2010/1/17 P. J. Alling <webstertwenty...@gmail.com>: > > Since we don't know if we can stop it, how would we know if what we do > prolongs the existence of that generation or shortens it? I know that rich > societies have more resources to expend on survival, than poor ones. > Anything that makes us poorer as a society is suspect from the start.
hope my last comment didn't offend you... I'll try to remain civil but I cannot guarantee I won't get explanations and expletives mixed up. First of all, money won't buy you back algae and plancton which are both crucial to the marine food chain and to reasonably constant atmospheric oxygen levels. They will go when the oceans absorb enough CO2 / carbonic acid to make the ocans so acidic that the water will eat away their exoskeletons. Also, worst case scenarios where the greenland ice melts away completely assume sea levels rising by 100 ft. or more which would reduce the land surface of the earth by roughly 40%. Now think of how miserably N'awlins got flooded by Katrina and ask yourself how in the hell you'd be able to deal with the above let alone pay for it - plus the dams would have to be gianormous, you'd have nice mounds of earth with the odd skyscraper sticking out and needing constant repair from the onslaught of the tides. Next, think of the amounts of chemicals on those 40% of the land mass being flooded, ask yourself if and where they could be moved to no longer constitute a massive environmental hazard, and once you realize it won't be that easy, ask yourself if you'd want them in what's left of your food chain. Remember, money can only buy you what is there. And it is not technology you will run out of but food and fertile soil, plus ask yourself who in their right mind would part with their resources for useless foreign currency if it meant certain starvation or death by pollution - think back for a second to Agent Orange if you need a reminder of the effects. If you then consider that 18% of all greenhouse gas output comes from meat/milk/etc. production, that will be a rare luxury at a huge premium. Just an example of the huge inconveniences wherever you look. Why not chooses smaller inconveniences now offer a system possibly spiraling of of stability so fast you won't have time to respond. Anyway, the world will be such a cozy place that the selfish will have to wage war to get the territories and resources they need. Noone will share with them of their own free will because it was them who got the rest into that f***ing mess in the first place. Quagmire accomplished, now let's move on and buy back the hummer brand from them yellow folk so we have a use for the SUV juice we get from them towel wearers. So, does all that make your society richer? No, it is just a sad reflection on ... well, you choose... amd I certainly won't find comfort in knowing some people will have noone else to blame but themselves... OK now I know I sound like Sarah Connor in T2 but then it is late and I don't have the energy nor anger for more. Not at this hour. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
