Potential environmental catastrophe. how much do you care?

15 Comments

Arctic sea ice has been reported at a record low this year and sea ice usually continues to melt well into September so the scale of the problem is still increasing.

Global warming isn't as simple as just the temperature of the whole earth rising by x degrees. Because of the way the climate works, some places will rise sharply and some places will actually get colder, but the overall effect will be an average planetary rise. The effects of this are liable to make certain places uninhabitable and account for a large number of human deaths.

Which of the following most closely describes your attitude to this? Alternative attitudes prior to this being moderated can be added to the list, if I see them in time. Otherwise, just comment.

As long as it's not in my lifetime, I don't care. 7
I have significantly changed my lifestyle because of my concern. 4
Things will get a bit worse but it'll all be okay. 4
Scientists will find a way to save us. 4
I am extremely concerned but don't feel I can change anything. 11
Climate change is a lie. 6
I just don't care about this. Or anyone, really. 9
It's not something for normal people to worry about. 1
I'm angry that nobody seems to care much. 8
We're overpopulated so it'd be great if people die. 7
I wouldn't give up my car even if all my family died. 0
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Comments ( 15 )
  • Mando
    11 years ago

    I'm no climate change denier and think it has the potential to be catastrophic - but I remain optimistic. There is a lot one can do within their own sphere of influence, like reducing your own footprint and making environment friendly choices that collectively make huge differences, to lobbying and influencing others. Ultimately when enough people see and get the damage, and see through the climate change deniers and their ignorance or self interest there will be a green revolution that will change how we live and define economic growth. At least I hope so!!!

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    • howaminotmyself
      11 years ago

      Part of the problem is that people don't think being green is sexy. Or they only associate it with hippies. There is a green revolution happening, but too many people are fighting against it. I fear it is too little, too late. But that isn't enough to make me give up fighting. I try to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak. I go out of my way and spend more money to choose the sustainable option as often as possible. But this isn't an option for many. People like convenience. And they like things cheap. They don't even bother to notice where and how a product was made.

      Some changes are easy but look at the fit many people are throwing because grocery stores are starting to ask you to bring your own bag. Is your life really harder because you have to bring your own bag? This is a horrible American problem and it's embarrassing.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      I worry that economic concerns will always outweigh environmental ones; that each country of the world will accept a proportional downturn, when by not ratifying a treaty, they suddenly find themselves more competitive than the countries who did ratify.

      My other worry is that climate change is not always a gradual process. It is fraught with "tipping points" not all of which are measurable. If you imagine a graph like a side-view of a volcano. You have that slow climb where things seem to be changing slowly then suddenly you are plunged into the caldera and nothing will get you out of it again.

      It's a change akin to the earth's poles suddenly flipping (which does happen). Science is great at understanding how things work but when it comes to fixing climate change, it becomes an issue of scale. It's taken us hundreds of years to cause this problem and I can't see that we'd stop causing it, merely slow down the damage.

      Can you conceive of a nation in which every single person abandoned their car and never used it again? I can't even conceive of a nation in which 5% of people would do that.

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      • myboyfriendsbitch
        11 years ago

        I watched some kind of speculative documentary a couple years ago that showed the world would be pretty much back to normal in five years if everyone disappeared off the face of the earth, and would be completely renewed in 50. If that's true, it wouldn't take long for us to fix this problem if everyone pitched in.

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      • Mando
        11 years ago

        I guess I should have said redefine economic growth because as it is it's just as you describe cheaper therefore more competitive to pollute. But if society connects the dots and pollution is made part of the price of production then green is the clear winner. Re: treaties, I think its north america who are the laggards in the industrialized world. Re: cars maybe the price of gas will jump to $30 a gallon - boy then you'd see some changes! You're right about shifts, I do get that. But I'd rather remain optimistic that something can and should be done than capitulate.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    I care a lot and feel frustrated that others don't. But I also feel powerless to make a significant impact or difference because I can only control what I do, not what others do.

    This is how it impacts my life, so far:

    > When buying food, I try to buy locally grown organic items. I rarely eat meat because of the impact raising the animals has on the environment. I only eat fish that come from sustainable fishing practices.

    > I feel angry when I have no choice but to buy a product that has been "over-packaged" to make it look pretty.

    > I recycle *everything* I can and I compost.

    > I vote for the political party with the most "green" standards/platforms; it's my main qualifier for my vote.

    > I take city transit when it is available and useable.

    > I've changed have the lights in my house to LED and I'm aiming to eventually have them all LED.

    > I won't use chemical pesticides in my yard.

    > I fix things when they break instead of buying a new one.

    > I try to give my patronage to local business and companies, even if they are slightly more expensive.

    > I use bio-soaps and cleaners.

    > I use natural organic fertilizers in my garden and plant marigolds instead of using pesticides. And I collect rainwater to use in the garden too.

    > I try to stay informed on envionmentally sustainable practices.

    > I contribute financially to local wildlife sanctuaries and projects when I can.

    > I encourage friends and family to be more concious of their environment.

    I would like to be doing even more, but it's process for me. Talk to me in five year's time and I'll probably be doing even more about it.
    [Sorry my explanation's so long.]

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  • thinkingaboutit
    11 years ago

    Is it awful that the first thing I thought was "we are going to die anyway"? I guess that means I don't care.

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    • bananaface
      11 years ago

      Yeah, we are going to die. Doesn't mean you shouldn't care. I really don't understand that. At all. I mean, do you think it's ok for us to make a mess just because we won't have to deal with that mess? Lovely.

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      • thinkingaboutit
        11 years ago

        I meant : die today, die two decades from now; makes no difference.

        edit: and take it easy pork chop, people have been forecasting the end of the world since the beginning of time. just because it matters to you SO MUCH, doesn't mean that it should matter to me at all.

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  • Darkoil
    11 years ago

    I doubt the artic sea ice being low has anything to do with global warming.

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  • Legion
    9 years ago

    I love how everyone is so hyped up on something that is completetely natural for the earth, something that has happened multiple times in the earths history! This is one part where we would barely make a dent no matter what we do.

    If you want to care about the environment, take up a cause that is actually related to a man made issue, like pollution, or deforestation, poaching,(especially when done for sport, ivory, or pelts!) or strip mining! Those are actual issues caused by man, global warming is not.

    I for one wish there were more recycling centers near where i live, all we seem to have are ones for metal.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    finally! A poll that makes me feel better about myself. I made a conscious choice not to own or drive a car for this reason. I go without as a result but I believe I made the right choice. I've been living this way for over 30 yrs

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  • WordWizard
    11 years ago

    So this article is about the polor ice caps melting and are going to drown the world. Well I do not have much of a say on that.

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  • power3r3
    11 years ago

    i dont think its as bad as people say

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  • OswaldCobblepot
    11 years ago

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnsfzlxs-KY

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