Why I no longer care about saving the environment...

Zascar

I have decided that I am no longer concerned with my Carbon Footprint or my impact on the environment which may lead to an increase in global warming. From a recent report by the united nations, it seems that the single biggest threat to poisonous emissions and global warming is not my gas guzzling engine or my frequent place journeys, but it is in fact; wait for it - Cow Farts…

This article: http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2062484.ece shows how the worlds 1.5 billion cows produce more dangerous emissions than all Planes, Cars Trains and all forms of transport put together. Methane apparently heats up the earth 20 times more than the Co2 gases which we contribute.

I am instead going to focus my attention directly on the source, and eat as many steaks as I can from now on.

ninebeanrows

Yes but to you see we have altered the natural equilibrium..

funny stuff though..:D

But in all seriousness, look what's happening to our climate! This April will be the warmest EVER, look outside today, it's horrible yet 17c... something big is up..

Archeron

Judt wrote:

So those damn veggies are ruining the world?

Lets kill them. And then eat them.

Judt

So those damn veggies are ruining the world?

Stephen

I knew they were behind it. Their vegan overlords are the real threat to the planet.

ScumLord

Sure decompossing organic waste produces more CO2 than all the animal farts put together and the oceans produce the most CO2, we only contribute 0.6% of all CO2 each year.

This April will be the warmest EVER, look outside today,

Ever?!! It was hotter in the middle ages than it is now.

If only we could train cows to poop in the one place all that methane power could be harnessed. There's a farm that allready runs it's electricity off human poop up north. I don't know why their not putting money into these kind of waste recycling power sources and not into completely useless wind and solar power.

bonkey

Zascar wrote:

I am instead going to focus my attention directly on the source, and eat as many steaks as I can from now on.

Good thinking that man.

Thankfully farmers are too stupid to react to an increase in demand.

Ghost Train

What ever happens the world will keep turning and some sort of life will survive, there have been ice ages before etc, and there is life on the planet that can live in the most extreme conditions. The environment doesn't need saving, it will change and we will either adapt or die off. Man is the most viscous and cruel predator and when he/she is gone it'll probably be for the best

DarkJager

The one thing people forget about when whinging about climate change is that Ireland is going to benefit a lot from it. Would anyone complain if we ended up with an almost tropic like climate here? I wouldn't because I'm sick of looking at rain and ****ty weather for 3/4 of the year...

brianthebard

DarkJager wrote:

The one thing people forget about when whinging about climate change is that Ireland is going to benefit a lot from it. Would anyone complain if we ended up with an almost tropic like climate here? I wouldn't because I'm sick of looking at rain and ****ty weather for 3/4 of the year...

Where has it been written in all the literature about global warming, that Ireland will benefit from it? Was that a footnote I missed?

Judt

DarkJager wrote:

The one thing people forget about when whinging about climate change is that Ireland is going to benefit a lot from it. Would anyone complain if we ended up with an almost tropic like climate here? I wouldn't because I'm sick of looking at rain and ****ty weather for 3/4 of the year...

Well, those parts of the country not underwater.

r3nu4l

I remember our lecturer in college* telling us that Ireland would get warmer...and wetter. So think rainforest, stifling humidity, Blessington swamp with mosquitos etc.

Not for me thanks!

*This was my second year in College (1994). Opinion may have changed since then

Wertz

I was interested in being more environmentally concious and responsible about a decade back. No-one else seemed that bothered then, except for the science fraternity.
But now that it's the latest buzzword, reducing carbon footprints, optimising emissions and every idiot on the TV is telling us about it, I just can't be arsed any more.
Love how all the politicians are merrily jumping on the bio-ethanol fueled bandwagon in a belated effort to appear as if they care.

I'm (hopefully) going to consume at my current level, happily into my old age and continue to be enthralled by reports from around the globe of freak weather phenomena, whilst keeping my front foor well sand bagged.

The time to make a real difference was back in the late 60's early 70's....the last 30 yrs have kind of pushed us past the point of no return....as someone else mentioned, life of some description will go on....besides, humankind is a cancer on the face of this planet and is quite happily killing itself off rather than requiring mother earth to arrange for some kind of viral or bacterial means of reducing our numbers.

