tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post6286226185226213486..comments2012-01-26T20:59:50.536-08:00Crunchy Chickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10612320939936593420noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-70248073821649875852009-01-28T14:42:00.000-08:002009-01-28T14:42:00.000-08:00Maybe creating and then being forced to face our own destruction is how we evolve?<BR/><BR/>Maybe the next 50-100 years will see HUGE leaps in science, etc simply because we are forced to clean up our own mess.<BR/><BR/>This could be a good thing...long-term, ya know?~Ghttp://dirtylaundrydiary.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-12605785680367092542009-01-28T09:38:00.000-08:002009-01-28T09:38:00.000-08:00I sent Gore's Email to a Geologist friend of ours requesting that he sign the petition for 10 years to electric cars, etc. and our friend said, " ... the only thing that will save the earth is to lower the population growth ... the rest does nothing but reduce pollution.". He wouldn't sign, because it wouldn't help.<BR/><BR/>I remember the whole population argument (as well as the pollution argument) from before most of you were born, but it didn't stop me from having 3 kids; didn't stop Greenpa, either. Reproduction is so primal that it's hard to stop. We want to say (and DO say) "It's THOSE people who should stop reproducing, not those of us who raise responsible caretakers of the earth. But, it doesn't wash; responsible stewards of the earth or NOT, the main problem is simply too many people.<BR/><BR/>All that said, I still think it's important (and maybe even in our nature for the most) to do the best we can with what we've got and enjoy the little successes achieved from that. To do anything less is to suggest that because our house will just get dusty again next week we don't need to bother dusting it this week, or that because our teeth will just get dirty when we eat again there's no need to bother brushing/flossing after this meal. <BR/><BR/>I'm not a doomer, and some doomers consider me a pollyanna, as I didn't worry about Y2k, bird flu, peak oil, and some of the other things that some of y'all worry about. I don't particularly care whether humans survive indefinitely. Nature finds a way to restore herself to stasis and if man is just another failed species, we go the way of the dinosaurs.Oldnovicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17714134603537886606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-9799677909873501952009-01-28T08:53:00.000-08:002009-01-28T08:53:00.000-08:00Hey Crinch- I started to leave a comment here; but it grew- so I put it on mine:<BR/><BR/>http://littlebloginthebigwoods.blogspot.com/2009/01/one-little-bit-of-good-news.htmlGreenpahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17224906349154302210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-79941351877327073762009-01-28T06:43:00.000-08:002009-01-28T06:43:00.000-08:00For a more hopeful perspective, look at some of Thomas Berry's and Brian Swimme's works. Or check out Michael Dowd's websites: ThankGodforEvolution.com and TheGreatStory.org<BR/>I'll admit I was put off at first by the "Thank God for Evolution" (I'm Pagan), but it's a very inclusive concept that goes beyond specific religionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-86543295926707633592009-01-28T06:18:00.000-08:002009-01-28T06:18:00.000-08:00Some good news that I heard:<BR/><BR/>There is a new type of solar energy that will be available for mass production in the next couple of years. It's cheap to make ( about 10cents per watt), is flexible because it's a photoresponsive ink bonded to a type of plastic, easy to install, and takes less resources ( water, materials, etc) to produce. <BR/><BR/>In theory, this will be Solar Power for the middle class. Wahoo!<BR/><BR/>I saw it on a cool show called "Eco-Tech". Very inspirational. <BR/><BR/>Other good news---I mentored a high school in it's creation of a school wide recycling project. Now, if I can just get them composting, I'll really be cooking. (:Cave-Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06888781509791113960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-5501559805135400782009-01-27T20:23:00.000-08:002009-01-27T20:23:00.000-08:00Ha! I wasn't actually expecting anyone to be cheered up with my "end of mankind" post :)Crunchy Chickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10612320939936593420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-84430694345411727292009-01-27T19:13:00.000-08:002009-01-27T19:13:00.000-08:00I'm with scifichick. I do it because it is the right thing to do. Because to live otherwise would be in discord with my principles. And maybe, just maybe, it will make a dent in global warming. It's worth a shot!Green Beanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133847111288382381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-12417819283291211572009-01-27T16:14:00.000-08:002009-01-27T16:14:00.000-08:00I choose to make changes in my life because it's the right thing to do. Everything everyone does makes a difference, maybe not enough in the grand scheme of things, but at least I can make my life have a positive impact on the world.Live Simply Love Stronglyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02454346022641019985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-28299252454593317022009-01-27T14:55:00.000-08:002009-01-27T14:55:00.000-08:00I make changes because I have to. I also have to think that the more of us do, the more likely others will. <BR/><BR/>Also, to those who say "the earth is so big, we puny humans can't influence it" I like to point out that we already have, so why can't we choose our influence?Susan Buhrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11188989826167040019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-45756068411078491182009-01-27T14:02:00.000-08:002009-01-27T14:02:00.000-08:00You want one good story about the environment? Well then, take a stroll in the woods. No matter how bad the Dow is doing, no matter how pointless our actions seem, the squirrels still tear through the woods, the birds still land on springy branches and chirp away, the sun still shines, ...