Hmm, I personally think that the old teaching of 'walking the middle way' is generally the best way to deal with things.

Basically what it means is this: Life is balance - so (for example) one should balance self-interests with a concern for the planet. At the moment I think humans are putting self interest before the good of the planet.

What bothers me personally is that we aren't just destroying the planet, but also stealing the heritage of future generations.

We need to come closer to the middle way - to balance the needs of human society - our needs and our comforts with the welfare of the environment, with the needs of other species with which we share this world, with the needs of future generations to which we'll leave the planet.


Yup, the oil companies are too rich and influential - but then I look at most large companies as 'unthinking' entities, ensuring their own survival before any other consideration, and putting profits before most other considerations. Almost like they were a form of life themselves

 

 

 

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There is a lot that can be done, but as has been pointed out many times, the economy complicates things. In a perfect world we could just close the relevant companies, abandon harmful uses of oil and switch to cleaner forms of fuel but the world we live in is far from perfect. Because these companies are so big they have a lot of influence on the economy and hence politics. Therefore only small steps can be taken until a proper solution is put in place. Many people are employed by these companies and there's a good chance these people would be willing to sacrifice the world future generations would have to live in so that they could provide for their families now. It's anything but easy to just reallocate jobs to somewhere else and greed is not helping matters at all. The companies responsible for extracting and processing oil and manufacturing the traditional vehicle will fight with everything they have to keep their business flowing smoothly. It's interesting to point out that the cars that run on alternative fuels can actually match the performance of some traditional cars in terms of top speed, acceleration etc. so it's not the end of the road for people if they choose these cars. Even certain vehicles used for various types of racing use alternative fuel sources.

Looking at the effects make this whole thing even grimmer. Imagining no polar ice caps, coral being a truly rare thing, hurricanes, typhoons etc. growing in intensity every year, soaring temperatures with records being broken just too often and many others is not easy and to some can be just too devastating. But it can't be ignored.

Fortunately progress is being made and at a decent rate as well. It must be stepped up however if the planet is to be saved.

 

 

 

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I'll take it I'm the only ignorant one here who doesn't care? It's like when people say "Eat healthy, and live long"...Why? I'm gunna die some day, might as well have fun...the world's gunna end/screw up some day...might aswell make what life I have worthwhile, and do what I want....Yes, a very ignorant way to look at it, but I feel "whoever's up there" would be semi-happy with me, since I'm using my life to do what I want with it, not to try and extend it so someone else later on has to do the same. Then again, you're also doing what you want to (most of you, anyways) so...damn loop holes

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Well I think we have passed the no return point. Today's world depends too much on fossil fuel, so changing this also means changing pretty much everything in our lives. Would you spend 30000$ on a hybrid car when you can buy a regular one with 10000$. Or you would rather go to the office by bike? Would you give up heating your home in the winter?
Don't get me wrong, we can still save our world, but it will require a huge (more then we can imagine) change in our life.
Above the fossil fuel problem there is also the alternative fuel problem. Sun, water or wind power don't cause pollution. But if we are to change and switch to electricity we will need lots and lots of power plants. The sun, the wind and the water can't simply provide enough electricity to power the entire world. Nuclear power is the answer. But that is also a ticking time bomb. Nuclear waste plus the danger of a large nuclear event make this only a temporary solution. But above all we have to change our lifestyle, be more efficient, consume much less energy then we currently do.
We are so technologically advanced, but we cannot save our planet for ourselves... Last one to die please turn off the light!

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