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News & politics

Life on Earth

(66 Posts)
Telly Mon 06-May-19 19:04:12

'Human society is in jeopardy from the accelerating decline of the Earth’s natural life-support systems, the world’s leading scientists have warned, as they announced the results of the most thorough planetary health check ever undertaken.' Extract from an article in the Guardian today. Amazing how a threat the planet itself from a reputable source is not the news item that everyone is talking about. Can't say we were not warned.......

paddyann Tue 07-May-19 13:53:48

and there is the evry reason WHY we're in the stae we are Lilyflower ignore it and it might go away!!

Lilyflower Tue 07-May-19 13:18:35

The Guardian is reputable but it has a very left wing bias and is polemical in its support for climate panics. It is often miserly with the evidence and with objectivity in this area.

Try to ignore Chicken Licken. The sky is not falling in.

Parsley3 Tue 07-May-19 13:12:46

I am watching a programme called ‘The Customer Is Always Right’ where inventors have their products road tested by members of the public. Many of these products are designed with sustainability in mind using ethical materials. The young people who are testing the products get this right away and are prepared to support the idea. The older people may get it but are not prepared to the extra cost of the product. While there is still a demand for cheap and cheerful plastic items then nothing much will change.
The older generation have done their bit to (over) populate the planet, pollute it by flying and driving, demanding cheap clothes and goods and generally not taking account of the damage to the environment. I have faith in the young ones to start to put things right and I hope it is not too late. Meanwhile, I am doing my small bit to make amends and changing what I can. Better late than never.

Gonegirl Tue 07-May-19 12:18:52

But are they rainforests mcrc?

Gonegirl Tue 07-May-19 12:16:01

there was

Gonegirl Tue 07-May-19 12:14:57

That's not the point! And yes, there outrage at the time! grin

Jaxie Tue 07-May-19 12:11:48

Did Princess Anne live with her divorced husband before she remarried then? Or am I missing the point?

Mcrc Tue 07-May-19 12:01:29

who are these scientists? I find it very hard to believe as I drive the thousands of miles
of wilderness and forest in the Eastern US. I am not saying we should not work to combat pollution, etc. But all doom and gloom? Twelve years? No.

Buffybee Tue 07-May-19 11:53:47

I often wonder how much power does it take for all the street lights to be kept on all night?
Why do we need them on all night?
When the World is viewed from space at night, it's lit up like a Christmas tree.
Perhaps they could be individually powered by solar panels?

quizqueen Tue 07-May-19 11:48:41

Humans have been allowed to breed uncontrollably and the planet cannot cope with these present numbers. There is only one solution and that is to control the birth rate worldwide until a lot more people are dying off than are born. In my opinion, the world population needs to be down to about a quarter of what it is now for the Earth's resources to be enough for future generations.

Marjgran Tue 07-May-19 11:46:21

My heart sinks when folk use “China” as a reason for us not to do things. We have exported our emissions to China (most consumer goods from white goods furniture. clothing, mobile phones, radios) that we have new / recent in our houses were made in Chinese factories. We have also exported our sweatshops to poorer nations too. Of course they benefit but the problems are more complicated than “we can’t do much because of China”, or blaming a 16 year old activist for not going there, or blaming celebs who we have created by our craving for celebs, for the fact that they are rich and travel. We all need to look to ourselves, our profligacy.

Annaram1 Tue 07-May-19 11:29:24

Hnnahlois luke, I too read that dreadful story about millions of swallow and other birds being caught in those fine mist nets all along North Africa, but especially in Egypt. Their little bodies are then filled with herbs and they are cooked and eaten. This was in the Mail on Sunday, page 21. If you can get a copy, read it . When I went to Malta with my family 40 years ago birds were being shot all over the place. The Mediterranean if a very dangerous place for birds. Any birds which escape and go on to stop for a little rest may find they are caught in quicklime or primitive traps. If any swallows or martins reach these shores they may find it hard to get enough to eat as insects are being systematically wiped out due to the use of insecticides. And then there is the illegal destruction of swallows nests as people think they are untidy and messy..
People. value our migrating birds!!! Or we may soon have none left. If you are able to write to the RSPB and point out that they need to complain to the embassies of China (where the mist nets are made), Egypt, Morocco, and othe North African countries. (The Chinese are great killers of all wildlife and eat most of it). here possible don't use insecticides.. Don't use toxic slug killers, as slugs killed by these can also be eaten by birds and kill them too, AS FOR CATS!!! They kill 30 million birds a year.

lovebooks Tue 07-May-19 11:18:20

Population, population, population - there are FAR too many of us (think David Attenborough's already quietly said this.) Solutions not politically comfortable, though.

pigsmayfly. Tue 07-May-19 11:09:06

We still and have always had our milk delivered in glass bottles........

