this worries me

[clackdish]

News - Extinction crisis continues apace

very worrying reading

[loripo]

It is depressing isn't it. Mostly it seems directly because of our new irrigation systems, land clearing, drainage etc.

[Fritillary]

I prefer do not read it, even nature programs in TV I prefer do not watching at all. It makes me angry that while it is very well known the destruction of habitats is produced by human activities, nothing is done. Yes of course, giving catasthrophic news and programs or adverts to children tell them we are dying, yes lot of money is wasted, however taking practical measures, all becomes confuse and slow.

[Vincent86]

Read it and it's very disappointing.

[freefeet]

I gave up worrying long ago.

Homo sapiens ain't gonna stop consuming its environment until its environment isn't able to support it any more. All animals do this but unfortunately with Homo sapiens we are far too powerful and are doing unrecoverable damage leaving whole species extinct in our wake.

I think its part of the program though. We push Nature until Nature pushes back. Nature will then put such incredible environmental stress upon our species that we'll end up evolving into the next species. We need this to happen to evolve. Just a shame that so many species will be destroyed along the way.

It's what the Christians call the End Time.

But mass extinctions have occured many times before and will do so many times again. Whether Homo sapiens cause it or a super volcano is irrelevant, Nature re-boots Her hard-drive and we all begin again.

[Fritillary]

I agree. There are lot of anthropocentrisme considering Homo sapiens the most perfect that nature has done, however our behaviour is the same as the colony of bacteries in a petri dish. They are growing until they consume all ressources and die.

[fairplay]

There is plenty of speculation in this thread.

Let me put a few points on which to ponder:


Does it really matter if a species of Bat was to become extinct ?

If the Orang Outan was to become extinct, most people including myself would be extremely upset, but again, does it really matter, would it send the whole evolutionary chain into meltdown from which we would not recover or would it just be the demise of yet another 'cute species' which exists just to please us ?

If a type of Mychorrhizal Fungus becomes extinct, will it's host tree also become extinct ?

These are all examples of our Biodiversity, and what you should be doing is showing to the world how important it is to save what is left - or isn't it that important ?

Neil.

[freefeet]

Originally Posted by fairplay

These are all examples of our Biodiversity, and what you should be doing is showing to the world how important it is to save what is left - or isn't it that important ?

I'm not saying that it's not important, i'm just saying that it's totally pointless.

Capitalism has taken over the planet and all capitalism seeks is never ending growth. However, our planet has finite resources and therefore there can be only one outcome.

Telling everyone that they're wrong isn't going to make a bit of difference, there's too many people enslaved to capitalism and therefore they're enslaved to what capitalism is going to do - destroy the planet.

There's far too much momentum within the system to stop it.

Every species will eventually become extinct, including Homo sapiens. Why save the pandas and orang utans when we can't even save ourselves?

[richnfamous]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Does it really matter if a species of Bat was to become extinct ?

What matters is the mindset that knowingly allows it to happen, and shows an ignorance of our place in nature - not masters over it, but part of it. We don't own it, it owns us!

I think we humans are an amazing part of nature but it seems we've still got a lot to learn about what part of it we are.

[Fritillary]

Fairplay
There is plenty of speculation in this thread.
Let me put a few points on which to ponder:
Does it really matter if a species of Bat was to become extinct ?
We dont know fairplay, well for micorrhizal along all discomposers, we could die because they degradate minerals and big molecules so other organism can re-use them.

The politic if it is not useful (since our very small bubble), it is not important, may really kill us at the end.

[wizzo]

I agree entirely Freefeet. I watched a program the other night. 'Who's afraid of the big black hole' I believe it was called. Anyway, it just showed how really insignificant we are as a planet and as a 'superior species'. We really ain't that clever. We place ourselves above all other creatures and all other life. Nature will eventually chew us up, spit us out, and push on with re-creating more forms of life. Hopefully we won't be included in her plans. We can only do what we can, in our own limited way, and hope that karma will look after us in whatever exsistence awaits us. I find a lot of comfort in my belief, that mother earth will/is fighting back. I went to see the Michael Jackson movie today, and the redition of 'Earth Song' actually had me fighting back tears. As I write, I've just watched 'the natural world' on BBC. Just one more example of how pathetic a species, we are. Kev

[fairplay]

Fritillary.

I was only talking about 1 type of mycorrhizal fungus and the point was in reference to the host tree becoming extinct (or not).
We all know fungi break down organic matter (not minerals)
Please don't distort what I have written.

Neil.

EDIT. And to Richnfamous & Wizzo - I agree with what you say in your last posts.

[richnfamous]

Originally Posted by wizzo

I agree entirely Freefeet. I watched a program the other night. 'Who's afraid of the big black hole' I believe it was called. Anyway, it just showed how really insignificant we are as a planet and as a 'superior species'. We really ain't that clever. We place ourselves above all other creatures and all other life. Nature will eventually chew us up, spit us out, and push on with re-creating more forms of life. Hopefully we won't be included in her plans. We can only do what we can, in our own limited way, and hope that karma will look after us in whatever exsistence awaits us. I find a lot of comfort in my belief, that mother earth will/is fighting back. I went to see the Michael Jackson movie today, and the redition of 'Earth Song' actually had me fighting back tears. As I write, I've just watched 'the natural world' on BBC. Just one more example of how pathetic a species, we are. Kev

Well...I agree entirely with you about the idea that we're somehow 'above' all the other species on the earth. We have some special abilities but haven't (in the 'western', Judaeo-Christian culture) understood that we're not masters over nature, and it's not there for us.

However, I must disagree with you about us 'hoomins' being pathetic. I think we're amazing, wonderful creatures that have the capacity to work wonders with the natural world that we're a part of too.

There are too many of us living out of balance with nature (including our own nature) so things have to, and will change. The natural processes of life will assert themselves and remind us that we're no more significant than other species, including the extinct ones. I hope we're not going to eliminate ourselves in this process, at least not before my mate Mark gives me my 5 quid back