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Ocean's Oxygen Starts Running Low (2016)

scientificamerican.com

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Re: Ocean's Oxygen Starts Running Low (2016)

#3

Post by stingraycharles »

swampthinker wrote: post #2

I hate this feeling of hopelessness regarding global warming. It feels like even if you were a billionaire/massive corp, at some point you would say "wow we should stop, or else there won't even be a world to spend this money in".

I think it's partially related to something akin to the prisoner's dilemma: it's a world-wide problem, and "we" might not want to take the financial hit for being the first in leading the cause.

I spent quite some time in South-East Asia the past few years, and when you see the sheer amount of boats that just dump all their trash in the ocean, and the sheer lack of awareness of the issue, it makes you hopeless. I come home, diligently recycling my trash, and I can't help but wonder whether this is all just a show, and not addressing any of the core issues that are needed to fix this.

Re: Ocean's Oxygen Starts Running Low (2016)

#4

Post by StavrosK »

stingraycharles wrote: post #3
swampthinker wrote: post #2

I hate this feeling of hopelessness regarding global warming. It feels like even if you were a billionaire/massive corp, at some point you would say "wow we should stop, or else there won't even be a world to spend this money in".

I think it's partially related to something akin to the prisoner's dilemma: it's a world-wide problem, and "we" might not want to take the financial hit for being the first in leading the cause. I spent quite some time in South-East Asia the past few years, and when you see the sheer amount of boats that just dump all their trash in the ocean, and the sheer lack of awareness of the issue, it makes you hopeless. I com…

"Tragedy of the commons", it's called.

Re: Ocean's Oxygen Starts Running Low (2016)

#5

Post by jacquesm »

The oceans are by far the most important eco system on the planet, they have tremendous capacity for healing and regeneration but once that gets pushed too far there may be no way back. And without the oceans alive the world will be hungry.

There are many bad things the Trump administration might be remembered for domestically but internationally the most visible decision was the withdrawal from the climate change accords and it may eventually make the USA a pariah state no matter what military might they have.

Re: Ocean's Oxygen Starts Running Low (2016)

#8

Post by yodsanklai »

swampthinker wrote: post #2

I hate this feeling of hopelessness regarding global warming. It feels like even if you were a billionaire/massive corp, at some point you would say "wow we should stop, or else there won't even be a world to spend this money in".

I think they don't care because they will be the last ones suffering.

Re: Ocean's Oxygen Starts Running Low (2016)

#9

Post by dpwm »

swampthinker wrote: post #2

I hate this feeling of hopelessness regarding global warming. It feels like even if you were a billionaire/massive corp, at some point you would say "wow we should stop, or else there won't even be a world to spend this money in".

When I read articles like this I feel a similar helplessness. I am reminded of Bob Mankoff's cartoon:

https://cartoons.bobmankoff.com/52630

Re: Ocean's Oxygen Starts Running Low (2016)

#10

Post by yodsanklai »

stingraycharles wrote: post #3
swampthinker wrote: post #2

I hate this feeling of hopelessness regarding global warming. It feels like even if you were a billionaire/massive corp, at some point you would say "wow we should stop, or else there won't even be a world to spend this money in".

I think it's partially related to something akin to the prisoner's dilemma: it's a world-wide problem, and "we" might not want to take the financial hit for being the first in leading the cause. I spent quite some time in South-East Asia the past few years, and when you see the sheer amount of boats that just dump all their trash in the ocean, and the sheer lack of awareness of the issue, it makes you hopeless. I com…

I share your feeling, but I also note this contradiction:

> I spent quite some time in South-East Asia

> I come home, diligently recycling my trash

Not saying you shouldn't recycle your trash, but your flights are much more impactful for the environment than your trash.

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