A few thoughts about the future of this planet

baz · 8 Dec 2016, 12:56

I turned 65 today and after a lifetime of trying to explain why we cannot continue to live like we do, I cannot understand why we don't see it.

The planet, by any scientific or empirical measure, is damaged now. Accept that.

This planet will be uninhabitable in 50 to 100 years by conservative estimates.
And perhaps less taking account of the 'tipping points', some say 20.

By uninhabitable I mean...

Europe freezing because of the ocean currents.
Equatorial becoming arid.
3 to 5 metre sea rise.
Massive climate migration overwhelming others.
Mass extinction OF Flora, Fauna and Humans.

Your children's children's will have a bleak future.

Your Great-grand Children will be hard pressed to stay alive, The planets' future is fucked.

At my birthday dinner tonight we talked about this...
...consensus was nothing will change, cos people wont.

Depressed Baz

pilou · 8 Dec 2016, 14:39

And this is nothing!
Have you thinked of the Univers in general ?
It's no more joyful for it! Big Crunch, Big Bounce, Big Rip, Big Freeze, Big Slurp...
I wish that fortify simulate you!

and happy birthday!

solo · 8 Dec 2016, 15:10

Well then....

Happy birthday to you.

The good news, wars in the future will not be fought over religion or oil, but over access to drinkable water.

Get a puppy and you'll feel better.

Rich O Brien · 8 Dec 2016, 15:19

Happy b'day Baz!

I think the next gen of young people will administer the most change. This planet is still largely run by the hippy/punk generation who have ties to fuel and weapons industry.

So they might be in for a few decades of manmade natural disasters but at least they seed the next gen approach to caring for the planet.

Or we end up finding out the earth is flat and where are simply in the matrix.

solo · 8 Dec 2016, 15:22

kaas · 8 Dec 2016, 16:23

Until shit really hits the fan - nothing big will change I'm afraid. Only after it's too late and the people in general are getting convinced there's a big problem, the politicians will dare to propose a more simple life and take real action.

Getting a kitten can't hurt either I think...

ps Happy birthday!

pbacot · 8 Dec 2016, 16:33

I know how you feel. Don't exaggerate regarding timelines, it gives the deniers more ammunition. It looks really bad though, especially since November.

baz · 9 Dec 2016, 10:58

@rich o brien said:

Happy b'day Baz!

I think the next gen of young people will administer the most change. This planet is still largely run by the hippy/punk generation who have ties to fuel and weapons industry.

So they might be in for a few decades of manmade natural disasters but at least they seed the next gen approach to caring for the planet.

Or we end up finding out the earth is flat and where are simply in the matrix.

A few decades? Some scientists are saying its already too late. And 20/30 years is way too late.

baz · 9 Dec 2016, 11:00

@pilou said:

And this is nothing!
Have you thinked of the Univers in general ?
It's no more joyful for it! Big Crunch, Big Bounce, Big Rip, Big Freeze, Big Slurp...
I wish that fortify simulate you!

and happy birthday!
]

Very Buddhist of you Pilou. (As in existential.

baz · 9 Dec 2016, 11:03

@solo said:

Well then....

Happy birthday to you.

The good news, wars in the future will not be fought over religion or oil, but over access to drinkable water.

Get a puppy and you'll feel better.

So that's good news? And I agree, and after that? Don't you care?
(I do have a dog and she does make me feel better).

baz · 9 Dec 2016, 11:06

@solo said:

human are a virus

Totally. And if you agree with this Solo, then you agree with me, there is no future.

baz · 9 Dec 2016, 11:10

@kaas said:

Until shit really hits the fan - nothing big will change I'm afraid. Only after it's too late and the people in general are getting convinced there's a big problem, the politicians will dare to propose a more simple life and take real action.

Getting a kitten can't hurt either I think...

ps Happy birthday!

yeah, thats what i expect.
no cats, love em, but they are much too destructive to the environment.

baz · 9 Dec 2016, 11:12

@pbacot said:

I know how you feel. Don't exaggerate regarding timelines, it gives the deniers more ammunition. It looks really bad though, especially since November.

Yes, Trump might prove to be the proverbial straw, tho' Obama couldn't do much against the entrenched interests for denial. Nor can our PM, Turnbull. He has just caved in on a carbon tax.

baz · 9 Dec 2016, 11:14

And thanks for all the Birthday wishes.
Not depressed now that I'm sober, just my usual pragmatic self.
See you all in hell.

pbacot · 9 Dec 2016, 16:20

@baz said:

@pbacot said:

I know how you feel. Don't exaggerate regarding timelines, it gives the deniers more ammunition. It looks really bad though, especially since November.

Yes, Trump might prove to be the proverbial straw, tho' Obama couldn't do much against the entrenched interests for denial. Nor can our PM, Turnbull. He has just caved in on a carbon tax.

Really bugs me that they keep calling this proposed EPA wrecker a "climate change skeptic". He's a DENIER of science. Scientists are skeptics, and they work from observations. These guys aren't skeptics they're cynics and opportunists.

Stinkie · 9 Dec 2016, 21:41

@pbacot said:

These guys aren't skeptics they're cynics and opportunists.

Hear, hear. Me, I am tired of opportunist 'post truth' bs. Don't lie. Don't be a pr*ck. Keep the greater good in mind. Behave bloody responsibly.

Be a mensch, or at least strive to be one.

@baz said:

See you all in hell.

There'd better be beer. And crisps. On a more serious note: the climate thing's got me worried, too. Same goes for the Trump phenomenon, the Brexit, and the rise of the nationalist right all over Europe.

Things aren't looking great. Then again, I turned 40 last week. Could be a case of old man grumpiness.

You kids get off my lawn!

jiminy-billy-bob · 10 Dec 2016, 00:09

I'm 26 and I don't want to procreate for this very reason... What's the point of creating a life in this context

jenujacob · 10 Dec 2016, 07:14

Now would be a good time for those extraterrestrials to show up! Unless we humans stop feeling to be the centre of this universe theres nothing that can be done to stop our reckless behaviour to our planet and to our fellow humans!

jenujacob · 10 Dec 2016, 07:16

@jiminy-billy-bob said:

I'm 26 and I don't want to procreate for this very reason... What's the point of creating a life in this context

Tahts too sad!!! U should have skattered ur seeds! We could have gotten more talented ruby coders for sketchup!

Futurepast · 13 Dec 2016, 14:37

You have the forces on one side
http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-phony-war-against-co2-1477955418
vs. The forces on the other
http://climatefeedback.org/evaluation/the-phony-war-against-co2-the-wall-street-journal-rodney-nichols-harrison-schmitt/
Each argueing over the impact of carbon dioxide in climate change. What they are arguing is fine except that they are not arguing about Methane.
Methane which accounts for only 14 percent of emissions worldwide, traps up to 100 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 5-year period. This means that even though carbon dioxide molecules outnumber methane 5 to 1, this comparatively smaller amount of methane is still 19 times greater a problem for climate change over a 5 year period, and 4 times greater over a 100 year period.
To put it another way, any methane molecule released today is 100 times more heat-trapping than a molecule of carbon dioxide, or potentially even higher according to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
With the UN establishing various tipping points for irreversible climate change damage on the horizon, it’s time that methane enters mainstream consideration. And better yet, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that livestock production is responsible for 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, while other organizations like the Worldwatch Institute have estimated it could be as much as 51 percent.
I say we tackle the Methane problem. Let’s all take a mallet and a bag of corks, and drive one up every cow’s ass!