Looks like we've been putting our purchases of "fresh air" and "clean water" on our credit cards lately, and a nasty bill just arrived. The WWF just released a Living Planet report showing that humans are using 30 percent more resources than the planet can sustain and replenish every year.
The interest rate on living beyond our ecological means is huge. Huge. At the current rate of consumption, we're going to need a second planet by 2030. A second planet. Any ideas on where to get a nice used planet that will sustain human life real cheap? Yeah, me either.
The dividends on gobbling up our natural resources are deforestation, unhealthy soils, crappy air and water, and steep declines in the number of fish and other species. Our boundless population growth is outstripping technology's advances to expand natural production. To see what kind of response the report is advocating, read more.
While we've been worrying understandably about our pocket books, the current cost of our environmental shortfalls not only overshadow the cost of the financial crisis, it's going to require as big and immediate a response. According to the study's authors politicians"now need to turn their collective action to a far more pressing concern and that's the survival of all life on planet Earth."
Does this convince you an environmental bailout is needed?
RED Valentino
Donna Karan
Nicoli
An environmental bailout has been needed long before this report was released. Do I think it'll change anything? No. Until something big happens that makes us realize the error of our ways, nothing will be donee.
1Well, the good news is with all the nuclear thefts maybe some rogue terrorist will just blow up the planet and then we won't have to worry about it anymore.
2Socialists, all of them.
3I'm kind of hoping that green technology will be what powers out of the economic crisis - that we're getting a serious, collective, smack upside the head from reality and enough people will pay attention to make a difference.
4Dammit, I have a kid with big dreams and I'd like there to be a world for her to realize them!
Aren't we just so great as a species? It's so great for the planet that we were created by God in His image to serve as good stewards of the earth given to us
5Haha, a new planet by 2030?
How could anyone take this seriously?
6The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
7I was already convinced. I'm scared to death about the end of the world. We're so wasteful and the planet is only so big. How can we not be in danger?
8scary stuff!
9Always doom and gloom.
10OK, we need to get rid of .... 40% of the people on the earth to make this place sustainable again. Those of you who really believe in this stuff, please step forward now.
11My husband and I walked home from a community meeting last night. It was held at a school across the street from our neighborhood. Yes, it was cold, but we walked. After the meeting, we watched several cars zoom by us. We were 1 of only a handful of people who decided to walk vs. drive the short distance. People still aren't getting the message. I don't know what it's going to take.
12I agree with mondaymoos, people don't wanna do anything until they really see something bad happened with their own eyes.
Look at 911. Look at the current economic crisis.
People want to live the way they want until they feel what they have is threatened... then they look for a "quick fix".
13monday said it really well! how scary...
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