discuss The Environmental Thread - Earth Matters, so what's holding us back?

[Cannuck]

I believe everyone would agree on at least one point - planet Earth matters! For years, scholars and environmentalists have touted the idea - that the boundaries of life on our planet have been stretched to a breaking point by human activity. From a scientific perspective, the notion of climate change is no longer up for debate. Our species and life as it exists on planet Earth now depends on the choices we humans make. Each individual with a brain possesses the ability to contribute solutions to our common current dilemma, so what's holding us back?

Is it our lack of knowledge; a conflict of interest; the lack of will, and/or other priorities that define the human race? Do we possess the courage to take an initiative, to act upon our convictions and choose to help preserve the Blue planet? Have our environmental problems become too big for individuals to tackle that we must leave it for governments to handle?

Are we limited by our own self-interests, by the confines of our own box or bubble? Have we merely been caught up in our daily mundane existence, distracted by the media and current affairs, that we fail to consider the future? Is Climate Change simply a hoax? Is the human species destined to evolve or are we doomed to extinction?

Here is place to discuss any pertinent thoughts or ideas you may have on the subject. Every thought counts. Please be respectful.

 

[Cannuck]

Are Birds Dinosaurs?

Modern birds can trace their origins to theropods, a branch of mostly meat-eaters on the dinosaur family tree.

Today, there are approximately 10,000 bird species worldwide. Birds might be as tiny as a hummingbird or as big as an ostrich; they might soar like an eagle or dive like a penguin. Nevertheless, they still belong to the same group of theropod dinosaurs that hatched Archaeopteryx 150 million years ago.

https://www.livescience.com/are-birds-dinosaurs.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enantiornithes

Their success was dependent on ADAPTATION and EVOLUTION. The only constant is change...

 

[Cal2]

There will always be competing interests, but if the answers are already out there, and they are - we just need to be made aware. As a species, to take conscious action to correct, maybe even reverse, the damage already done - what will it take for us to get there?

If the way/s being used aren't working or working well, we might have to go at things differently from what we've traditionally been taught as being 'The way', 'The right way'. Example:

Lateral thinking
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_thinking#:~:text=Lateral thinking is a manner,step-by-step logic.

 

[Cal2]

Adding to this:

“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.” - Earl Nightingale

 

[Cannuck]

As well, our propensity and obsession with the latest gadgets and novelties has "thrown out the baby with the bathwater". There is no ONE answer to the myriad issues society is facing today.

If we approach problems from different angles, perhaps we can gain knowledge and foresight forgotten by marrying aspects of theory such as multiple intelligences toward a more practical approach to problem solving.

Here is an example of such intelligences combined that I would classify as Naturalistic, Musical, Intrapersonal and Visual:

 

[Cannuck]

Recognizing the disparities and modifying changing attitudes will enable the "have not" population of the world to access clean drinking water.

It is not a pending problem, it is an existing crisis. Outmoded technologies have held us back. Viable technologies are available, one only has to break down the barriers to be able to access them.

For a more detailed description of Earth's current water crisis see: https://www.braveblue.world/

Watch the the documentary on Netflix

 

[Cannuck]

Open your eyes...

Do you see the cup half full or half empty? There is no planet B

The Science of Why We Don’t Believe Science

When people grow polarized over a body of evidence, or a resolvable matter of fact, the cause may be some form of biased reasoning, but they could also be receiving skewed information to begin with—or a complicated combination of both.

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/04/denial-science-chris-mooney/

 

[s.g]

Reason 5: Brainwash

That was probably the most boring vid with highest expectations till the very last moment. And no, the text closing text didn't help.

Nice drone cam, though.

 

[Cannuck]

That was probably the most boring vid with highest expectations till the very last moment. And no, the text closing text didn't help.

Nice drone cam, though.

LOL @ most boring (only 35 seconds long) ...talk about short attention span.

 

[s.g]

LOL @ most boring (only 35 seconds long) ...talk about short attention span.

Sorry, too long. Didn't read.

 

[Cannuck]

Science and Technology isn't political, or is it? Read the fine print

While scientific researchers are looking for answers, confusion and doubt is fueled and manipulated by the media embroiled in heated political debate. There have been many technological breakthroughs in the recent past that have been quenched by those who have little knowledge of actual science. Many potential solutions to the world's problems are lost in mundane pursuits merely for economic benefit.

