I hear you, and I think George Carlin was very funny and witty too.
But, I see too many people with mindsets of:
#1: Since we don't understand it, don't worry about it.
(Ignorance is not bliss in the long run)
#2: Since we don't really know how to control things don't even try.
(We should try to learn. That is what we do. Rarely do we get things right the first time but eventually we tend to persevere)
#3: Everything on this planet was put here for us to consume.
(That is a short sighted view)
#4: My actions are too insignificant to matter.
(If we all feel that way then nothing gets done)
Sometimes those who worry the most are the most optimistic as they think change can make a difference. Many of those who chose not to change have a pessimistic view that we can't fix things so just let them collapse on their own when the time comes.
Many resources we consume are not really renewable/recyclable/reusable. The world population is growing and using up the last of many hard or impossible to replace resources. We found a bounty of materials on this planet that have proven to be quite useful to us, but we haven't been very careful to take a long term view to conserve resources.
Sure we will adapt, but future generations will have to make do with what we decide to leave them.
Just as one little silly but relevant example, think of the future when we have extracted all the liquid helium and released it into the atmosphere so we have no more.
Helium Supplies Endangered, Threatening Science And Technology
Next On The Endangered List: Helium?
The coming helium shortage | Energy Bulletin
Wired 8.08: A Helium Shortage?
"Save the planet" isn't about protecting the globe. It is about protecting us and the useful materials we have available to us.
Oh well, sorry about the detour into the ramblings of my personal viewpoint.
But, I see too many people with mindsets of:
#1: Since we don't understand it, don't worry about it.
(Ignorance is not bliss in the long run)
#2: Since we don't really know how to control things don't even try.
(We should try to learn. That is what we do. Rarely do we get things right the first time but eventually we tend to persevere)
#3: Everything on this planet was put here for us to consume.
(That is a short sighted view)
#4: My actions are too insignificant to matter.
(If we all feel that way then nothing gets done)
Sometimes those who worry the most are the most optimistic as they think change can make a difference. Many of those who chose not to change have a pessimistic view that we can't fix things so just let them collapse on their own when the time comes.
Many resources we consume are not really renewable/recyclable/reusable. The world population is growing and using up the last of many hard or impossible to replace resources. We found a bounty of materials on this planet that have proven to be quite useful to us, but we haven't been very careful to take a long term view to conserve resources.
Sure we will adapt, but future generations will have to make do with what we decide to leave them.
Just as one little silly but relevant example, think of the future when we have extracted all the liquid helium and released it into the atmosphere so we have no more.
Helium Supplies Endangered, Threatening Science And Technology
Next On The Endangered List: Helium?
The coming helium shortage | Energy Bulletin
Wired 8.08: A Helium Shortage?
"Save the planet" isn't about protecting the globe. It is about protecting us and the useful materials we have available to us.
Oh well, sorry about the detour into the ramblings of my personal viewpoint.
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