Earth Day: No more burning rivers, but new threats (AP)

Cass,

I am happy to see that thousands of people are now acting locally to save the environment, but whatever happened to thinking globally?

Hi nrdthxpr,

Thanks for the comment! I think we at the Green Forum do try to think globally. What did you specifically have in mind?

Originally Posted by Cass

Hi nrdthxpr,

Thanks for the comment! I think we at the Green Forum do try to think globally. What did you specifically have in mind?

The growing human population keeps on producing a growing amount of more waste and garbage than any existing program can recycle. What is needed is an agreement by all nations to recycle 100%, or as close to that as technically possible. As it is, only a small proportion is actually prevented from going into the ever-growing landfills and into the oceans. Obviously, the planet cannot survive an ever increasing burden of toxic waste and trash, so 100% recycling is the temporary solution. The long term answer is peaceful, voluntary family planning programs in every nation to reduce the human population.

I suspect the reason why no one is even discussing these things is because such actions would stop the economy from growing, instead resources diverted to returning everyone to living in balance with the natural environment. Even our somewhat progressive President Obama says he intends to "get this economy back on track and growing again."

The problem with that policy is that the Earth is NOT growing to accomodate such relentlessly growing economic development. Instead, it is shrinking with each volcano and earthquake, as it has since its beginning as a huge mass of swirling hot gases, and especially today with the millions of gallons of oil and thousands of tons of minerals pumped and mined out of the Earth every year, and it appears to me that process of normally very slow contraction is accelerating. Therefore, a growing economy on a shrinking planet has no future.

Is it OK for us to discuss this here on the Green Forum?

Heck yeah! I totally agree as well btw. Of course I have had this same conversation with many of my colleagues and others who are highly educated. I tell them it is simply impossible to have infinite growth in a finite world and they then look at me as though I have the plague and proceed with their same tired argument "don't you believe in technology"? Of course I believe in technology, but technology will not create more space, (I guess you can build up forever as skyscrapers can go on and on, but what kind of quality of life is that?). The fact is that we are outgrowing our environment. Going to post an article link right now about how the oceans are changing. The acidic levels are becoming alarming, fish are becoming harder to fish, etc... Infinite growth and maintenance of a high standard of living are simply mutually exclusive, imo unfortunately...

The big problem with persuading people to change is that we are dealing with an instinct to grow. All life on Earth instinctively grows and the business economy is all about growth. The typical "big boy" says "I don't have a problem with your opinions, but if you get in my way I will roll over you." Only the fear of death is a stronger emotion, so the fact of a polluted and declining Earth needs to be shown graphically to the public everywhere possible. Al Gore's Worldwide Rock concert helped to make global warming a legitimate cause. Perhaps another one proclaiming "A growing economy on a shrinking planet has no future!" so "Return planet Earth to its natural order!" Young people have the energy and creative imagination to save their planet IF they have the information.

I agree with the instinct to grow. But then one can make the argument that there should be an instinct for an end as all life forms are encumbered within a life cycle. All life eventually dies. Simple fact. If you think the Earth is 'alive' it too will die one day. Hopefully not for a bagillion years but you get my point... Earth is precious, we cannot continue to treat it as a resource that will last forever... we need to care for it and treat it more precious than gold...

That is a beautiful sentiment that I share, but we need to spread the word far and wide and persuade people to change, or we will see and feel the planet die in our lifetime. Time is running out.
I have more in my homepage "If Saving the Earth" at Google. Am I allowed to link to it here?

Yes nrdthxpr, you've definitely 'earned' the right to post it. Please post it in its own thread if you like.

Thanks!

Thankyou Cass, I've worked on it for about 12 years.

IF SAVING THE EARTH

As you may see, I tend like most people, between hope and despair.

Wow nrdthxpr, that is an impressive site, thanks for sharing! 12 years is some dedicated commitment for sure!