<BR/>... and you realize that all the stresses don't matter. Live love and share kindness. Life will carry on.<BR/><BR/>The world is full of things we can do nothing about, but it is also full of things we can do something about. We can live for hundreds of years and not exhaust them! So, let a squirrel be your stress ball.jimbolini23http://www.blogger.com/profile/09597295959669108416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-54054163667101696702009-01-27T13:52:00.000-08:002009-01-27T13:52:00.000-08:00This is not very cheerful! I liked the cocktail better :)<BR/>I am not making personal changes because I'm hoping to avert a big catastrophe. I would like to think that I'm adding just a bit to a more sustainable future. But more important to me is to do what I feel is right. And that changes with every new thing I learn here, on this blog, and on other blogs I read. I'm having trouble coming up with good examples, but let's say bringing your own bag to the store versus using plastic or paper. I don't think I'm making a huge difference, but taking a new plastic or paper bag just feels wrong because now I understand how many resources go into producing one. So, it doesn't matter whether I'm making a difference or not, I just don't want to use so many resources personally.scifichickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12394001604617288147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-25558508233303713602009-01-27T13:45:00.000-08:002009-01-27T13:45:00.000-08:00Well, I have kids, so I will do all that I can to extend the blip. Plus, I'm generally an optimist. I don't think we know enough to be assured of our survival, nor our destruction. So I might as well hope for the best and do what I can to promote that outcome, right? Throwing up my hands in defeat does no good anyhow.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553232842051185693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-45973587023158003752009-01-27T13:02:00.000-08:002009-01-27T13:02:00.000-08:00Ok... that didn't make me feel hopeful at all.Billiehttp://billieryder.spaces.live.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-65724292391685569862009-01-27T12:53:00.000-08:002009-01-27T12:53:00.000-08:00Look at it this way if you must: along the lines of the classic God or no argument, we have more to gain by trying to fix this than by not. Personally, I'd rather go down fighting.<BR/><BR/>This also reminds me of a quote from Middlemarch: "The growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts, and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs."<BR/><BR/>By Jennifer who is too lazy to try and remember her blogger id.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-30419846229141593732009-01-27T11:56:00.000-08:002009-01-27T11:56:00.000-08:00Not really. Maybe some chocolate would be better therapy :-\Alison Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00732023012497108509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-76436132113939190892009-01-27T11:28:00.000-08:002009-01-27T11:28:00.000-08:00I agree with you CC! And I am linking this post to my blog...thank you for your uplifting words.spookygoosehttp://spookygoose.webs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-68992437249158281592009-01-27T11:13:00.000-08:002009-01-27T11:13:00.000-08:00I think we make a difference because it shows goodness, kindess, and respect to ourselves, the planet, and the creatures we share it with. I once heard that if the history of the world was a year, humans show up at 4pm Dec. 31st. And that's ok with me, but for those "8 hours" I am going to live the very best I can.Willohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03084939293467897155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-73113558303991611362009-01-27T11:09:00.000-08:002009-01-27T11:09:00.000-08:00The thing that keeps me going is the fact that everything is connected. How we act today, in our small sphere of influence, can and does affect a myriad of other things. It sounds trite, but from a Buddhist perspective, it is literally true. Doing good causes more good. The opposite is also true, which is why I try to stick to the former as much as my frail human condition can muster.Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03908227916944431265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-41238806142617055712009-01-27T10:49:00.000-08:002009-01-27T10:49:00.000-08:00Honestly, I don't think humans will be able to extend their blip for long, geologically speaking. However, like you say, I <I>do</I> think the earth will survive us. It would be nice if we didn't totally trash the place before we left, though!<BR/><BR/>As I said on Arduous' post, and my own, where our change can make the biggest difference is in our own individual lives and those lives that touch ours.<BR/><BR/>For perspective on species and the planet, might I recommend reading some of the extinction theory books. It kind of puts our blip in perspective. We (humans) are <B>not</B>, despite the belief of many, the center of the universe! We just like to act like it.Chilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406176434011890590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-80754827957835018542009-01-27T10:45:00.000-08:002009-01-27T10:45:00.000-08:00Nope, sorry. I just read "The Long Descent" and am not even in that space. I agree with Arduous - it's pretty hopeless. <BR/><BR/>Unless we reduce out standard of living to that of Brazil, we're really contributing to the acceleration of the decline.<BR/><BR/>I'm reading several other non-peak oil books before I get into Sharon's Depletion/Abundance so as to prevent an Anna Karenina from the BART platform.jennconspiracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16304420774638468362noreply@blogger.com