Informed opinions if possible - are we facing an environmental apocalypse?

Answer 1

It is not a matter of "opinion" as to whether our planet is heading for environmental disaster or not.

It is a matter of fact, proven by scientific research and historical evidence.

The answer to your question, therefore, is yes, we are facing an environmental apocalypse.

:-(

We are reaching saturation point in regard to the waste humans generate- fact.

We are witnessing the melting of the polar ice caps- fact.

We are witnessing the drastic and accelerated speeding up of climate change- fact.

We are draining finite resources in regard to fossil fuels which we consider essential to our wellbeing- fact.

We are witnessing the acceleration of dying out of species at a scale which indicates we are to blame- fact.

Sadly we are not going to take this serious until it is too late. It is as though we will not DO anything to help ourselves (used in the collective) until we see it for ourselves.

Sadly, with a planet the size of ours, when we finally do, it will be too late to affect positive change.

Change must happen now- recycle, reuse and TURN OFF THOSE LIGHTS!

If EVERYONE in the Western world were to take charge of the little corner of their environment and take it seriously then we do stand a chance to halt the "decay".

People/scientists have tried to put a time on how long before we are too late to affect change. Apparently the next ten years (2017) represent our last chance.

That means if we act now, and act responsibly we COULD ensure the future of our children.

Because who REALLY wants to live in Mad Max Country?! Loved the films but was so pleased it was all on a white screen!

/puts on sandwich board and runs up and down her local street

Oh- and I run an environmental design company since 1997 and have won two awards- been a HARD slog but people are beginning to accept that I am not a sandal wearing hippy advocating we use grey recycled letterpaper!

Thanks for a good question and a good debate.

(edited to add the following as folk have answered since I began my reply:

The melting of the "icebergs" is not a case of "depends on where it is- it could be anywhere" but a case of no matter WHERE it DOES affect the planet. They are part of our entire planet's eco system and as such are regulators of climate. Mess with those "settings" in earth's "refrigerator" and you are going to "spoil" the entire content!

"Not in my lifetime".... Oohhh... While I understand that sentiment I ask, respectfully, that you think on that- do you plan to marry and have children? Do you HAVE children? I have. And I am DESPERATE because I am doing ALL I can to raise her well and teach her to be a good citizen of the planet and make sure that *I* don't leave a mess for her to have to live with after I am gone. She may wish to have children and bless me with grandchildren in time! What of them? Do I want to see them live like Mad Maxites?! Nope.

As for the media coverage of our planet's plight- yep, totally sensationalised. "Big melt"- what a title. Or IS it?!?! I put it to you that no matter what the media say the FACTS are the facts. And at the end of the day- what does it MATTER how we get our information. We are fortunate to HAVE the information age to let us access the information, however "glorified" because once on over information was simply not available.

If I may just take a totally (is it?) unrelated subject- war? WW1 was unreported by comparison to WW2 and THAT was unreported compared to today's wars in Iraq and the like. Which would YOU prefer? I KNOW my grandparents (in Germany) would PREFER to have known the glorified/twisted/sensationalised truth contained in any information than to have lived as they had to- not knowing WHAT it was all about and not knowing where their friends and neighbours "disappeared" to!

So- information is as good as the recipient wants it to be. By all means question its inherent truth! But be glad we have it! It IS why we are able to affect betterment before it is too late!

Finally- let's not wait around for "others" (ie the big companies or, indeed, world leaders) to affect the change. Be honest- WHO consumes? We do. Look about your home and see what electrical appliances are on stand by. Those consume minute amounts of power which, in turn add up to drain resources. Coal and nuclear power plants are known to be pollutants. Yet they run those wee red LCD lights on your TV! Lights left on in rooms no one can see them in. Paper not recycled to make toilet paper from. Bottles, tins, plastic in landfill where machines running on diesel oil pound them into the earth and other machines run on fossil fuels pump out the methane into the air. Talk of dumping our own waste in other countries... Talk of taking it into SPACE to dump because we have run out of space! Yes, nations such as China need to be held responsible. Yes, Bush needs to re-acknowledge the Kyoto Protocol.

But WE are the ones who make the difference. WE hold the power to NOT pollute more than we have to. This is not like going, or not going, to war- this is an individually achievable victory and we owe it to ourselves and our children to ACCEPT that fundamental truth. :-D Should really make us all feel really powerful!

Peace out! -end of edit)

Answer 2

Undoubtedly and the primary cause is over population.
Governments are greedy for more tax revenue and corporations for greater profits. As a result of these short term objectives, the world is getting to the end of the greatest ever pyramid selling scam. The West must deal with the demographic problem and oblige people to work longer. Although tough on those in middle age and approaching retirement, it will avoid the increase in tax revenue (provided by expansion of population) necessary to support the ageing population. Drastic cuts in welfare for those of working age will reduce the production of unproductive people and the shrinking population will enjoy an improved quality of life.
Reduced demand will big a big step to saving the planet.

Answer 3

Well, I think if Sir David Attenborough believes global warming is happening now then thats good enough for me, I will take his word for it!

However, I do think that the way the media report on this though is terrible. I don't think we should take our information on this issue from the TV news. It is very easy for them to film pictures of icebergs melting etc and put a caption on the screen which says 'The Big Melt' or something similar, but they could be anywhere! For informed opinion maybe read some journals and some up to do research and then we can make our own minds up.

Answer 4

Fresh uncontaminated drinking water. If someone had told my father's generation they would have to buy drinking water, filter their home tap water they would have fainted with laughter. Next time you are in a store look around at the huge amount of bottled water there. Imagine how much water has been taken out of the environment and placed in plastic containers world wide. No Joke, do the math. This should scare us all. Imagine yourself after something like Katrina only Nationwide, what would you be willing to do to secure a supply of clean water for your family.

Answer 5

Absolutely. Every biology class and numerous other college courses I've taken have discussed the decline in animal and plant life. The oceans have lost thousands of species of fish and other types of marine life. The rain forrests are shrinking to make houses for Urban sprawl. The world is experiencing a human population swell causing the race to reach a non sustainable level of population.

Answer 6

Absolutely.

And the only way we can stop it is to fight Global Overpopulation.

With Six and One Half BILLION people crowding this tiny little planet, we are being sucked dry - destroyed, permanently ruined.

Stop the environmental apocalypse - stop global overpopulation!

Answer 7

I believe the world is heading towards another 'cycle' to refresh itself. I feel that humans have brought upon this 'cycle' a lot faster than in the past. I think most governments are more concerned about $$ than about anything enviromental. (My current president, Mr Bush, once ran his own oil company.)

I think CA and most of the world is trying, but the biggest economies/contries are not doing as much as they should be to help preserve the current condition of our enviroment.

(I'm sure many people will argue against me on this, but I feel that the 'baby boomers' have out grown their hippy lifestyle; thus the majority of our (US) country isn't concerned about our planet's health.)

Answer 8

No, the world has gone through great cycles of change before & this is another one on the way.

don't pay attention to scientists, they were the ones telling us 30 years ago we were heading towards a new Ice Age & that 15 years ago acid rain would be the end of us all.

if humanity dies out it won't really matter to the world, the dinosaurs died out & the world kept on turning.

Answer 9

I think Stephen Hawkings is correct. We will be lucky if humanity gets much more than 100 years. We face the "RUNAWAY GREENHOUSE EFFECT" and we're all in some sort of denial.
We're DOOMED.

Answer 10

depends if the big polluting countries are worried about our future or their economy...my guess is their economy