around threefold the energy of what the earth is able to produce annually. Yet, I am too optimistic because I believe whatever happens is just as right as anything else could be, if not, more so because of the fact that the natural existence led to it. Haha well, here i am introducing a very long philosophy that if you don't want to here it would not be worth writing. if you do [e-mail]

Your brother,
nate

Answer 8

I am optimistic too, Bush and Blair can't live forever.
Nah, other than that, I am sure we'll get better, have you read Nostradamus's prophecies? He said the world will go on until the year 7000ish, so we have plenty of time to sort ourselves out!

Answer 9

Something like RepRap (reprap.org) could change things markedly, that's why I'm a big fan of it...

Someone has already said that 'the planet' will do okay, it's just 'us' that will 'suffer'... & that could happen anyway, even if we were the 'greenest' of the 'green'...

Life, as long as it survives, then I'm content about the future...

Biggest concern is that regarding whether one should have children or not... but then, I suppose, that was always a big concern (if you had the time & the education t' think about it).

Answer 10

Planet Earth should stay around until the next Black Hole sucks us up to nothingness. Meanwhile, the animals living on the planet may perish, except for the bacteria and the cockroaches etc.

Answer 11

Very Optimistic and Happy. I have been shown that it always gets worse before it gets better, and the better is just around the corner. Stay strong, stay positive....The Earth has gone threw many changes before and come back to give life again, and so she will continue to do.