We're going to be the first species to go extinct due to stupidity. A dude the other day told me that the guy who invented the weather channel says that global warming is due to Earth's orbit not being a perfect circle. I don't know how to combat that level of stupid.
Talk like that invites complacency. There have always been and will always be stupid people, perhaps a little more than usual right now on account of the leaded fuel thing a while ago. But the true reason behind global warming isn't because of stupidity, but because of individuals who find it more important to make money rather than keeping the environment safe. Those same individuals who lobby and bribe to keep laws and taxes off of them.
People think we're smarter than dolphins because we invented skyscrapers, digital watches, and war, while all the dolphins ever do is goof off in the oceans having fun. Dolphins know they're smarter for the same reasons.
We’re going to be the first species to go extinct due to stupidity.
Because we act global. The mechanism isn't new at all, though. We as a species are just as stupid as yeast: Watch a slice of bread mould. It starts with a tiny dot, within a day or two the whole slice is green and the bread already unrecognisable, after a couple of days the yeast will die because there isn't any bread any more.
I've unfortunately reached the point of "Yup. I'm not surprised" with little other emotion. I can't do anything about it. I eat red meat once a week, live in a city so I don't drive and work from home. I don't know what else I can do but I do feel exasperated. Like, how can no one who holds the power to change, care? If they don't, how can I care anymore?
It's not really a average individual problem. It's a corporate issue. If you tried you probably couldn't pollute in your life what some companies do in a week.
Not that it's not good to try to do what you can, but we need to legislate this issue.
So… this isn’t to get you down or to be a contrarian, but I want to ask honestly what you’re doing to get the attention of those who hold the power to care?
Edit: in other words I don’t wanna sound like a jackass because I know you’re doing more than most, it seems.
If they aren't paying attention to the main stream news which now is no longer pretending climate change isn't happening, and is saying it outright is responsible, then I doubt they'll pay attention to little old me.
I wish news would stop saying the broad term human activity and more accurately say corporate activity.
Yes, the general population contributes to climate change, but the real polluters are the big companies manufacturing things, big oil, etc. They don't care about what they're doing and lobby govt's to put the blame on the citizens.
100 companies have contributed over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. Only 100.
Do you really think that an average joe can make a difference? The blame doesn't lay on ordinary people. Us polluting is a byproduct of corporations polluting.
Ah yes those powerless companies that have simply no choice but to destroy our biosphere.
It's not like they can use the money that they're currently using to lobby against environmental regulation and oversight for heavier oversight, regulations and *gasp* penalties instead... Yes it's literally impossible to take a principled stance at the expense of literally any amount of profit. Besides, who needs clean air and livable temperatures anyway?
No it must be the consumer who must wade through the sea of greenwashing and propaganda spread by companies who have no problem outright lying about their carbon emissions to everyone's faces. Because it's just so easy for everyone to know the complete supply chain of every product they buy. Simple really.
Edit: After looking through your comment history I can't help but think what you said was meant as more of a call to action for people rather than stepping to bat for multinationals as if they are helpless victims with no agency. Apologies if my comment came across as mean spirited I've just been on edge recently due to certain undisclosed life events. I'll keep my base comment as is for archival though.
Climate change deniers: "Now hold on just a second!!! According to your own "scientists," the hottest the earth ever got was 3,600° during the collision event that formed the moon! Fake news!!!"
Also this resource might be of help: https://skepticalscience.com/argument.php
They collect, categorize and quantify the most popular denials, and answer them with science. The answers are available in different detail levels and languages.
I can’t thank you enough for this. I really appreciate that you took time out of your day to help direct me to useful resources he may actually take seriously.