Stop Pollution

[Bayou Bum]

While the issue of "climate change" is a political issue and belongs in the Politics forum, I believe we can all agree that pollution is bad and I wanted to post images that are disturbing, showing that even small items are destroying the planet.

http://chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=11

One image I will never forget is the television commercial from years ago showing the American Indian riding past factories and garbage dumps and ending with a closeup with a tear in his eye. The pile of garbage in the floor of my automobile is testament that I don't throw garbage out the window, but obviously I need to do more, such as reduce the garbage I produce all together.

[larkascending]

Recycle recycle recycle, as things like this are so sad.

[Fechter1]

TBH, I think we're well past the point of no return on climate change now. Thanks in no small part to the manufactured debate, at least partially funded by the oil industry, and championed by preceding administrations.

May as well invest in map and globe manufacturers, as coastlines will change significantly in the future, going so far as to even wiping out a small number of countries.

[Hauptman]

While the issue of "climate change" is a political issue and belongs in the Politics forum, I believe we can all agree that pollution is bad and I wanted to post images that are disturbing, showing that even small items are destroying the planet.

http://chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=11

One image I will never forget is the television commercial from years ago showing the American Indian riding past factories and garbage dumps and ending with a closeup with a tear in his eye. The pile of garbage in the floor of my automobile is testament that I don't throw garbage out the window, but obviously I need to do more, such as reduce the garbage I produce all together.

Good post, BB. Those are some disturbing pictures. It's really easy to forget in our day to day lives that what we do, even small things, has such a wide-spread cumulative impact

[Warrior Princess]

TBH, I think we're well past the point of no return on climate change now. Thanks in no small part to the manufactured debate, at least partially funded by the oil industry, and championed by preceding administrations.

May as well invest in map and globe manufacturers, as coastlines will change significantly in the future, going so far as to even wiping out a small number of countries.

I can't remember which article it's from, but there's actually some proof that if we significantly reduce harmful emissions and use sustainable farming practices, there is a pretty good chance that we can halt, if not reverse, some of the damage that has been caused.

[Mergs]

The earth will always heal itself. Look at Mt. St. Helens, Yellowstone, etc after their disasters. Look at the Houston Ship Channel, years ago (40+) you shouldn't have gone near it. Now they are catching fish there. Now if you treat Carbon Dioxide as a 'pollutant', an easy way to cut down on emmissions is for everyone on earth to stop breathing. Well, at least for one minute out of every hour. With practice you probably could work your way up to 2 minutes per hour. Right there is a 3.3% reduction! Hmmm. I guess you'd have to take into consideration when you sleep, so maybe you should push it to 3 minutes for while you're awake. But think of the reduction!!!! 6 BILLION people reducing their cabon footprint by 3%. [/sarcasm]

[Gav]

I can't remember which article it's from, but there's actually some proof that if we significantly reduce harmful emissions and use sustainable farming practices, there is a pretty good chance that we can halt, if not reverse, some of the damage that has been caused.

Depends on your definition of sustainable farming practices... don't be fooled by woolly thinking.

[parrythis]

TBH, I think we're well past the point of no return on climate change now.

You are right. After all, the very spot where I am sitting used to be covered 1000 feet of ice and it has all melted due to global warming.

Oh, but wait... 99.9% of that warming occurred before the industrial revolution.

[Inquartata]

However, there is AFAIK no disagreement about the deleterious effects of pollution. It is not based on the predictions of incomplete models, and I cannot think of any possible unintended consequences of reducing the amounts of plastic wastes floating about in the seas and waterways of the world...

And let's not forget that manufacturing all those plastics uses a lot of oil and creates a lot of other wastes...

I recall the days when beverages came in glass bottles with metal lids.

[Mergs]

I recall the days when beverages came in glass bottles with metal lids.

Most of mine still do!

[Gav]

However, there is AFAIK no disagreement about the deleterious effects of pollution. It is not based on the predictions of incomplete models, and I cannot think of any possible unintended consequences of reducing the amounts of plastic wastes floating about in the seas and waterways of the world...

And let's not forget that manufacturing all those plastics uses a lot of oil and creates a lot of other wastes...

I recall the days when beverages came in glass bottles with metal lids.

QFT. And something that both sides of the "climate debate" appear to have forgotten. Waste is waste and it's not really something that should be ignored.

Most of mine still do!

Mine too!

[fencerchica]

The earth will always heal itself.

But only when given the opportunities it needs in order to do so. Here in MD for example, crab and oyster yields continue to trend downward as we abuse the Chesapeake Bay, thanks to the lobbying of real estate developers and upstream industrial polluters. The Bay isn't going to magically heal itself until we ease the manmade pressures on it and allow it to recover -- although some say we may have already passed the point of no return.

Edited to add: Also, thanks to BB for a good photo article.

[Mergs]

That was my premise to begin with. Keep picking the scab and a cut won't heal, either.

[Inquartata]

Most of mine still do!

Look, man, just because you drink nothing but beer---

[Mergs]

Look, man, just because you drink nothing but beer---

Ah, not true, my friend. Wine and Scotch both come in glass containers, too!

[Rockstar44]

May as well invest in map and globe manufacturers, as coastlines will change significantly in the future, going so far as to even wiping out a small number of countries.

Just as long as it includes SOCAL.

[Inquartata]

Ah, not true, my friend. Wine and Scotch both come in glass containers, too!

But the last time I checked wine bottles didn't use metal caps. Well, not good ones, anyway.

[migopod]

But the last time I checked wine bottles didn't use metal caps. Well, not good ones, anyway.

More and more decent wines are using alternative cork materials, some even with screw tops (even in boxes!). Advantages include less oxidization, no corking (the fungus, that is) and it's supposedly somewhat better at reducing sulfidation as well. Since corks for wine bottles tend to have to come from a really thick cork layer in tree bark, it requires cutting really old trees, and has become somewhat scarcer in recent years. The bad side is that a lot of synthetic corks are not biodegradable and unless recycled could wind up in the pacific gyre with all the rest of the flotsam.

[Fechter1]

But the last time I checked wine bottles didn't use metal caps. Well, not good ones, anyway.

Don't forget the (usually metallic) foil around the cork.

[chase]

Oh, but wait... 99.9% of that warming occurred before the industrial revolution.

Watch out. These liberals don't take too kindly to facts around here...