Sad Professor

eolhc wrote:

What ever happens the world will keep turning and some sort of life will survive, there have been ice ages before etc, and there is life on the planet that can live in the most extreme conditions. The environment doesn't need saving, it will change and we will either adapt or die off. Man is the most viscous and cruel predator and when he/she is gone it'll probably be for the best

Agreed. Everyone talks about saving the planet but it's really about saving ourselves, the human race. We need the environment a hell of lot more than it needs us.

neacy69

just tell YORE MA to stop farting and we'll all be saved then so!!!!

bonkey

Sad Professor wrote:

Agreed. Everyone talks about saving the planet but it's really about saving ourselves, the human race. We need the environment a hell of lot more than it needs us.

Its funny, cause only a few years ago (and you'll still hear it today) people were on about how evolution has ceased because humans can now shape their environment rather than being shaped by it.

You'd almost think we asked for it...

"Ya boo to you, Mother Nature. We're in charge of our own future now".

(Mother Nature posts an O'RLY picture)

Feral Mutant

DarkJager wrote:

The one thing people forget about when whinging about climate change is that Ireland is going to benefit a lot from it. Would anyone complain if we ended up with an almost tropic like climate here? I wouldn't because I'm sick of looking at rain and ****ty weather for 3/4 of the year...

Screw that, I miss snow.:(

bmaxi

eolhc wrote:

Man is the most viscous and cruel predator and when he/she is gone it'll probably be for the best

But not just yet.

phantom_lord

I'm gonna eat more steak from now on to save the planet.

Ghost Train

bmaxi wrote:

But not just yet.

http://www.vhemt.org/aboutvhemt.htm

fits

Zascar wrote:

in fact; wait for it - Cow Farts…

They dont fart the methane... They belch it

Stephen

The solution: as well as eating more steaks, we need some kind of cow-nappy device to contain all the methane produced by the cows. Periodically purge it by putting it into the natural gas network

fits

Stephen wrote:

we need some kind of cow-nappy device to contain all the methane produced by the cows.

Except that...from wikipedia...
Significant quantities are also produced by cattle—not by flatulence, as in common myth, but 95% through belching.[3][4] The livestock sector in general (primarily cattle, chickens, and pigs) produces 37% of all human-induced methane".[5]

Mahatma coat

fits wrote:

Except that...from wikipedia...
Significant quantities are also produced by cattle—not by flatulence, as in common myth, but 95% through belching.[3][4] The livestock sector in general (primarily cattle, chickens, and pigs) produces 37% of all human-induced methane".[5]

See, thats why we should fam whales instead!

Blackpitts

DarkJager wrote:

The one thing people forget about when whinging about climate change is that Ireland is going to benefit a lot from it. Would anyone complain if we ended up with an almost tropic like climate here? I wouldn't because I'm sick of looking at rain and ****ty weather for 3/4 of the year...

sorry to break your dreams, but the only change Ireland is going to get is just the opposite of what you think, so this will make you save only the money for skiing...
Donegal will be more popular than Alps soon...

Will global warming trigger a new ice age?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1083419,00.html

InFront

r3nu4l wrote:

I remember our lecturer in college* telling us that Ireland would get warmer...and wetter. So think rainforest, stifling humidity, Blessington swamp with mosquitos etc.

Not for me thanks!

*This was my second year in College (1994). Opinion may have changed since then

That is still the opinion as far as I know. So anybody expecting coconut trees on O'Connell Street and the Bog of Allen turning into the Arabian Desert will be disappointed:D

Tar.Aldarion

Mass breeding ftw.

Blitzkrieger

DarkJager wrote:

Would anyone complain if we ended up with an almost tropic like climate here?

I'd love mozzies here......

The Saint

The only solutionis to stop eating beef and drinking milk therefore cows will be worthless and won't be bred for commercial use. We should then start eating kangaroos as they don't produce methane apparently. They're actually looking to engineer cattle with Kangaroo genes to stop cows from producing methane.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2023371.stm

So do the green thing and slaughter kangaroos and have a skippy sandwich.

Zascar

If you have not heard of Channel 4's fantastic documentary "The Great Global Warming Swindle" I highly suggest you watch it here.
(Wikipedia Link)

Really makes you think about how much crap is in 'An Inconvenient Truth'...

InFront

I think it depends a lot on what the cows are fed, isn't that correct? Cows fed on certain products produce less methane. Basically the farmer doesn't want methane production either, because it's energy diverted away from animal growth.

