The Environmental Watchdog MasterThread

Lisnaholic · 02-01-2019, 07:55 AM

^ If that summary of 2018 isn't depressing enough for you, here are some recent stories that indicate how predictions of environmental damage are now coming true - and given that these stories are all culled from the same few weeks, the pace of damage appears to be picking up.

1. Extreme weather events:

Hot Australia: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/31/a...ntl/index.html

Cold USA: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47088684

2. Antarctic Ice Melt:

Damage worse than imagined: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/31/h...ntl/index.html

3. Toxic, chronic air pollution:

Bankok kids suffer thanks to Thai policies: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-as...masks-sell-out

So please go ahead - choose what you want to feel depressed about.

OccultHawk · 02-01-2019, 10:38 AM

My compliments to whoever wrote that merit. Good stuff.

Lilja · 02-02-2019, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

^ If that summary of 2018 isn't depressing enough for you, here are some recent stories that indicate how predictions of environmental damage are now coming true - and given that these stories are all culled from the same few weeks, the pace of damage appears to be picking up.

1. Extreme weather events:

Hot Australia: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/31/a...ntl/index.html

Cold USA: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47088684

2. Antarctic Ice Melt:

Damage worse than imagined: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/31/h...ntl/index.html

3. Toxic, chronic air pollution:

Bankok kids suffer thanks to Thai policies: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-as...masks-sell-out

So please go ahead - choose what you want to feel depressed about.

Why get depressed? Most of the people complaining about it never did anything to stop it. Just like most anything there is to complain about.

These are some of the reasons why I don't recycle as much as I used to. Because it makes no difference. No matter how much I as an individual did in terms of diminishing my global footprint, in the end, it makes no difference if you have millions doing the exact opposite. I live in one of the most, if not the most environmentally positive countries on the planet in terms of recycling, energy production..a "green" country. And it makes no difference, at least the amount of effort, if you have many others doing the opposite.

So I said screw it and my hubbie and I bought a sports car. A Kia Stinger GT. It is dirtier than a porshe in terms of output and has a twin-turbo V-6 engine. It is a rare car here in Sweden since it puts out so much carbon (I have seen one other so far on the road) but it gets me where I want to go much faster (am I bragging, yes, but it is a gorgeous car. Here is a pic after we got it detailed.).

Watching a video yesterday about how much carbon airplanes spew in the atmosphere just made me want to take a long trip to Tahiti. Because I don't care as much anymore. And I feel more honest about myself and my choices.

OccultHawk · 02-02-2019, 04:56 AM

If it runs it's good enough for me. I’m so ****ing sick of walking to work. I also want a car, ironically perhaps, so I can go tent camping before it gets hot again and the bugs come back out.

Lisnaholic · 02-02-2019, 07:23 AM

We are all entitled to make our own choices, Lilja, though tbh I was surprised to read about your most recent ones. May I make a couple of comments on your post?

First up, I don't think anyone will deny that that's a beautiful looking car.

Second, I suspect that you have had a different experience from many of us here, as you "live in one of the most, if not the most environmentally positive countries on the planet." If we ranked MB members by their carbon footprint, I bet you'd be pretty low down on the register, but years of government-imposed good environmental conduct must be frustrating at times, and I'm sure you're not the only person in Sweden who feels like rebelling from it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilja

Why get depressed?

^ This might've been a rhetorical question, but I'd like to answer it anyway: It's inherently depressing to see something healthy and beautiful get damaged by misuse over time. That goes for people as much as the planet Earth.

Quote:

Most of the people complaining about it never did anything to stop it.

^ I wonder who you have in mind when you say this? Plenty of people could've done more to stop it, but that doesn't alter the fact that in large part the victims of environmental damage will be our children. That story about Bankok air quality, for instance: I wonder how many Bankok schooldays start with children asking, "Mummy do I have to wear this mask?" That must be a heart-wrenching start to the day for many parents and in that circumstance, innocent child and guilty parent alike are entitled to complain imo.

Lastly, your post prompts the question: does it matter what we do or not? Instead of answering that question, I'm planning to make a poll thread about it later today - Let the People Decide!!

Lilja · 02-02-2019, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

We are all entitled to make our own choices, Lilja, though tbh I was surprised to read about your most recent ones. May I make a couple of comments on your post?

First up, I don't think anyone will deny that that's a beautiful looking car.

Second, I suspect that you have had a different experience from many of us here, as you "live in one of the most, if not the most environmentally positive countries on the planet." If we ranked MB members by their carbon footprint, I bet you'd be pretty low down on the register, but years of government-imposed good environmental conduct must be frustrating at times, and I'm sure you're not the only person in Sweden who feels like rebelling from it.

^ This might've been a rhetorical question, but I'd like to answer it anyway: It's inherently depressing to see something healthy and beautiful get damaged by misuse over time. That goes for people as much as the planet Earth.

