Global ecosystems 'face collapse'

[PeteC]

This is extremely disturbing to me, and I hope to others as well. It tells me one thing though, Mother Nature, either through natural events or man made conflicts, will likely eliminate half of the Earth's population within the next 50 years. Pete
_______________________

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6077798.stm

[Norseman]

Don't think so much Pete.
Our children are smarter than us and will survive.
We're dust by then.

[PeteC]

Don't think so much Pete.
Our children are smarter than us and will survive.
We're dust by then.

I hope so, they're the one's I'm worried about. Pete

[richard]

Anybody read Nostradamus forcasts for the next few years?

Scary

[DawnHRD]

What I find interesting in that article is how well Australia and Canada are doing ecologically, compared with UK, Western Europe & USA. I would have thought all Western Countries would have been the same.
What's the difference? Is it that Australia & Canada have vast unpopulated spaces? Or do they actually have greener Govt policies & inhabitants?

[Jaime]

Who needs polar bears anyway?

[DawnHRD]

Who needs polar bears anyway?

Got enough polar bear in your freezer for your next few BBQs then, Jaime?

[Bamboo Grove]

From the above article

They added that if the world's population shared the UK's lifestyle, three planets would be needed to support their needs.

We have a lot of youkaynians in this forum, what say you: what is this UK's wasting lifestyle like?

[Jaime]

We British are apparently guilty of leaving our TV's, VCR's & DVD players on standby mode. We are very decadent like that!

Talking of decadence, Dawn's post has reminded me that I need a bigger freezer.

[Big Boy]

Jaime wrote:

guilty of leaving our TV's, VCR's & DVD players on standby mode

If its such a major problem to the world's ecology, then why don't they get the manufacturers to build these appliances without a standby mode? Just have on or off, and make lazy gits like me get out of bed to switch the TV off before going to sleep.

[johnnyk]

What I find interesting in that article is how well Australia and Canada are doing ecologically, compared with UK, Western Europe & USA. I would have thought all Western Countries would have been the same.
What's the difference? Is it that Australia & Canada have vast unpopulated spaces? Or do they actually have greener Govt policies & inhabitants?

Actually Canada is far from virtuous, much less than the EU.
We pollute per capita at least as much as the US but pretend we don't.
The gov't has just intro'd legislation to allow polluters to emit more with promises to cut by 2050 (!). We are also energy gluttons with one of the very largest per capita appetites in the world and of course much of that energy use spews out in the form of pollutants and carbon monoxide.
We have vast oil resources in oil sands but the environmental damage is enormous leaving moonscapes behind. Of course it's unseen as it is in northern Alberta. The oil extracted is also expensive "heavy" oil which needs more refining and is dirtier.

Germany is one of the most advanced in terms of recycling, anti-pollution and global warming. They are planning 20,000 windmills and have over 2000 now turning to generate power. BMW led the way years ago with a near-totally recyclable car.

France generates per capita garbage/rubbish about 50% of North America.
France also generates 80% of its electricity from nuclear, a response to the first OPEC shock of 1973-4. EDF has an excellent safety record also. Many other countries are still talking about how to combat dependency on politically unstable sources of oil and the US is rubbing its hands together in glee because they have vast coal reserves.
Oh yes, most solar panel systems are made in the EU.

[The understudy]

[quote="johnnyk"][quote="DawnHHDRC"]What I find interesting in that article is how well Australia and Canada are doing ecologically, compared with UK, Western Europe & USA. I would have thought all Western Countries would have been the same.
What's the difference? Is it that Australia & Canada have vast unpopulated spaces? Or do they actually have greener Govt policies & inhabitants?[/quote]
Actually Canada is far from virtuous, much less than the EU.
We pollute per capita at least as much as the US but pretend we don't.
The gov't has just intro'd legislation to allow polluters to emit more with promises to cut by 2050 (!). We are also energy gluttons with one of the very largest per capita appetites in the world and of course much of that energy use spews out in the form of pollutants and carbon monoxide.
We have vast oil resources in oil sands but the environmental damage is enormous leaving moonscapes behind. Of course it's unseen as it is in northern Alberta. The oil extracted is also expensive "heavy" oil which needs more refining and is dirtier.

Germany is one of the most advanced in terms of recycling, anti-pollution and global warming. They are planning 20,000 windmills and have over 2000 now turning to generate power. BMW led the way years ago with a near-totally recyclable car.

France generates per capita garbage/rubbish about 50% of North America.
France also generates 80% of its electricity from nuclear, a response to the first OPEC shock of 1973-4. EDF has an excellent safety record also. Many other countries are still talking about how to combat dependency on politically unstable sources of oil and the US is rubbing its hands together in glee because they have vast coal reserves.
Oh yes, most solar panel systems are made in the EU.[/quote]

I've been living in the Us for almost two month right now and overhere A Properesition 87 is up for votes whcih supports research on renewable Energy and reduces the depence on foreing Oil. This side has very prominent supporters such as Anti Global warming advocate Al Gore whcih y'all know lost narrowly against Bush Jr. in 2001. Former US President Bill Clinton is also on this side as well.
But There's also the other side which opposes Prop 87 and they are claiming that this Prop would increase our import of foreign oil and higher Oil Prices. The Nay sayers are sopported by america biggest oil companies and conservative interest groups.
Overhere in the States I see a growing number of people who are becoming energy concious and try to save energy in their Private households but the majority of Americans are careless of energy consumption and still drive those Gas Guzzling SUV's.
A change in the main stream thingking is needed so that americans are becomming aware of their harm their causing and try to reduce their energy consumption in a much larger scale.
Sadly under this US Administration I cannot see anything change in favor of energy saving and climate friendly policies. to bear fruit. As the Big head sare inthe Stranglehold of The Big Oil Companies!!!!!

[Jockey]

If you get a 30 year lease with a 30 year option and the world eco system collapses after 50, would that make it a silly investment?

[Hublet]

Yes Jockey, I guess it would be.


Australia is lauded as a goody greenhouse watcher but what they failed to tell you all is that there are Bugger all people in a land full of GAFA

Please note that GAFA means "Great Australia F**K All

[The understudy]

Here I have something that would relate to this Topic too.
not just one eco system but all.



also out on DVD Is the remarkable Documentry An Inconvinient Truth. for all of you who are still young and care aboot the Future and also for all of you who have Children and care aboot their Future!
It's Humanities greatest challenge in the 21st Century it's not too late to do anything about it. besides All of you in Hua Hin live environmentally friendly!!!!