NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't if it's me. Call me the Devil if you want but do I don't really buy into an Environmental Armageddon, Personally, I would love it but I just don't know... I feel this is a whole bunch of colour blind Dendrophilic little things that really can't see any colours beyond green, hence why they are such fiery lovers of trees and stuff. I mean, isn't mankind an ingenious thing? Don't you little things have technology? Won't your modern societies be able to tackle rising temperatures, air and water pollution, oil scarcity, food scarcity, fresh water scarcity, bioscarcity and any other sever scarcity you can possibly imagine?

Environmentalists are a waste of time but, out of curiosity, I wanted to hear what little things think... Do you believe you are heading to extinction?

I also have some evidence of their mischievous nature:
[ Evidence A ] by nettocastro (http://www.deviantart.com/view/33438144/)

http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs10/i/2006/137/b/f/Love_and_trees__by_nettocastro.jpg

Have Environmentalists gone mad?
Yes, by an amazing coincidence, every environmentalist in the world succumbed to psychological problems simultaneously.

The environmentalists have been out of there mind ever sense they started claiming that recycling paper is good for the environment.

An Armageddon will never happen. Humankind is simply advancing technologically and economically too fast for that to become a reality; the Malthusian predictions of groups like the Club of Rome have been disproven time and again, because they forget to take in to account the ability of people to adapt to change rapidly and to develop solutions to problems. Frankly, I see it as very difficult not to be optimistic about the future.

Does that mean individual societies or regions will not decline and fall? Absolutely not; every positive technological change has hurt some group or other that has been rendered obsolete or uncompetitive as a result of it. However, today the situation is changing; rather than each culture developing technology simultaneously, we are working together on it through international cooperation on an unprecedented scale. Those who resist change will still fail, but those who embrace that cooperation wll thrive.

The future is brighter today than it has been at any time since the Industrial Revolution or even the Renaissance. We're seeing the emergence of a high-tech, clean, and renewable economy that will power economic growth far beyond what we can imagine now. Even population growth is becoming unnecessary (it's going to level off at 9 billion according to the UN) which means more efficient use of resources and higher living standards worldwide.

If anything, what you say about our great technology saving us, is somewhat what we are hoping for....because if our technology can't get us out of this, we're doomed.

It has every time in the past when similar problems faced us, but this time cooperation on technological advancement is happening worldwide and simultaneously; as much as I like to avoid saying "it's different this time", in some ways that is also very true. Technological advancement is tackling more and more of the once unsolvable crises of humanity with each year, and at a progressively faster rate.

I mean, isn't mankind an ingenious thing? Don't you little things have technology? Won't your modern societies be able to tackle rising temperatures, air and water pollution, oil scarcity, food scarcity, fresh water scarcity, bioscarcity and any other sever scarcity you can possibly imagine?
environmentalism =/= mormonism. Environmentalists don't hate technology; they want bio-friendly technology. Modern society is not exactly doing the best job preventing global warming, pollution, and the numerous scarcities.
Environmentalists are a waste of time but, out of curiosity, I wanted to hear what little things think... Do you believe you are heading to extinction?
huh...since when did people become a waste of time? Sorry, but my inferior environmentally geared brain cannot process such a high level of logic. And mankind, which includes you, is going to go extinct one day, whether it's next week or millenia later. What I find most ironic is that you seem to think the world is only going to smite environmentalists even though they're the ones trying their hardest to prevent mankind from being completely annihilated next week.

environmentalism =/= mormonism. Environmentalists don't hate technology; they want bio-friendly technology. Modern society is not exactly doing the best job preventing global warming, pollution, and the numerous scarcities.

Mormon? Amish maybe...

Question One: You posts suggest you are not a human. What species are you?
Question Two: Where is this amazing world-saving technology? Did you invent it? Did someone you know invent it? Doesn't it occur to you not to be excited untill it is invented?

An Armageddon will never happen. Humankind is simply advancing technologically and economically too fast for that to become a reality; the Malthusian predictions of groups like the Club of Rome have been disproven time and again, because they forget to take in to account the ability of people to adapt to change rapidly and to develop solutions to problems. Frankly, I see it as very difficult not to be optimistic about the future.

Does that mean individual societies or regions will not decline and fall? Absolutely not; every positive technological change has hurt some group or other that has been rendered obsolete or uncompetitive as a result of it. However, today the situation is changing; rather than each culture developing technology simultaneously, we are working together on it through international cooperation on an unprecedented scale. Those who resist change will still fail, but those who embrace that cooperation wll thrive.