^ I wonder who you have in mind when you say this? Plenty of people could've done more to stop it, but that doesn't alter the fact that in large part the victims of environmental damage will be our children. That story about Bankok air quality, for instance: I wonder how many Bankok schooldays start with children asking, "Mummy do I have to wear this mask?" That must be a heart-wrenching start to the day for many parents and in that circumstance, innocent child and guilty parent alike are entitled to complain imo.

Lastly, your post prompts the question: does it matter what we do or not? Instead of answering that question, I'm planning to make a poll thread about it later today - Let the People Decide!!

That is my whole point (or one of them). Polls change nothing. People can talk, talk or type all they want but most peoples actions change nothing most just go around their day to day lives changing nothing about them. It is like all the Trump threads. People can say all they want about how horrible he is but in the end, these same people just talk alot or type alot without doing a darn thing. That's it. Then they go back to their day to day existence.

Sure the children will have a worse existence then the previous one. But that is usually not what pops into people's heads when they choose to buy imported foods which leave massive carbon footprints or plastic bags and the like. But it was cheap.

I would think it is just as hard an existence for those people in the US who live near coal-fired power plants and the like. But in the end, the plants still exist because someone is buying power produced from them.

The Batlord · 02-02-2019, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilja

That is my whole point (or one of them). Polls change nothing. People can talk, talk or type all they want but most peoples actions change nothing most just go around their day to day lives changing nothing about them. It is like all the Trump threads. People can say all they want about how horrible he is but in the end, these same people just talk alot or type alot without doing a darn thing. That's it. Then they go back to their day to day existence.

Sure the children will have a worse existence then the previous one. But that is usually not what pops into people's heads when they choose to buy imported foods which leave massive carbon footprints or plastic bags and the like. But it was cheap.

I would think it is just as hard an existence for those people in the US who live near coal-fired power plants and the like. But in the end, the plant still exist because someone is buying power produced from them.

That's a pretty good reason to get depressed but if you've overcome that negativity to buy a bombass car that vibrates your lady wood into next week then you're my hero. I should buy an 18 wheeler for when it's cold and I still want to get my mail.

Lilja · 02-03-2019, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dharma & Greg

That's a pretty good reason to get depressed but if you've overcome that negativity to buy a bombass car that vibrates your lady wood into next week then you're my hero. I should buy an 18 wheeler for when it's cold and I still want to get my mail.

That is just how people are. I can go on all day about subjects such as the pollution in the US. Have I personally done anything to stop it? Have I encouraged others to end it, started campagns against it...nope. Have I written about it? Yup. Did my writing provoke change? Nope. Have I condemned others for their choices? Yup. But it made no difference.

It is just easier to accept that then fight it. And we bought the Stinger because

1.) They probably won't be around much longer, at least here, because of the CO2 tax. Here you pay a tax according to how much exaust your car puts out. So Stingers are high compared to say a Volvo V90. So the Stinger is not very popular here.

2.) It's fun to drive, a great snow car since it has 4WD, and it is a beast of a car. Faster than a Mustang and cheaper for all that you get . The only negative is that it is too quiet. So we are putting in new exhaust pipes and some other mods.

3.) If you can get a car you want, just get it. Life is short.

If you just accept that the world is going to heck instead of focusing on the "could have should haves" since most will never care and those that claim to have either did not get enough support or just didn't do what they said...well..it makes things so much easier. It is depressing what has happened in the world, that I agree with. But that is just how it is. Enjoy the pocket of your existence.

The Batlord · 02-03-2019, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilja

The only negative is that it is too quiet. So we are putting in new exhaust pipes and some other mods.

OccultHawk · 02-03-2019, 05:52 AM

Yeah - this may be as good as it gets

For most of us the collapse is barely hitting home

A fire here a hurricane there

It’s worth considering if exploiting our resources to the max and enjoying the spectacle of environmental chaos isn’t the only way not to waste the moment.

02-01-2019, 07:55 AM	#331 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	^ If that summary of 2018 isn't depressing enough for you, here are some recent stories that indicate how predictions of environmental damage are now coming true - and given that these stories are all culled from the same few weeks, the pace of damage appears to be picking up. 1. Extreme weather events: Hot Australia: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/31/a...ntl/index.html Cold USA: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47088684 2. Antarctic Ice Melt: Damage worse than imagined: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/31/h...ntl/index.html 3. Toxic, chronic air pollution: Bankok kids suffer thanks to Thai policies: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-as...masks-sell-out So please go ahead - choose what you want to feel depressed about. __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

02-01-2019, 10:38 AM	#332 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	My compliments to whoever wrote that merit. Good stuff. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

02-02-2019, 04:56 AM	#334 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	If it runs it's good enough for me. I’m so ****ing sick of walking to work. I also want a car, ironically perhaps, so I can go tent camping before it gets hot again and the bugs come back out. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

02-03-2019, 05:52 AM	#340 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	Yeah - this may be as good as it gets For most of us the collapse is barely hitting home A fire here a hurricane there It’s worth considering if exploiting our resources to the max and enjoying the spectacle of environmental chaos isn’t the only way not to waste the moment. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html