[Optimus Prime]

Well advances in space technology will lead to that eventually (we can hope).

We do need to address the ridiculous amounts of human population growth.

My dad and I were discussing this the other day and I thought his ideas fascinating. It will take a generation or two to just have one child. Maybe we could institute a lottery where depending on what number you draw determines whether you have a child or not. People could sell their "child credits" much like carbon credits if they didn't want a child.

Drastic steps need to be taken.

[Cold Iron]

And throw out civil liberties? I don't know if we could go down that road even if we wanted to. People don't stay oppressed for long.

[Optimus Prime]

That's why I said drastic. My idea won't have any chance until people come to accept the dire pressure we are putting on the planet to support our materials gobbling ways.

I'm all for civil liberties, trust me. But there are times when a society/civilization has to do what is best for the whole.

[Cold Iron]

I think people fall into one of these 4 camps:

Don't worry, technology will save us.
Don't worry, God will save us.
We're fucked, I don't care.
I'm trying and nothing's happening.

I like to think I'm in the 4th group but to be honest I'm not trying all that hard. Once you get used to a certain lifestyle it's very hard to voluntarily give it up. And that applies to the general public too, a free society is not going to self impose a reduction in lifestyle, especially as it is likely to involve the deaths of those living under the current poverty line.

[Optimus Prime]

I still say Technology is our best hope.

I think there is a 5th option....

A giant comet strikes us and wipes enough of us out so we can start fresh

[Cold Iron]

I think our current lifestyle is unethical. It is only sustainable through the comparatively lessor lifestyles of others.

[Optimus Prime]

Agreed.

There's too great a discrepancy between the "haves" and the "have nots".

Of course, how do you tell someone to curtail their spending and wasting of their own wealth that they earned?

There is no easy answer to a ridiculously difficult question.

[paladin]

Xander;300359 said:

I can see that point of view. Our technology is by no means infallible.

We'd be a far more "advanced" species if we learned to solve our differences peacefully. It would also say a lot about humans if we didn't waste so much damn materials and energy on needless shit.

unfortunately we're humans and not classic tolkien elves. peace will always be short lived due to our makeup. first world societies do their best to make things civil, but in reality there are always problems and there always will be. once people get away from unrealistic uptopian ideals and into the realm of realistic ideas, we can accomplish better things as a society.

[paladin]

Xander;300424 said:

Agreed.

There's too great a discrepancy between the "haves" and the "have nots".

Of course, how do you tell someone to curtail their spending and wasting of their own wealth that they earned?

There is no easy answer to a ridiculously difficult question.

and there always will be because socialism has failed in large scale environments

[Optimus Prime]

Good to know you can see the future Paladin.

We progress, we change. And since change is constant there is always a chance things can get better. Doesn't mean it will happen but also leaves room for the possibility.

[Cold Iron]

Yeah sorry Paladin I'm with Xander on this one, Ideals my be unrealistic, but they drive change. If we all focused on what we think are attainable goals we would never achieve great things.

[Cold Iron]

More evidence that extinction events are driven my GHG release:

Dino-Killing Meteor May Have Struck Oil

[Cold Iron]

Koalas at Risk From Climate Change

Great

[Optimus Prime]

man I love Koalas!

Heard Rush Limbaugh again while I was waiting for food today....that guy makes me want to punch babies.

"Global Warming is a myth!" How does that guy actually have a listening audience? He's a fat, pill popping mouth breather.

[Cold Iron]

Fewer Wildfires, Less Carbon Stored?

[Optimus Prime]

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Weather/w...tory?id=4734877

[Cold Iron]

Ocean Science Experiment Could Fight Acidification
Not going to happen, but interesting.

Greenland Ice Has Sensitive History to Warming

[Mushroom]

Great Tits Cope Well With Global Warming

[Cold Iron]

Before long we may be overwhelmed by great tits.

[Mushroom]

Cold Iron;306466 said:

Before long we may be overwhelmed by great tits.

One Could only Hope