The future is brighter today than it has been at any time since the Industrial Revolution or even the Renaissance. We're seeing the emergence of a high-tech, clean, and renewable economy that will power economic growth far beyond what we can imagine now. Even population growth is becoming unnecessary (it's going to level off at 9 billion according to the UN) which means more efficient use of resources and higher living standards worldwide.

Really? Because, with North Korea armed with nukes, and Iran set to get some any day, I was feeling nervous... I mean, it's not like North Korea is ruled by a maniacle dictator, or Iran is run by Islamic extremists... oh, wait, they both are... seriously, technology is great and all, but if we lack the moral strength, the strength of will, to go and ensure that fanatics and monsters don't get their hands on WMDs, then we're screwed over...

environmentalism =/= mormonism. Environmentalists don't hate technology; they want bio-friendly technology. Modern society is not exactly doing the best job preventing global warming, pollution, and the numerous scarcities.

Actually, I'd have to agree with this; there are extremists that want some kind of technological reversal to "cull the herd" and move back in line with their perception of what constitutes ecological balance, but most people who are involved in the environmental movement are strong supporters of technology, especially alternative energy and sustainable economics/urban planning.

I for one could be considered an environmentalist for my positions on clean energy, replacement of fossil fuels, and the development of sustainable economic and urban systems. However, at the same time I support the free market with initial government support as the means to bring these systems to widespread use, so I am conflicted on these issues.

Hail Satan!!!!

Really? Because, with North Korea armed with nukes, and Iran set to get some any day, I was feeling nervous... I mean, it's not like North Korea is ruled by a maniacle dictator, or Iran is run by Islamic extremists... oh, wait, they both are... seriously, technology is great and all, but if we lack the moral strength, the strength of will, to go and ensure that fanatics and monsters don't get their hands on WMDs, then we're screwed over...

But strength of will is always going to be here; even in the depths of the Depression, the US Civil War, or WWII humanity was able to rise up against threats to our existence and stability and defeat them and ultimately end up better off than we were prior to that test. That doesn't mean everyone will do well, nor will we be able to weather everything unscathed but in the long run humanity will end up better off.

I always remember a quote from FDR that describes my position on human society: “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us proceed with strong and active faith”. I see enough people with that faith to keep me ever confident of a better tomorrow.

I know! What a waste of time for people to want their environment as healthy as possible; it's not like the environment is part of some sort of system that helps sustain human life or anything.

I don't if it's me. Call me the Devil if you want but do I don't really buy into an Environmental Armageddon, Personally, I would love it but I just don't know... I feel this is a whole bunch of colour blind Dendrophilic little things that really can't see any colours beyond green, hence why they are such fiery lovers of trees and stuff. I mean, isn't mankind an ingenious thing? Don't you little things have technology? Won't your modern societies be able to tackle rising temperatures, air and water pollution, oil scarcity, food scarcity, fresh water scarcity, bioscarcity and any other sever scarcity you can possibly imagine?


Yes, we've done a great job so far. There's enough food and materials to keep the entire world healthy or at least save it from starvation- but for some reason there is still famine, AIDS and any number of nasty things. Still, hope for the best eh?

*buries head in sand*

While I am hopeful for the advancement of our great human society, I do fear that there are certain members of our world who are not very helpful. Humans do have the tendency to be self-destructive. I can only hope that our society advances as fast as our tecnology will, and even then, I hope our technology can save us from the disaster we have caused ourselves.

The people and places that stand in the way of progress ultimately doom themselves to failure by not keeping up with the trend and remaining competitive; it might be economically in nature, socially in nature, or just a gradual fade like the Holy Roman Empire, albeit one laced with intermittent chaos and war.

We may eventually see a place like the Middle East soon face societal dissolution or even collapse if they don't begin to diversify away from fossil fuels; it is not like the American South, locked in to an increasingly outdated economic base and unwilling to diversify for any number of social, economic or political reason. Once oil is no longer a competitive product, they will face a great challenge that will be difficult to surmount without hardship; the only hope is that another Civil War is averted and that the transition can be made.

Won't your modern societies be able to tackle rising temperatures, air and water pollution, oil scarcity, food scarcity, fresh water scarcity, bioscarcity and any other sever scarcity you can possibly imagine?
probably not

Environmentalists are a waste of time but, out of curiosity, I wanted to hear what... [people] think... Do you believe you are heading to extinction?
i believe we are heading towards seriously hard times brought about by our own actions. but extinction? no, we're more resilient than that.

An Armageddon will never happen. Humankind is simply advancing technologically and economically too fast for that to become a reality; the Malthusian predictions of groups like the Club of Rome have been disproven time and again, because they forget to take in to account the ability of people to adapt to change rapidly and to develop solutions to problems. Frankly, I see it as very difficult not to be optimistic about the future.

