How can rates & effects of climate change be controlled?

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

'T wouldn't be a bad idea either if we started an all out global assault on over-population. Less folk, less of an impact.

Regards, Chris

That sounds a bit as if you want to kill off the ones already here ....

It is true though that as long as the Earth's human population keeps increasding then anything else we do is doomed to failure. Population control was one of the most obvious things that had to be cosidered by the "Earth Summit" back in 1992 but it disappeared off the agenda due to pressure from the USA, the Vatican and other reactionary states and religions.

[Highland Damsel]

I think there has to be a fundamental change in thinking and the way we do things, both on a small personal scale but also on a larger commecial scale. I think the way to make a difference is not just one thing such as travel or food packaging or house insulation but through everything. A really small example might be drinks, how many small plastic bottles are bought and used and discarded every day and yes we can choose not to buy them or recycle the bottle but what if we could go to the shop with a bottle and refill from one container that itself was refilled? Except food hygeine legislation would prevent this.

It can not just be about personal reponsibility and sacrifice all the time, there needs to be an overhaul of every system. It would be economically painful, to use the previous example factories woudn't be needed to make the bottles, but i don't think we can stop or slow global warming without changing at a basic level and unfortunately i would be surprised of capitalism would let this happen.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Highland Damsel

I think there has to be a fundamental change in thinking and the way we do things, both on a small personal scale but also on a larger commecial scale. I think the way to make a difference is not just one thing such as travel or food packaging or house insulation but through everything. A really small example might be drinks, how many small plastic bottles are bought and used and discarded every day and yes we can choose not to buy them or recycle the bottle but what if we could go to the shop with a bottle and refill from one container that itself was refilled? Except food hygeine legislation would prevent this.

It can not just be about personal reponsibility and sacrifice all the time, there needs to be an overhaul of every system. It would be economically painful, to use the previous example factories woudn't be needed to make the bottles, but i don't think we can stop or slow global warming without changing at a basic level and unfortunately i would be surprised of capitalism would let this happen.

there are some good articles about this in this weeks "new scientist" btw

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Highland Damsel

........., but i don't think we can stop or slow global warming without changing at a basic level and unfortunately i would be surprised of capitalism would let this happen.

But perhaps we are witnessing the 'inevitable collapse of capitalism'!
I see that Das Kapital is up amongst the big sellers again ......

[Highland Damsel]

I don't know people and companies arn't going to give up profits and good money for the sake of the environment! I do believe that change is possible, look at plastic bags, guessing they will be a thing of the past in two or three years, hooray but that is a trade off for something better, not a sacrifice. I reckon packaging is going change soon too, there are cost benefits there for companies and selling points for the marketers, win win. Tescos have started putting out their waste boxes to use instead of bags, it's about time but again win win. Carbon trading, we are not even trying, just buying our credentials. There is change but only where there is no sacrifice of profit, Okay yeah that's cynical

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

That sounds a bit as if you want to kill off the ones already here ....

It does rather, doesn't it. Whilst I am not suggesting such extremes, I just wish tackling overpopulaton was somewhat higher up the agenda.

Regards, Chris