Six steps to “getting” the global ecological crisis...and they're not really all that hard.

[profgoose]

Some of us who examine and discuss environmental matters are constantly puzzled and frustrated by the seeming inability of elected officials, environmental organizations, and environmental and political writers to “get” the nature of our ecological plight. Could it be they’re simply unaware of the ecological principles which enable one to understand it?

Since some undoubtedly are getting it, and in light of the warnings in the UN’s latest report on the state of the global environment, below is a brief list of axioms and observations from population ecology with which everyone should be familiar. Most are taught in introductory level ecology and environmental science classes. They appear sequentially, so the reader can step logically through a progression which should make clear the nub of the global ecological challenge before us...

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3188

Enjoy. And thanks for your support. :)

[gateley]

1. Excellent - thank you! Rec! nt

[stuntcat]

2. a bump

thanks for th site :)

[Kolesar]

3. I prefer the message of getting people to "think about" where energy comes from...

...where food comes from, etc. Starting with the proposition of people having to deal with a forced population crash is apt to make the listeners minds shut down.

[profgoose]

4. I actually agree...

with your point. Some people will not handle this frame well, but this is indeed how the ecologist/ecological econ folks teach it in their classes.

Plus, it has the added benefit of being correct. :)

[Kolesar]

5. Thank you. And I believe that people need to learn what energy units really are

So that they can make personal decisions or business decisions about energy. This seems like a perfect goal for our educational system. In my observations, young people want to know about these matters.

[profgoose]

10. I think that is correct, but...

I am actually teaching a course this semester on energy policy--started the semester by showing Al Bartlett's exponential growth lecture (google it--I assure you, it's worth your time).

They get it, yes. However, they also want to believe that tech and innovation will save us.

Then I remind them that there's nothing like a barrel of light sweet crude oil for energy return on energy invested...then they get sad.

I do not enjoy making my students feel bad about their future...but hey, facts are facts.

[kestrel91316]

18. My assistant (age 21) has already looked at the world situation and

the average person's mindset and concluded:
1- The world is made up of assholes, and she hates them all (she's a misanthrope).
2- The planet is already so completely fucked up that nothing she does is going to make any difference at all. We're doomed.

In other words, some young people know the score and have thrown in the towel already. Sad.

[JohnF]

17. Yep

"Plus, it has the added benefit of being correct. :)"

I can't disgree with you there, profgoose. O8)

[NNadir]

9. And we certainly don't want to offend anyone, do we?

I mean, why start with unpleasantness?

Look.

If the population crashes, people will be forced to notice, OK? They'll have to turn off whatever it is their watching on TV, Oprah or "The Simpsons" or whatever, and recognize that something unpleasant is happening. Who knows, maybe they'll be visited by raiding peasants with guns and axes. You never can tell.

What are you trying to say here? We have to hit them in the head with a hammer to get them to see?

Jeeze...

[Kolesar]

12. ^- A sarcastic, unfocused diatribe about "carrying capacity" from a breeder

[Gregorian]

6. WHAT?

Holy cow! It's an actual article that actually addressed the major problem. You don't see that very often.

And one thing that isn't helping matters is that most people do not have a functioning view of what that graph is all about. There is a lot of information in one tiny curve. It's not drawn to any kind of scale. But it's showing us that we're in an emergency, right now.

Thanks. This gets a recommend from me.




By the way, here's a very simple example of how dependent we are. My neighbor somehow turned off my well pump. And it's the kind that is very difficult to prime. So here I am as it gets dark, without water. My cat is dying, and I'm supposed to rush to the vets in the morning. I've been sick. I am going to be worthless without a hot shower in the morning. And my dirty dishes are sitting in the sink. And I'll have to brush my teeth dry. One simple thing. Hardly even related. But very much related. Our dependency on modern technology as absolutely painted us into a corner.

We're more divided, faster, and far unhappier than we should be.

[stuntcat]

7. (I hope)

(I hope you feel better, and I hope for kitty too. I hope the well gets fixed, water is the most important.)

[Gregorian]

8. Thanks

I lost his brother a year ago. And I'm still not even over that. And only at 11 years old. These are not just cats. I have literally spent every minute of their lives with them. From the moment they were being carried by their mother from where they were born. Which was a twelve foot diameter oak tree! And this cat was lost in the forest for many months, as a kitten. I couldn't believe it when he came home.

No, I think this is his end. But maybe we'll get lucky. They've been through a lot with me. Mostly ticks and chiggers and fleas. I think that shortens their lives. But I meticulously kept them clean once I realized the problem. I think the huge barn was one reason for early death. I had a monstrous barn with a wooden floor. And under it was stuff from a hundred years. All bad.

If he goes, I am worried about how I might handle it. He's my life. He's all I have.

Here he is. Farnsworth.



Bart, his brother. Now gone.



During the times of happiness and luxury.



You obviously love cats. It wouldn't be complete without this-

[stuntcat]

11. Monday check in

I hope you two got to the vet's and back home together.
These pictures are beautiful, that last one of Farnsworth is ART I swear, he's amazing! 11 or 12 might seem like a short time for them but it isn't really and they have such great lives spent with you. They have very short times compared to us so we can just make them comfortable and love them while they're here. This is silly to say right now but you have to help more cats, sometime I mean. helping any animals I can is the most important thing I do I think.

They're so lucky they were born where they were! :hug:

[Gregorian]

13. We made it!

Thanks for your comments and support.

I don't know what it was. But last night he just suddenly returned to his self. Man, I was distraught. I'd just fall apart without him right now. I had a long talk about this yesterday with my mom. About how to handle loss. Being in the moment and remembering the past. And sorrow versus just "what is". My memories of those experiences would tear me apart.

I will think about helping. I was looking at property last week, and I just walked into a little fluffy black cat. I was so sad thinking he was not where he should be. I made an offer on that property this morning. Maybe that cat will be the one. I don't know. :)

[stuntcat]

14. hahah!! YAY

Oh I'm like unreasonably happy about this now! :hug:

When I hold my oldest cat Tonka I just can't imagine not having him but I always think of how many nice animals there are out there that don't have anyone looking after them or even knowing them and I'm just glad I can take care of the ones I have. (And my squirrels, my good squirrels that I can't even tell apart :P )

I hope things all work out so easy for y'all.

This is my Tonka, the cat that better live forever-

[Gregorian]

15. Thanks.

It's still early to be certain. And it seems just as one problem goes away another takes it's place. I'm suddenly freaking out about another problem. But for a few moments everything seemed just great. I guess that's life.

It's nice to know there are others out there who really think and care about the world and it's special creatures.

[JohnF]

16. Thanks for seeing the essay for what it is.

Nice to see someone simply appreciate this essay for what it is -- an attempt to address some important truths of which many are still unaware. Thanks, Gregorian. :hug:

[profgoose]

19. thanks for the kind words on the essay...

I know he put a lot of effort into that. I will pass your kind words along.

[Kolesar]

20. But if you advocate population control, you are part of the "culture of death"

That lame and nefarious RW message actually resonates with a lot of people. I really don't get it. Don't those people have the ability to use deductive logic??