Although I read this in an Environmentalist article, so I'm not sure to what extent a change in methane output can be realistically affected...

ninebeanrows

Zascar wrote:

If you have not heard of Channel 4's fantastic documentary "The Great Global Warming Swindle" I highly suggest you watch it here.
(Wikipedia Link)

Really makes you think about how much crap is in 'An Inconvenient Truth'...

Dear god, that documentary is appalling and only provides yet another boundary to stop something being done about it.

To honestly believe that we are in a natural variation is just absurd. We are DIRECTLY affecting our climate and are just in a period of denial.

brianthebard

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

Mass breeding ftw.

I'm not sure bestiality is the answer tar...

fits

I'm not sure whether to take this thread seriously or not...
but anyone who thinks climate change will be great for Ireland is short-sighted in the extreme.. The potential consequences of climate change for those living in third world countries is shocking and I shudder to think of it.
And for those who were wondering... long dry summers and stormy wet winters are the predicted changes in Ireland

eolhc

eolhc wrote:

Man is the most viscous and cruel predator and when he/she is gone it'll probably be for the best

So it's kinda ironic that cows will be the end of us

Max_Damage

Zascar wrote:

If you have not heard of Channel 4's fantastic documentary "The Great Global Warming Swindle" I highly suggest you watch it here.
(Wikipedia Link)

Really makes you think about how much crap is in 'An Inconvenient Truth'...

I thought that program was excellent. I always did think that the whole global warming caused by humans thing was a farce anyway. It's just another excuse for the governments to put more taxes on everything. We can't do much if the sun is emitting more energy (heat) than usual.

Max_Damage

Max_Damage wrote:

I thought that program was excellent. I always did think that the whole global warming caused by humans thing was a farce anyway. It's just another excuse for the governments to put more taxes on everything. We can't do much if the sun is emitting more energy (heat) than usual.

Yeah we can..

I think Mr Burns had the right idea about blocking out the sun. Sure he got shot, but he was only thinking bout the environment.. obviously.

InFront

Max_Damage wrote:

I always did think that the whole global warming caused by humans thing was a farce anyway.

Why? What makes you think so, knowledge or you think it sounds fishy?

sportswear

yeah the most obvious effect of global warming for me is the amount of mosquitoes that have been on the increase in recent years in ireland .

its ridiculous. im going to be eaten alive this summer.

eating steaks is not going to solve the problem. this will only increase the amount of cows being factory bread for production so more cows for you to eat.

if everyone became veg people wouldn't breed them for production so population would decline.


sort of weird really.

simu

For that one fraction of a second, you were open to options you had never considered. That is the exploration that awaits you... not posting ****e on AH and making muppetry... but charting the unknown possibilities of existence.

qft

Kipperhell

Again what people might be missing a big point. Global Warming is not caused by gases in our atmosphere but a quite few other things. Namely the sun seems to be producing more energy and the magnetic field of earth is about to switch. WE have not been recording the earths nature for long enough to know any of these things with certatinty
The media have been wrong for many years on many subjects along with various scientific information. Ulcers for example are now known to be the cause of a bacteria and not diet and stress as has been thought for a long time. Think the same kind of wrong assumptions applied on a planetary scale.
The up shot of it is use all limited rescources wisely and recycle is common sense one way or the other.
Car use should be reduced as they really don't make good use of infastructure and have a negative effect on other modes of transport. It will reamin more likely a child will be killed in the back of a car than abducted by a stranger but what do people worry about?

InFront

Kipperhell wrote:

Global Warming is not caused by gases in our atmosphere

Can you convince us of that?

Ulcers for example are now known to be the cause of a bacteria and not diet and stress as has been thought for a long time

That's also wrong, bacteria simply overtook diet and stress as a factor. Bad dieting remains a cause of ulcers, bad coffee habits, etc.

Think the same kind of wrong assumptions applied on a planetary scale.

Why? They're completely un-related. Your line of reasoning seems to be "they got ulcers wrong, well then they were wrong about the atmosphere too". Where's your evidence about global warming?

brianthebard

Kipperhell wrote:

Again what people might be missing a big point. Global Warming is not caused by gases in our atmosphere but a quite few other things. Namely the sun seems to be producing more energy and the magnetic field of earth is about to switch. WE have not been recording the earths nature for long enough to know any of these things with certatinty

In agree in principle, too many scientific discoveries are considered certainties without real long term evidence behind them. For several decades people considered Pluto a planet. We even assume that it will orbit the sun, but its only done a third of that comet-like orbit. Who's to say it won't shoot off into the darkness? We have only been recording environmental changes with some level of accuracy for about eighty years. Before this science was in its infancy and a bit before that and science as we think of it didn't exist. People need to stop putting absolute faith in science they way a disturbing amount of people do these days.

