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Earth Approaching Tipping Point Say Scientists
Hugh Pickens writes "The UC Berkeley News Center reports that a prestigious group of 22 internationally known scientists from around the world is warning that population growth, widespread destruction of natural ecosystems, and climate change may be driving Earth toward an irreversible change in the biosphere, a planet-wide tipping point that would have destructive consequences absent adequate preparation and mitigation. 'It really will be a new world, biologically, at that point,' warns lead author Anthony Barnosky. 'The data suggests that there will be a reduction in biodiversity and severe impacts on much of what we depend on to sustain our quality of life, including, for example, fisheries, agriculture, forest products and clean water. This could happen within just a few generations.' The authors note that studies of small-scale ecosystems show that once 50-90 percent of an area has been altered, the entire ecosystem tips irreversibly into a state far different from the original, in terms of the mix of plant and animal species and their interactions. Humans have already converted about 43 percent of the ice-free land surface of the planet to uses like raising crops and livestock and building cities. This situation typically is accompanied by species extinctions and a loss of biodiversity. 'My view is that humanity is at a crossroads now, where we have to make an active choice,' says Barnosky. 'One choice is to acknowledge these issues and potential consequences and try to guide the future (in a way we want to). The other choice is just to throw up our hands and say, 'Let's just go on as usual and see what happens.'"
Just coincidence? I think not...
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
"Instant access to this article: $32" I'd say were doomed.
I'm making the humanitarian sacrifice and choosing not to mate... yeah, choosing, that's it.
It's mankind. The Earth couldn't care less.
Suicide isn't the answer. After all, you only remove 1 human from the equation. What you really need is a couple of really good efforts at genocide. This is a crisis, its time to think big.
who prays for Satan? Who in 18 centuries has had the humanity to pray for the 1 sinner that needed it most? ~Mark Twain
When it is described as that it removes all obligation of those making the declaration from having to be right.
As in, they won't be around to admit they were wrong. Sounds like typical consultant work.
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.