Vocal Voices

There is plenty of physical evidence out there, from islands of plastic, kilometres in diameter, swirling in the oceans to the flotsam and jetsam washed up on or beaches. Some of those beaches are on isolated and uninhabited islands and atolls miles from anywhere. We have algal blooms occurring offshore and directly attributable to fertilisers.

Now we are told that 92% of the world's population is breathing in polluted air. We have seen the smogs in Asia, especially in China, and we have seen the brown hazes over many cities.

The thing about all of this information is that it is not about climate change over any periods of time. These things are in the here and now and because of the materials being found they have to be produced by us. There can be no argument that the levels were higher or lower or about the same as they were thousands or hundreds of years ago. Why is that? It is because these compounds did not exist in times before They are made by us, and some of them relatively new even by our lifetime terms.

But do not worry, the UN is on it - we'll all be saved. Sustainable transport, whatever that is, better waste management, and installing as many renewable energies as possible will solve the problem.

Or we could play 'pass the gas mask' it would be just as effective.

Could the Planet's problem be that there are too many people on it?

The total number of people in the world is growing every minute. If it hadn't been for the two World Wars, which took out many millions, the present population would be much greater. But what can be done? Very little I would say.

The future certainly doesn't look too good, does it?

It is not as simple as there being too many of us.

The planet can sustain our numbers, but not our lifestyles and our current economic model. There are tough choices ahead.

If we all lived an agrarian lifestyle, in balance with nature, we would be fine. However, if we want to live a technological lifestyle our numbers need to be reduced dramatically.

We are not gong to do either, so the long-term forecast is one of doom.

Workingman wrote:It is not as simple as there being too many of us.
the long-term forecast is one of doom.

Aren't you glad you're you!

Aggers, I have been mad on cosmology, astronomy, the environment and science - especially physics - for as long as I can remember. I am a realist, and also a dreamer.

I read about all the things we will be able to do in the future, hundreds of years hence, and I am amazed, Then reality kicks in and I wonder if we will still be here come the time.

Unless we act now I do not think that we will be able to do all the amazing things that are predicted. I am not that fearful for my children, but my grandchildren? I think that their generation will be working damned hard to survive in their here and now rather than thinking about travelling to the stars to begin again.

Glad to be me? Yes. My generation has seen the best of times. Unfortunately it all looks downhill from here.