Kipperhell

InFront wrote:

Can you convince us of that?

I don't have to. You just need to look at what has convenced you that it does.

InFront wrote:

That's also wrong, bacteria simply overtook diet and stress as a factor. Bad dieting remains a cause of ulcers, bad coffee habits, etc.

I wasn't aware of the first thing you have proved that I am wrong in. As uslcers are not always tested for cause there is no certatinty.

InFront wrote:

Why? They're completely un-related. Your line of reasoning seems to be "they got ulcers wrong, well then they were wrong about the atmosphere too". Where's your evidence about global warming?

Unrealte? They start be the same the minute you realise human's are the conclusive factor that has had assumptions older than the current ones.
I am saying they are wromg because they are making massive assumptions and there is contrary eivednce both sides dismiss off hand without actually connecting the whole picture. I suggest you watch Penn and Tell BS on the subject. They might not be right but they certainly ask some valid questions. The other point would be information on such subjects is heavily influnce by the media.

Jackz

Too many humans, too much livestock i blame medicine, intensive farming and the chinese obv tbh. The ecosystem cant support it!!! maybe ...

Feral Mutant

Deleted User wrote:

So it's kinda ironic that cows will be the end of us

I always knew that was how we'd be destroyed but I also thought they'd have guns.

Our man in Havana

I think Bart Simpson summed it up nicely:

Bart: Aw, recycling's useless Lis. Once the Sun burns out, this planet is doomed. You're just making sure we spend our last days using inferior products.

csm

Kipperhell wrote:

I don't have to. You just need to look at what has convenced you that it does.

the fact the global temperature is a pleasant 15 degrees or so and is fairly regulated tells you the gases in the atmosphere keep us warm. without an atmosphere things would be a smidgeon chillier. greenhouse gases are essential to our environment. unless you have too much of them.

i agree with not taking as golden what the media say. look at the scientific research yourself, it's timeconsuming but then keeping yourself informed on a topic always is.

for the guy who thinks the oceans are a source of CO2, they're not. they are a sink.

ireland may not get hotter. we're already artificially hot for the latitude we're at due to the North Atlantic Current winging some tropical water our way. if the current slows down or switches off (which is predicted by some global models) then we will revert to temperatures more along the lines of nova scotia's.

methane from cows is a massive greenhouse gas. as is nitrous oxide from fertiliser. so if we want to eat meat and continue intensive farming practices we'd want to cut down on the CO2 a fair bit. man does emit only a small % of CO2 but it's a very important greenhouse gas because it absorbs wavelengths that other GHGs don't. therefore a small increase has a large effect.

and we'll all be fine. we won't run out of food or water and life will be as comfortable as always. it's the punters in the 3rd world that are gonna cop the worst of it.

fits

csm wrote:

and we'll all be fine. we won't run out of food or water and life will be as comfortable as always. it's the punters in the 3rd world that are gonna cop the worst of it.

Do you really think that if other countries run out of food, they wont want a piece of ours? Wars caused by food and land are not beyond the realms of possibility.

csm

probably not alright. i just don't think western countries will feel the bite as much. that's just a personal opinion though. not a scrap of evidence to back it up.

we can all move to this new planet they've found if things get a bit heavy here. only 20 or so light years away and it looks real roomy

Catari Jaguar

Zascar wrote:

I am instead going to focus my attention directly on the source, and eat as many steaks as I can from now on.

Or.. you could NOT eat meat, beef or lamb, because all those sheep in NZ contribute too.

If we stop eating beef, and exchange dairy for say, soya or rice milk products, we could cut back on the amount of cows farmed and bred, it would also stop animal cruelty and slaughter, outbreaks BSE/ foot and mouth, and save the rain forest from being cut down by fast food corporations. More trees = less carbon damage and good news all round.

Of course, natural disasters like volcanoes erupting are apparently responsible for most of the ozone damage. And I also read that there's always been a hole, it repairs and then opens again and continues. But you can't prevent stuff like that.

Hmm... How about we all only use 2 squares of toilet paper?? That'll save us all!