Does that mean individual societies or regions will not decline and fall? Absolutely not; every positive technological change has hurt some group or other that has been rendered obsolete or uncompetitive as a result of it. However, today the situation is changing; rather than each culture developing technology simultaneously, we are working together on it through international cooperation on an unprecedented scale. Those who resist change will still fail, but those who embrace that cooperation wll thrive.

The future is brighter today than it has been at any time since the Industrial Revolution or even the Renaissance. We're seeing the emergence of a high-tech, clean, and renewable economy that will power economic growth far beyond what we can imagine now. Even population growth is becoming unnecessary (it's going to level off at 9 billion according to the UN) which means more efficient use of resources and higher living standards worldwide.
Don't forget we're also going to be living on lollypop streets with gummy bear trees in our front yards! Also, it will be Christmas everyday and all the littel girls and all the little boys will get their very own gingerbread homes! The easter bunny will be mayor and everyone's uncle will be santa clause! We'll all take trips to the moon to eat the cheese it's made of and you'll be able to pluck the rock candy stars from the sky! Buildings will be made of licorice and the ocean will be made of red kool aid!

Are we, humans going to go extinct? Yep, if we continue to let certain enviromentalists screw us over. Example: Klamath Basin Crisis (a.k.a. Klamath Water Crisis)

Our species is likely to go extinct eventually anyways. I mean, we're not above evolution or anything like that, and even if we do manage to say, destroy any individuals with beneficial mutations rather than allow them to reproduce, our planet will become naturally uninhabitable eventually as the sun begins to die. If we leave the planet and colonize other solar systems, we'll likely evolve to better fit that environment and again, become another species.

In the grand scheme of things though, it really doesn't matter.

Don't forget we're also going to be living on lollypop streets with gummy bear trees in our front yards! Also, it will be Christmas everyday and all the littel girls and all the little boys will get their very own gingerbread homes! The easter bunny will be mayor and everyone's uncle will be santa clause! We'll all take trips to the moon to eat the cheese it's made of and you'll be able to pluck the rock candy stars from the sky! Buildings will be made of licorice and the ocean will be made of red kool aid!

No, that's Titan. Only they have enough hydrocarbons to turn the planet in to sucrose...until we do something stupid and end up drilling the thing for hydrogen. I just hope to God that Titan doesn't become the distant future version of the Middle East...Fossil 1.0 was more than enough for one civilization. I just knew the wet blanket would show up sooner or later...curses. I was getting disappointed that no one was talking about energy anymore; hell, TG hasn't even been on in a while:p

But, here's to hoping that I'm the one who is right in the end...but even if I'm not, at least I know what will happen and will be able to minimize the effects on my own life. I guess I've got the pessimists (or realists if you prefer) to thank for opening my eyes to the situation and you guys to thank for bringing it to the mainstream...

My biggest problem with most enviromentalist is that the numbers just don't add up.

The amounts of energy that mother nature can produce is greater than most people can even conceive.

Geological activity, especially volcanic activity has risen greatly in the last century. A single mild eruption can release more green house gasses than man kind has produced since the start of the industrial revolution. The is evidence that the magnetic poles are starting to reverse, and we have no idea, how or why it happens, but we know that its happened before.

We can't predict the weather reliably more than 12 hours ahead of time. We have no real understanding of how a lot of weather patterns occur. When it comes to predicting what will happen, we are like grade schoolers trying to understand Hawking's most complicated equasions.

Geological activity, especially volcanic activity has risen greatly in the last century. A single mild eruption can release more green house gasses than man kind has produced since the start of the industrial revolution. The is evidence that the magnetic poles are starting to reverse, and we have no idea, how or why it happens, but we know that its happened before.

No, that's not true. Firstly, while eruptions do release gases lava isn't crammed full of bubbly CO2 goodness. One eruption comes no where near releasing as much greenhouse gas as humans have over the past 200 years. Very accurate measurements of CO2 levels have been taken for over 50 years. This show an increase in levels of carbon dioxide of about 20% over the past fifty years that isn't correlated with volcanic activity.

Volcanos do produce tremendous amounts of ash and debris. You know, blocks out the sun, stops photosynthesis, crops fail, herbivores die, carnivores die, really ruins working parts like gears and bearings and intake valves.

All we need is a failure of all our technology, and there are things that can make that happen in an instant, and we'll not only be back to living life before the Amish, but many people will simply not be able to survive.

Enironmental awareness is what is driving som eof the most exctiing areas of technological developement at present.