[onlooker]

Can we stop/slow our assault on Earth, if so how? I think all of us collectively as a species should consider this question and act upon it. Considering our huge population and our fondness for the modern lifestyle as well as our reliance on Fossil fuels, we seem unlikely to be able to slow much less stop this assault. First, as Dohboi as said first world citizens should renounce their comfortable lifestyles. Then we can divert to renewable energy as much as possible. Feasible? I do not know. It would involve hardship for sure. Some in rich countries would perish prematurely. We would maintain a certain minimum level of fossil fuel use especially for agriculture as the world's population relies on a certain level of modern agricultural production to feed itself. Again is this feasible considering that each country pursues its own agenda and policies. Capitalism and the whole debt system must cease as soon as possible and a system similar to that Dave the moderator proposed which is asset based and controlled would be implemented. Again, rich countries need to drastically curtail economic activity and poor countries drastically reduce population. Can it be done? Probably not but some of this would need to be done to slow our assault on Earth. Oh and in another nod to Dohboi, meat eating pretty much prohibited.

[sidzepp]

If the species Homo Sapiens Sapiens is to remain part of the biosphere of this planet the species must learn to think globally and understand their role in the food chain. Unfortunately the influences of nationality, ethnicity, economics, and religiosity severely hinder any ability for our species to work together in an attempt to tackle the obstacles which we face.
For us in the privileged world (just look at the current campaign for Chief Entertainment Officer as an example of our stupidity) we are not about to give up our lifestyle. Any attempt to suggest change is sneered at with contempt. Labels such as socialist, liberal, progressive refer to people who are attempting to destroy the “American way of life.” “We have plenty of oil in the ground” to sustain our love affair with SUV’s, McMansions, and exotic trips to Disney World. There solution is to drill off the Eastern seaboard or open up the public lands. Imagine oil derricks next to old faithful. Our entire military-industrial complex is built to protect our access to the resources of the planet to allow us to continue to live in our little utopia.
Meanwhile we have the BRICS who desire to join the privileged world as rapidly as possible. Where they have the advantage of learning from our mistakes they seem content with emulating our economic model. Of course that puts more pressure on the resources necessary for continued growth. This increases pressure on the various privileged few and the soon to be privileges and leads to escalating tensions.
Meanwhile, the vast majority of people on this planet exist at the not at all privileged level. They might have the fortune to reside in a country rich in resources that the privileged few require for sustaining their lifestyles and with trickle-down economics a few might obtain privileged status in their locality. But even in the privilege places on this planet our great populations of not-so-privileged who are envious of the status of their privileged neighbors.
Is it possible? Yes. Is it probable? Not until we can get the masses of the world to get their face out of their cell phones and rise up against the elites of this world who have us manipulated to do their bidding.

[vtsnowedin]

(just look at the current campaign for Chief Entertainment Officer as an example of our stupidity)

Excellent observation
[quote


Imagine oil derricks next to old faithful. [/quote]
You would not find any oil in a volcanic caldera. Geo thermal hot water perhaps but no oil.

If you want to stop the "assault" on the earth start by sterilizing six billion people and imposing strict birth control on the remainder.

[dohboi]

Yes, good observations, sid, and welcome to the fray!

[Newfie]

Not so radical, you only need to sterilize women.

Reproduction maths are not PC.

[vtsnowedin]

Not so radical, you only need to sterilize women.

Reproduction maths are not PC.

I've never been accused of being PC.

[Newfie]

Onlooker,

I think this topic is beat to death daily here. But, if you want my opinion....

The only "hope" is for some kind of fast crash that takes humanity down, and soon. Meteor, plague, nuclear war.

Ironic. A bit like Ibon's Overshoot Predator.

[sidzepp]

Perhaps assault is not a strong enough term. What about the gang rape of the Earth.

[dohboi]

Obliteration or annihilation are perhaps even more appropriate terms to throw into the mix, here.

(Another problem with using the word 'assault' in the title is that in my location bar, the abbreviated title shows up as: Can we stop/slow our ass...!! )

[Ibon]

A GMO virus combining DNA from a virulent strain of influenza, Ebola and Aids along with some anthrax and maybe a pinch of bubonic. Of course some genes of the common cold that enable airborn transmission. Invented by some disgruntled micro biologist pathologist working for the defense department on bio warfare who didn't get the promotion who was always a bit unstable to start with. When he was a boy his dad took him on fishing trips in the Chesapeake Bay to a place that a few years back was devastated by an algae bloom. On top of that his wife divorced. All of these factors combine to take him over the edge. He goes to Home Depot and buys some spray bottles. He gets one of those around the world airline tickets and starts in New York and then on to Mexico City, Sao Paolo, London, Dubai, New Delhi, Bejing, Manila, Bangkok, Melbourse, Sidney and finally Los Angelos.

