What will the next cause be?

Question

A few decades ago it was the onset of the next ice age.
Then we needed to save the whales.
Then the rainforests were at the forefront.
Now, it is global warming.

I understand that everyone has a cause that they feel passionate about. Whether it is AIDS research, famine, or your local PTA, whatever it may be. The doomsdayers have had their causes over the years too that must be addressed NOW in order to save all living creatures. The truth is, there are much more immediate and potentially devistating events, like a stray meteor taking out all living things on earth, that receive little to no attention from the doomsdayers--and are grossly underfunded to boot.

Why the focus on timely negatives?

Note: given enough time we could advert impact with even a very large meteor.

Special note for linlyons: how about 100 years ago taking out 2,150 square km? I'd say that's a much more immediate threat since we have evidence that it already happened, not being currently debated. Cheers!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event

Answer 1

The doonsayers can't make a case for the meteor being caused by people. What better way to stir up passion for a cause than to tell people they are the cause of the problem and it is going to destroy the world at a future date? (Usually far enough in the future that they will not see it happen anyway.)

Answer 2

I just saw some teenagers the other day that had a bake sale to Save the Whales. I don't think they knew what they were talking about.

Anyway, I think we like to deal with what we feel we have control over. A meteor for example is something that, if large enough, we can't do anything about. (Are we going to blast it into a million smaller pieces that are just going to rain down on earth and destroy everything anyway?) The activists want their world to be the best it can be for the time we live on it, and leave it in an okay state for the next generation.

While space exploration programs are indeed grossly underfunded (we landed on the moon ppl don't stop there!) I'm also worried about this new M class planet everyone has been talking about. Are we just going to move some of us there when our population gets too large for Earth to sustain it? Will we call our mission The Locust?

We focus on things that are current (in the media, in science, wherever). As a species we tend to have a combination One Track Mind/ADD thing going on. As for AIDS and cancer etc, people who are involved in that usually have been directly effected by it, as well as feel passionately that they should support finding the solution.

But I don't know what the next cause will be, don't have my crystal ball. If I knew, I'd buy stocks now while they're still cheap. ;)

Answer 3

A good question -and you anticipate BOTH the substance and the impact (literally) of the next "big thing."

I'm talking about those big rocks headed our way. Unlike all the other crises you've mentioned, THIS puppy can be quantified both as to what, when, and expected consequences. And so, when the "Morning Show" opens with, "Friends, we've got bad news ..." it will not be speculative or need more data or study. On the contrary, once discovered and tracked, and the course plotted, its all about watching it happen. There may be mid-course adjustments and refinement of the specific target area on earth, but that's all about frying pans and fires.

At least we can console ourselves with the notion that the panic is justified.

Popcorn, anyone?

Answer 4

Personally, I think that everyone should make substantial contributions to the "Make Mike T a rich man fund". I do agree with you that everything these days is bad news and doom and gloom. But then again, who would listen to the news if it was all good news. My personal view is to act responsibly (recycle, don't pollute, work to conserve energy) and forget about all the global catastrophes that are predicted to happen next week. Last time I checked Al Gore nor the New York Post had a direct line to Jesus to see what the future holds!

Answer 5

What ever the liberal elite dreams up next to justify and enhance there social agenda of having the government in control of every aspect of your life. This new emergency/crisis will be discovered two days after they realize that global warming is not going to achieve their goals.

Answer 6

Why "Timely negatives," because there is great political power (and a pot load of money) in urgency and crisis.

I think the next "cause" will simply be generalized indistinct, undirected, undifferentiated, Global Whining--no wait that may be the current one.

Answer 7

because there is a devil. and i think the next threat is that "God" will give up his oath of not destroying the world with water like he did in the times of Noah to do it in this generation because homos are taking over the world, and people are saying " it doesn't matter as long as they don't affect me".

we need to watch out for that. that's even worse than global warming

Answer 8

All of these issues are still pertinent including the one you suggest. It's a focus on global harmony in all things and relations.

Answer 9

The next cause will be, whichever scheme the politicians can dream up, to allow them to extort further taxes from us.

Possibly some new sexy doomsday scenario, that enables its promoters to obtain nice juicy research grants.

Answer 10

I'd rather die quickly than see the earth die and slowly starve to death.