Are we all fucked?

[Weltenfeind]

That article on live aid was an interesting read and made me think of this :
https://www.discogs.com/Various-AntiGeldof-Compilation/release/1038926
More relevant than ever..

[Pedrito]

I'd agree on the majority of what you're saying there. There's an argument that the likes of Greta and Ocasio Cortez are actually doing more harm than good which needs to be factored in. The drama, the hysteria and the exaggeration just fucks people off to the point that they lose intetest and creates a kind of siege mentality that wouldn't exist otherwise.

Again, not saying Lomborg or indeed Pinker are 100%, I'm the furthest thing from a scientist, but I also value cool, steady and realistic approaches rather than some poor girl who has been put up to all sorts by people who should know better, throwing the hexxes on crowds and spitting adolescent venom.

Despite the interviewers obvious Republican leanings a video worth listening to:

https://youtu.be/5QyXduteiWE

[Ollkiller]

One thing I've noticed is that the level of personal vitriol that has been levelled at this child online just goes to show what a fucking cesspit social media is these days.

Whatever your position on the subject at least she's out there protesting for what she believes in. Most people giving out about her won't change a single thing in their lives.

[Eoin McLove]

I had a look at those links, Pedro. I am certainly convinced that we need to find the solutions through technology and cutting edge science, and naturally measured and realistic debate should always be at the centre of things too,  rather than an idyllic return to some imaginary,  pre-Industrial Revolution utopia.  Civilisation advances inexorably,  so trying to get everyone to stop using mobile phones,  driving cars,  flying in planes or using electricity is nonsense.  It's about having some faith in the scientists to find balance and compromise so that we can continue to enjoy the luxurious lives we have become accustomed to while reaping as little damage on the planet as possible in the process.  The hype is irritating when you step back from it,  especially as it polarises people and makes this issue ever more political.  That said,  the general shift in attitude towards greener living is a good thing.

[Bigmac]

I can't help but enjoy the tin foil hat responses that can sometimes emerge from these kinds of things.

Most interesting theory I have heard so far: the true intention of the "climate change" agenda is just to establish  global governance over the acquisition and consumption of fossil fuels.

To control a nation's CO2 output is to control their fossil fuel usage/allotment which is essentially control their entire economy and its rate of growth. So whoever gets to set those limits/quota will get to choose winners and losers of economic competition.

The threat of climate catastrophe is just a simple ruse meant to galvanize support from the masses in order to put pressure on all democratic governments to submit to global fossil fuel governance.

Also, it would allow them to manage a gradual reduction in oil consumption under the pretense of environmentalism while hiding from the public that the true reason is that we've hit peak oil and/or that stocks of fuels are running out, and therefore, they can avoid the resulting panic / economic collapse that would probably cause.

[Eoin McLove]

That Lomborg interview is interesting indeed.  I like these level headed and positive people who are interested more in practical solutions than ideological battles.  It gives me hope for the future.

[blessed1]

I know this might sound retarded but I actually don't care what happens the world when I'm dead.
It's probably better that we get wiped out anyhow.

[Eoin McLove]

That's not exactly the most inspiring line of thought,  I reckon.  I like the ingenuity of technology (despite generally being retarded around it!), I like the idea of smart people using their ingenuity to improve the world in various ways,  I like the idea of humanity actually finding a way to flourish without destroying the planet, particularly now that I have a kid myself,  but even apart from that.  We are an ingenious species- the most sophisticated one we know of that exists in the universe- and it's inspiring to think of what humans might be capable of if we manage not to wipe ourselves out.  Our life spans have more than doubled in the space of a couple of hundred years and they suspect that the first human to live till 200 has already been born.  I'm fascinated by that.  For all of the stupid problems we create as a species,  we have the potential for greatness- art,  music,  literature,  poetry,  philosophy,  psychology,  mathematics,  technology,  astronomy,  engineering etc etc etc... It seems a bit reductive to say that the world would be better off without us, and nothing short of a paradox. I don't find the notion of mass human extinction anywhere near as exciting as,  say,  being able to listen to new incredible music or reading a brilliant new book or hearing about some ground-breaking invention or cure that benefits some part of humanity. 

[Pedrito]

What about new incredible music about mass human extinction? 

Yep, I agree, the pessimistic approach annoys me no end. There's too many people..yeah well here's a cliff do us all a favour.

[Eoin McLove]

I'm all for killing people in songs,  not that big a fan of killing people in the real world 

[blessed1]

This might sound stupid but i actually dont know much about climate change.
But does climate change not occur naturally?
I mean its happened plenty of other times right.
Or is it entirely our fault this time?
Either way it cant really be stopped can it?

[Juggz]

Assuming it only wipes out humans, then I think I'm with you. If it kills everything else then it's a bit of a cunty move by us, no? This could be the only planet with life in the universe. It would be a shame if little more than laziness, greed and stupidity were to erase it all.

[Eoin McLove]

This might sound stupid but i actually dont know much about climate change.
But does climate change not occur naturally?
I mean its happened plenty of other times right.
Or is it entirely our fault this time?
Either way it cant really be stopped can it?

As far as I understand it does happen naturally but human activity,  namely the burning of fossil fuels which sends carbon into the atmosphere,  is speeding up the process.  When you consider the amount of cars,  trains,  planes, power plants to generate electricity and the use of gas for heating homes,  and you combine that with the cutting down of rainforests and possibly even hedgerows, and you factor in the overgrazing of upland areas particularly in Britain and Ireland by sheep and deer which massively reduce our forests (the world average is around 30% of land being covered in forest as opposed to around 13% here!) and the fact that trees absorb carbon and recycle it back into the atmosphere as oxygen,  our interference is believed to have a profound effect. The worry,  and there is some evidence to back this,  is that as the climate continues to heat up it will melt the permafrost above the arctic circle which is currently holding massive amounts of carbon that will end up back in the atmosphere further speeding up the process.

[blessed1]

If it kills everything else then it's a bit of a cunty move by us, no?

Yes it is.
Like i said earlier i still dont really care though once it doesnt happen in my lifetime.
Selfish but true.

[blessed1]

This might sound stupid but i actually dont know much about climate change.
But does climate change not occur naturally?
I mean its happened plenty of other times right.
Or is it entirely our fault this time?
Either way it cant really be stopped can it?

As far as I understand it does happen naturally but human activity,  namely the burning of fossil fuels which sends carbon into the atmosphere,  is speeding up the process.  When you consider the amount of cars,  trains,  planes, power plants to generate electricity and the use of gas for heating homes,  and you combine that with the cutting down of rainforests and possibly even hedgerows, and you factor in the overgrazing of upland areas particularly in Britain and Ireland by sheep and deer which massively reduce our forests (the world average is around 30% of land being covered in forest as opposed to around 13% here!) and the fact that trees absorb carbon and recycle it back into the atmosphere as oxygen,  our interference is believed to have a profound effect. The worry,  and there is some evidence to back this,  is that as the climate continues to heat up it will melt the permafrost above the arctic circle which is currently holding massive amounts of carbon that will end up back in the atmosphere further speeding up the process.

Short, informative and to the point
thanks haha