“Policy making must be informed by the best available evidence without it being distorted, concealed, or otherwise deliberately miscommunicated incidents of the politicization of science, particularly the overriding of evidence and advice from public health officials and derision of government scientists.”

That said, this thread is not about politics, however; it must be acknowledged that, in order to advance our society, we must take off the blinders of political affiliation and recognize the value of science. It is the most timely question of our day, and that question is: who do we owe the future to? Do we rest our faith in the politics of the day or in the knowledge and understanding gained by those who have spent careers in pursuit of clarity and rigor? Future generations will be the judge, hindsight is 2020.

 

[Cannuck]

Far be it for me to convince anyone otherwise, but all pertinent evidence (scientific, naturalistic or otherwise) makes clear one point: we *human beings, are all one tribe. Just as the life giving water on our planet, however pure, polluted and/or divided, it is still H20. While the percentage of water in our bodily fluids may vary, so too does our gene pool, but the common denominator is - that we are all one.

Either through Socratic debate or Scientific proof, as a society we have become conditioned to think (or not to think as the case may be), that our differences make us who we are as individuals. This idea may seem radical, even revolutionary to some who have become so conditioned and/or choose to believe otherwise. As an evolved race (or de-evolved as the case may be), we allow ourselves to accept the notion that we are different somehow.

However, if we remove ourselves from the ego, the inherited ethos and the bias of our programmed schema, we may find wisdom - thereby allowing us to embrace our commonalities - that which binds us together as we venture to understand and make sense of it all. Hidden within us is a common thread, that we, *spiritual beings having a human experience (not the other way around), live within and share a limited bubble of the biosphere that supports life on our planet. IMO, therein lies the only difference.

 

[Cannuck]

Our motives... particularly in science, in order that we may understand our role, either:

a) to learn from and live in harmony with all things natural (limitless)

- or -​

b) to dominate - its material constructs and those of our own creation (confined)

 

[Sutruk]

Humans waging 'suicidal war' on nature

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55147647

"Our planet is broken," the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, will warn on Wednesday.

"Humanity is waging what he will describe as a "suicidal" war on the natural world.

"Nature always strikes back, and is doing so with gathering force and fury," he will tell a BBC special event on the environment.

Mr Guterres wants to put tackling climate change at the heart of the UN's global mission.

In a speech entitled State of the Planet, he will announce that its "central objective" next year will be to build a global coalition around the need to reduce emissions to net zero.

Net zero refers to cutting greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible and balancing any further releases by removing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.

Mr Guterres will say that every country, city, financial institution and company "should adopt plans for a transition to net zero emissions by 2050". In his view, they will also need to take decisive action now to put themselves on the path towards achieving this vision."

 

[Sutruk]

More than 300 shark, ray species threatened with extinction, new report finds

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/sci...reatened-extinction-new-report-finds-n1250750

Among those at risk are four hammerhead shark species, four species of angel shark and the giant manta ray.

"Thirty-one animal and fish species have been declared extinct and more than 300 species of sharks and rays are now threatened with extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which published a report Thursday."

“These findings are sadly predictable,” Andy Cornish, head of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s shark and ray conservation program, said in a statement. “Twenty years have passed since the international community recognized the threat of overfishing through the International Plan of Action for Sharks. Yet, obviously, not nearly enough has been done to halt the overfishing that is pushing these animals to the brink of extinction.”

 

[Sutruk]

World's largest iceberg may strike island in South Atlantic this month

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/world-s-largest-iceberg-may-strike-land-month-n1250742

The “A68a” iceberg is heading towards the island of South Georgia in the South Atlantic.

"The world’s largest iceberg is closing in on a South Atlantic island and has the potential to cause major damage to wildlife if it becomes grounded near the island.

The “A68a” iceberg — which NASA estimates to be roughly the size of Delaware — broke off from the Larsen C ice shelf in Antarctica in 2017. Currently, it is making its way through the Southern Antarctic Front towards the island of South Georgia, according to the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands."

 

[Sutruk]

Climate Change: How Do We Know?

https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

Global Temperature Rise

The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 2.05 degrees Fahrenheit (1.14 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere.4 Most of the warming occurred in the past 40 years.

