Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

While the planet burns our politicians fiddle

theglobeandmail.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 31 posts

Re: While the planet burns our politicians fiddle

#11

Post by yourbandsucks »

Analemma_ wrote: post #2

The air quality index in Seattle is 185 right now, which is unheard of; I could barely see the sun yesterday. Last year there was extreme air pollution due to wildfire smoke for the first time that I can remember, and I thought then maybe it was a anomalous event, but now that it's twice in two years it's probably time to think of this as the new normal. And as much as I want to blame politicians as an easy target, i…

The problem, as you pointed out, is that it has nothing to do with thinking and everything to do with hating.

You could give conservatives great environmental solutions for free, and they'd still reject them, because they know liberals would like it. They hate wind power, hate solar power, and it's got nothing to do with economics. Yet they like nuclear power. Why? Hippies don't like it.

And I don't think the politicians are close to blameless. They've cultivated this for 25 years. They're not just reflecting the will of the people, they're shaping it.

Re: While the planet burns our politicians fiddle

#12

Post by root_axis »

It's not just politicians; the citizenry does not really care and many are openly hostile to the idea of taking firm steps to reduce emissions since that has an economic cost and they view the economic cost as a bigger threat than whatever impact emissions have on the environment.

Re: While the planet burns our politicians fiddle

#13

Post by Zealotux »

This is the main reason I'm more than skeptical of our ability to even limit the effects of climate change in a foreseeable future, I'll admit it's a cynical view, but even if tomorrow every world leaders agreed that climate is indeed our top priority it'd still be a challenge to tackle it. Instead of that we have endless debates, as if we had time for partisanship, and short-sighted "patching" solutions.

I've been told repetitively that I'm wrong to "believe" in climate change, I hope I am, at that point: being wrong is our only way for salvation.

Re: While the planet burns our politicians fiddle

#15

Post by wool_gather »

nostromo wrote: post #6
Analemma_ wrote: post #2

The air quality index in Seattle is 185 right now, which is unheard of; I could barely see the sun yesterday. Last year there was extreme air pollution due to wildfire smoke for the first time that I can remember, and I thought then maybe it was a anomalous event, but now that it's twice in two years it's probably time to think of this as the new normal. And as much as I want to blame politicians as an easy target, i…

Most scientists agree that the uptick in serious fires in the west is primarily from decades of bad forrest management, not climate change. Climate change obviously plays a role, but it's not the primary driver. I think some activist groups and the media are purposefully muddying the water on this issue. http://mjr.jour.umt.edu/how-journalists-fan-the-flames-of-wi... http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2018/08/western-wash…

Even if it's not the primary cause, this is a highly visible, concrete set of events that can be pointed at to increase awareness.

I don't condone dishonesty or propaganda, but using these events to help point out that a) climate change is really happening, b) it's not just a few extra hot days during the summer, seems perfectly okay.

Re: While the planet burns our politicians fiddle

#16

Post by root_axis »

decebalus1 wrote: post #14

Does this article violate HN terms or something? It got flagged in less than an hour and most comments are downvoted.

I didn't flag and I think the discussion is worthwhile, but any U.S. political topic that isn't directly related to tech is usually flagged.

Re: While the planet burns our politicians fiddle

#17

Post by mhneu »

decebalus1 wrote: post #14

Does this article violate HN terms or something? It got flagged in less than an hour and most comments are downvoted.

Not sure but it’s important to remember that silence on issues like climate change benefits the status quo- the companies that wish to keep up the current situation. Avoiding conversations like this is the same as taking a side - the companies’ side. Too bad it’s not discussed more.

Re: While the planet burns our politicians fiddle

#18

Post by zackmorris »

I live in Boise, ID and this is the worst smoke I've seen in my lifetime. I fully agree that global climate change is a huge problem and that politicians are doing little to stop it. Most seem to be making it worse.

Is there a technology-based solution to this? I don't know, but maybe technology could be used to improve the tragedy of the commons issues that are wrecking the planet. Please unflag this post.

Re: While the planet burns our politicians fiddle

#20

Post by geoka9 »

zackmorris wrote: post #18

I live in Boise, ID and this is the worst smoke I've seen in my lifetime. I fully agree that global climate change is a huge problem and that politicians are doing little to stop it. Most seem to be making it worse. Is there a technology-based solution to this? I don't know, but maybe technology could be used to improve the tragedy of the commons issues that are wrecking the planet. Please unflag this post.

I'm in Vancouver and it's pretty terrible. It's the 3rd summer in a row and this one is by far the worst.

+1 Please unflag this post.

Post reply on HN