Life on Earth

Planet Earth has entered its sixth extinction phase, the previous five extinction phases resulted in dinosaurs disappearing etc. I would encourage everyone to read more.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/10/earths-sixth-mass-extinction-event-already-underway-scientists-warn

I am afraid that drastic action is necessary. While we must all do our bit, life style changes will be forced on us. Expecting technology to save us is probably misguided.

If this is to be the fate of planet earth then the sooner the better we find other planets to inhabit.
Where without a doubt, knowing the human race, how long before its' back to square one'?

Quizqueen, yes. population control is a wonderful idea. The problem is, it is expensive and there are many people in the world who cannot afford condoms, vasectomies etc.

I have been to the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest and taken a motorised canoe ride down the huge Napa River from Coca, and was horrified to see a lot of companies drilling for oil along the shores of the Amazon. Unfortunately it is all because of money, which Ecuador needs. To find oil they have to clear forest, and then search for it using a lot of heavy machinery.The men doing this work require housing, so they have to clear more forest to erect the houses. If they do find oil there will be a lot more action and a lot more destruction of the wonderful forest. This was in Ecuador. There are a lot more countries with Rainforest in the way of oil, and they need farming land to for another type of oil too - palm oil. It all comes down to money in the end.

At a local level - the houses near me have good-sized back gardens. Years ago people grew vegetables and fruit in them. Not now. At least 50% are student-occupied now. We eat a lot of our own veg and fruit. It seems a waste of land not to grow food. We're losing more and more farming land to housing. Why do we need so much? If students went to their local university (I think more do on the continent) then there would be more houses for families and they might even grow some of their own food.

Why do we import so much from China? The seas are suffering from shipping, whales are disorientated, injured by ships' propellers.

We have milk delivered two days a week (in bottles) but it's more expensive so we supplement it from the supermarket.

Every little helps.

Why don't they stop all these 'business' trips abroad to stop the amount of air flights. That would cut down a lot of air traffic, after all, conference calls are available in this day and age. The governments are very quiet about the pollution that planes cause, instead, they're bleating about how cars are ruining our atmosphere. I do what I can, and feel that I'm being a responsible citizen, but get annoyed and frustrated that my little contribution is having such a small effect compared to what reducing air travel would make.

I notice that zero population growth gets little or no mention. Also I read in the Times that 5 rivers in China and India are causing lots of trouble with clogging of plastic bottles and other detritus. The West can do it's bit but without Asia cooperating we cannot win.

that'll be OUR plastic bottles etc that we send to China rather than find ways of disposing of it ourselves ...but of course the British government would rather you didn't mention that fact .

By buying cheap plastic tat from China we are contributing to pollution in China- don’t just blame them. We are all to blame and all should be taking it seriously.

georgia101
Why don't they stop all these 'business' trips abroad to stop the amount of air flights. That would cut down a lot of air traffic, after all, conference calls are available in this day and age.

My thoughts exactly.

Closer to home, cut down the choice in schools.
If people had to send their children to the nearest school, like they used to, it would cut out that ridiculous situation we now have where parents in one village are driving their offspring to and from school in another village while parents in that village are doing the same journey in reverse. And the lack of a guaranteed place in a school can mean parents having to take their children to different schools, often far apart!

Is there ANY hope? The ecology is going to Hell in a handcart (well, at least that will have a nil carbon-footprint) and teen obesity is apparently way beyond any control now whatsoever. Parents face the prospect of their children dying from weight related problems associated with the middle-aged and the younger generation face the prospect of an unsustainable planet.

Makes me think of Fritz Lang's classic film of life in a future world, "Metropolis".

Is there any hope? I don't know but I think we have an obligation to try.

Chelsea are playing Arsenal in the Europa Cup Final!

Their stadiums are 8 miles apart.

They are travelling 2,857 miles to Baku (Russia) to play, along with 1,000's of fans!!

Wonder what the climate change warriors will make of this?

Not exactly a good "carbon footprint"