Warming Ocean

The ocean has absorbed much of this increased heat, with the top 100 meters (about 328 feet) of ocean showing warming of more than 0.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.33 degrees Celsius) since 1969.

Shrinking Ice Sheets

The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have decreased in mass. Data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment show Greenland lost an average of 279 billion tons of ice per year between 1993 and 2019, while Antarctica lost about 148 billion tons of ice per year.

Glacial Retreat

Glaciers are retreating almost everywhere around the world — including in the Alps, Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska, and Africa.

Sea Level Rise

Global sea level rose about 8 inches (20 centimeters) in the last century. The rate in the last two decades, however, is nearly double that of the last century and accelerating slightly every year.

Declining Arctic Sea Ice

Both the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice has declined rapidly over the last several decades.

Extreme Events

The number of record high temperature events in the United States has been increasing, while the number of record low temperature events has been decreasing, since 1950. The U.S. has also witnessed increasing numbers of intense rainfall events.

Ocean Acidification

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of surface ocean waters has increased by about 30%.13,14 This increase is the result of humans emitting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and hence more being absorbed into the ocean. The ocean has absorbed between 20% and 30% of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions in recent decades (7.2 to 10.8 billion metric tons per year).

 

[Cannuck]

Climate Change: How Do We Know?

https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

Global Temperature Rise

The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 2.05 degrees Fahrenheit (1.14 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere.4 Most of the warming occurred in the past 40 years.

Warming Ocean

The ocean has absorbed much of this increased heat, with the top 100 meters (about 328 feet) of ocean showing warming of more than 0.6 degrees Fahrenheit (0.33 degrees Celsius) since 1969.

Shrinking Ice Sheets

The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have decreased in mass. Data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment show Greenland lost an average of 279 billion tons of ice per year between 1993 and 2019, while Antarctica lost about 148 billion tons of ice per year.

Glacial Retreat

Glaciers are retreating almost everywhere around the world — including in the Alps, Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska, and Africa.

Sea Level Rise

Global sea level rose about 8 inches (20 centimeters) in the last century. The rate in the last two decades, however, is nearly double that of the last century and accelerating slightly every year.

Declining Arctic Sea Ice

Both the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice has declined rapidly over the last several decades.

Extreme Events

The number of record high temperature events in the United States has been increasing, while the number of record low temperature events has been decreasing, since 1950. The U.S. has also witnessed increasing numbers of intense rainfall events.

Ocean Acidification

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of surface ocean waters has increased by about 30%.13,14 This increase is the result of humans emitting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and hence more being absorbed into the ocean. The ocean has absorbed between 20% and 30% of total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions in recent decades (7.2 to 10.8 billion metric tons per year).

Some folks still don't believe environmental indicators and extreme events are definitive signs that we are experiencing climate change (global warming). Denial is not a river in Egypt, and I ain't 'whistin' Dixie'

 

[Cannuck]

https://severncullissuzuki.com/bio/

 

[Sutruk]

Wildfires, heat waves and hurricanes broke all kinds of records in 2020

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/climate-change-wildfires-heat-waves-hurricanes-records-2020

"2020 was a year of unremitting extreme climate events, from heat waves to wildfires to hurricanes, many of which scientists have directly linked to human-caused climate change (SN: 8/27/20). Each event has taken a huge toll in lives lost and damages incurred. As of early October, the United States alone had weathered at least 16 climate- or weather-related disasters each costing more than $1 billion. The price tags of the late-season hurricanes Delta, Zeta and Eta could push the final 2020 tally of such expensive disasters even higher, setting a new record."

 

[Sutruk]

Great Lakes advocates hope new administration will take on climate change

https://phys.org/news/2020-12-great-lakes-advocates-administration-climate.html

"With the Earth on track to finish out another year among the warmest on record and the impact of climate change mounting around the globe, advocates around the Great Lakes are looking ahead to what a new administration could mean for the Midwest, the region containing one of the world's largest freshwater sources.


Much is at stake when it comes to the Great Lakes region. Warming temperatures and more precipitation can mean more flooding. Shoreline protections are up against rising lake levels and million-dollar damage storms. Invasive species threaten to upend ecosystems and toxic algae blooms are intensifying. Human health is at risk if water quality takes a hit."