HannahLoisLuke Tue 07-May-19 11:08:14

Princess Anne said that?

I'm speechless!

pigsmayfly. Tue 07-May-19 11:07:58

This is such an important issue and something we can all do for our grandchildren. Ok we can’t run China but we should do whatever we can. I’d like to learn a bit more about these issues to make sure I maximise what I can do to help. I appreciate that each of us can make only a tiny contribution which may seem futile but surely better than doing nothing?

Buntybunny21 Tue 07-May-19 11:02:46

What about all those water bottles made of plastic and milk ones too. It's not going to be easy as we have become used to this way. I remember only getting milk delivered in glass bottles, washed out and returned. Not so many milkmen now, another supermarket spoiler?

Gonegirl Tue 07-May-19 10:58:12

Also, I go along with the view put forward by Princess Anne a while back, that people should not be so ready to get divorced and then expect two residences instead of one.

Gonegirl Tue 07-May-19 10:56:01

I think governments should just stop building more houses. We are losing too much countryside/habitat. Our council has it right though. High rise, good quality, tower blocks near the town centre, buses and railway stations. No parking included. None needed.

Nanny41 Tue 07-May-19 10:47:39

Went to a neighbours party at the weekend they had wooden knives and forks, which was a briliant idea, knives were hopeless of course, but they had the right idea.When in the UK recently I couldnt resist buying paper straws ( not that we use straws) to check if they were the same type we used when we were little, moons ago, they cost the pricely sum of £1:50 for twenty four straws,I think things need to be reduced in price before we all start buying regularly, but people are getting the idea of saving our planet.

HannahLoisLuke Tue 07-May-19 10:41:51

I've heard a synthetic meat has been invented, for those who want it.
I'm a farmer's daughter but haven't eaten meat since the age of four, for all sorts of reasons.
Haven't flown anywhere for at least ten years. I do drive thirteen miles a day but not well enough to cycle or I'd do that instead.
I feel utterly depressed about how we've reached this point.
Was wondering where the swallows were this year until I read about them being trapped in mist nets all along North Africa, from Morocco to Egypt at the rate of 140 million a
year. Not just swallows, all migrating birds.
Those that escape get caught in Italy, Malta or France.
I'm sickened by what we humans have done to the earth.

sarahcyn Tue 07-May-19 10:41:25

I so sympathise with those who feel that our little efforts, refilling our water bottles and walking to the shops etc, are useless. But they are not. Even though Greta Thunberg isn’t planning to go to China...
My younger daughter has just finished her dissertation for her BA in Philosophy and she chose to write about exactly this issue - what she calls the “motivational gap” - the fact that people know the environment is at risk but carry on destroying it.
My feeling is that actually our collective awareness is extremely important and everyone plays a much bigger part in it than they realise. All your actions have ripples. Your neatly sorted recycling sacks serve to remind your next door neighbour to sort theirs too. Your decision to hand back the plastic cutlery with your fast food makes the server, and the person in the queue behind you, think... and so on. Eventually your actions help the powers that be realise they must take the issue seriously or be voted out - and this should extend to dealings with China and Russia too. But also, in a failing world, you are responsible for your own actions because they define you in your own mind. Just because people in power are failing to save the planet does not mean you have to join them.

SillyNanny321 Tue 07-May-19 10:34:45

I feel very worried for my DGC. Will the planet still be able or even still here when they reach my age? Being very selfish I am thankful that I will not be here to see the mess we have made for them to deal with.
I have been laughed at for years for thinking of the damage we are doing to our planet. Maybe they will stop laughing now but probably not as they always told me I was mad to think the way I do. Alone we can do almost nothing but together we may have an effect. Can we all please forget Brexit, Royal babies etc & concentrate on saving our planet?

123coco Tue 07-May-19 10:29:30

Should have said can’t , not vacant!

123coco Tue 07-May-19 10:28:49

Everyone who is knocking Emma Thompson,think on when you are tucking into your beef, driving your car and buying from China and having long haul holidays, buying out of season veg, If everyone went vegan tomorrow it still wouldn’t make any difference because the intensive-agro industry around the world must change , so people who live in glass houses etc ! However we vacant make a difference with our plastic use. SO if you want to knock Emma , look at your cling film!