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Birds Are Vanishing from North America

nytimes.com

21–30 of 372 posts

Re: Birds Are Vanishing from North America

#21
post #10

(serious) Is there any hope? Its just one problem after another (probably because everything is linked). What are the chances that we will get our act together or be able to engineer ourselves out of all of these problems?

Trim the world population

Overpopulation rhetoric is eugenics.

Re: Birds Are Vanishing from North America

#22
post #11

(serious) Is there any hope? Its just one problem after another (probably because everything is linked). What are the chances that we will get our act together or be able to engineer ourselves out of all of these problems?

The fact that wetland bird populations are actually growing is a strong sign that we can fix this, if we try. Bird conservation efforts in the last few decades mainly focused on wetlands. See DDT, national wildlife refuges, and the duck stamp. So, it's not like the decline is inexorable. But it's not going to fix itself.

Cool! I don't know much about bird conservation efforts but it is encouraging that we are having success in some areas.

Re: Birds Are Vanishing from North America

#23
post #6
post #5

We're swimming in environmental problems. We can come up with makeshift solutions to many, but for solving them all, and not to suggest it's the only solution, but a part of anything comprehensive, is there any environmental problem that a smaller human population doesn't alleviate?

I prefer to keep "kill all humans" lower down on the list of possible solutions to environmental problems. Lets try some alternatives first.

I don't understand the persistent misstating what lowering the population means. It's no secret we're all going to die. We don't need to kill anyone.

As for alternatives, we've exhausted plenty. Growth, in particular, has failed. Stepping on the gas pedal is not slowing us down. When should we step on the brake? After we drive off the cliff feels too late.

Re: Birds Are Vanishing from North America

#25
post #21
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trim the world population

Overpopulation rhetoric is eugenics.

No it's not. There are too many humans on the planet. Reducing the number would lead to a more sustainable situation. That's just basic logic.

Re: Birds Are Vanishing from North America

#27
post #6
post #5

We're swimming in environmental problems. We can come up with makeshift solutions to many, but for solving them all, and not to suggest it's the only solution, but a part of anything comprehensive, is there any environmental problem that a smaller human population doesn't alleviate?

I prefer to keep "kill all humans" lower down on the list of possible solutions to environmental problems. Lets try some alternatives first.

"Stop having multiple children for Christ's sake" is a great alternative.

Re: Birds Are Vanishing from North America

#28
post #18
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thats true. Reddit seems to be more infested with the pro monsanto crowd. Many of their arguments sound very legitimate as in - try feeding the human race some other way type arguments. But then we must consider this ongoing mass extinction event which seems intimately tied to the use of pesticides and herbicides that apparently, according to the experts, are not harmful to unintended insect populations. It’s hard to…

"try feeding the human race" - How about we reduce our impact on the planet by not feeding all of the human race? Reducing the number of humans on the planet seems like it would be a great first step in solving the overall problem.

Who do you suggest we kill?

Re: Birds Are Vanishing from North America

#29
post #9
post #4

Anytime someone brings up Monsanto they are downvoted because without pesticides humans cannot feed themselves apparently. And herbicides are for plants only so of course they have no effect on insects. /s

Bought by Bayer, that name will be gone soon because of the well earned negative perceptions.

Well, not sure if Bayer is such a good name either. Bayer was part of conglomerate producing Zyklon B used by Germans to kill millions of people.

Re: Birds Are Vanishing from North America

#30

When the news broke that bugs were disappearing, this was the expected followup. Right? https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/02/why-insec...

another issue is how preys of insects dying off is leading to more of the kind of insects that rely on humans, like disease spreading insects. i would not be surprised if zika or other disease are more widespread than being reported. and these corporations are trying to cash in by advertising gmo mosquitoes which have shown to not work. these mosquitoes are able to breed away the reproductive deficiency but now you are left with a franken bug out in wild reproducing like crazy.
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