[vtsnowedin]

A GMO virus combining DNA from a virulent strain of influenza, Ebola and Aids along with some anthrax and maybe a pinch of bubonic. Of course some genes of the common cold that enable airborn transmission. Invented by some disgruntled micro biologist pathologist working for the defense department on bio warfare who didn't get the promotion who was always a bit unstable to start with. When he was a boy his dad took him on fishing trips in the Chesapeake Bay to a place that a few years back was devastated by an algae bloom. On top of that his wife divorced. All of these factors combine to take him over the edge. He goes to Home Depot and buys some spray bottles. He gets one of those around the world airline tickets and starts in New York and then on to Mexico City, Sao Paolo, London, Dubai, New Delhi, Bejing, Manila, Bangkok, Melbourse, Sidney and finally Los Angelos.

Dude that's some righteous kick as* weed your smokin there. Got any seeds?

[vox_mundi]

A GMO virus ... He gets one of those around the world airline tickets and starts in New York and then on to Mexico City, Sao Paolo, London, Dubai, New Delhi, Bejing, Manila, Bangkok, Melbourse, Sidney and finally Los Angelos.

We already have the virus ... we just need the plane ticket!

12 Monkeys Final Scene

A scientist funded by the US government has deliberately created an extremely deadly form of mousepox, a relative of the smallpox virus, through genetic engineering. The new virus kills all mice even if they have been given antiviral drugs as well as a vaccine that would normally protect them.

The work has not stopped there. The cowpox virus, which infects a range of animals including humans, has been genetically altered in a similar way. The research brings closer the prospect of pox viruses that cause only mild infections in humans being turned into diseases lethal even to people who have been vaccinated.

Since then, Ramshaw told New Scientist, his team has also created more deadly forms of mousepox, and has used the same method to engineer a more deadly rabbitpox virus.

Ramshaw’s team made its initial discovery while developing contraceptive vaccines for sterilising mice and rabbits without killing them. The researchers modified the mousepox virus by adding a gene for a natural immunosuppressant called IL-4, expecting this would boost antibody production.

Instead, the modified mousepox virus was far more lethal, killing 60 per cent of vaccinated mice. The addition of IL-4 seems to switch off a key part of the immune system called the cell-mediated response.

Now Buller has engineered a mousepox strain that kills 100 per cent of vaccinated mice, even when they were also treated with the antiviral drug cidofovir. A monoclonal antibody that mops up IL-4 did save some, however.

His team “optimised” the virus by placing the IL-4 gene in a different part of the viral genome and adding a promoter sequence to maximise production of the IL-4 protein, he told a biosecurity conference in Geneva last week.

Buller has also constructed a cowpox virus containing the mouse IL-4 gene, which is about to be tested on mice at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland. Cowpox infects people, but Buller says the IL-4 protein is species-specific and would not affect the human immune system. The experiments are being done at the second-highest level of biological containment.

While viruses containing mouse IL-4 should not be lethal to humans, recombinant viruses can have unexpected effects, he says. “You’d hope the combination remains mouse-specific.”

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn ... w-viruses/

Country Level Impacts of Global Grain Production Shocks

Pathotype Tracker – Where is Ug99?

[Newfie]

Ibon,
It's not that complicated. Just something that will attack wheat and corn and soybean, maybe three things. Then get in a car and drive around the country.

Do that in a few areas globally and you are there.

OR... come up with some disease such as Ebola. Seed it in a few of the large urban ghettos. It doesn't have to kill all the people, just destroy the trust in global commerce, slow trade sufficiently and the loss of food stuffs will cause sufficient famine.

[Timo]

Diverging from the trajectory of this thread toward mass genocide to save ourselves, as fun to think about as that might be, i found this to be extremely upbeat.

http://ourchildrenstrust.org/US/Federal-Lawsuit

April 8, 2016

VICTORY IN LANDMARK CLIMATE CASE!

FEDERAL COURT AFFIRMS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF KIDS AND DENIES MOTIONS OF GOVERNMENT AND FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY IN YOUTH’S LANDMARK CLIMATE CHANGE CASE

Eugene, OR – Today, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin of the federal District Court in Eugene, OR, decided in favor of 21 young Plaintiffs, and Dr. James Hansen on behalf of future generations, in their landmark constitutional climate change case brought against the federal government and the fossil fuel industry. The Court’s ruling is a major victory for the 21 youth Plaintiffs, ages 8-19, from across the U.S. in what Bill McKibben and Naomi Klein call the “most important lawsuit on the planet right now.” These plaintiffs sued the federal government for violating their constitutional rights to life, liberty and property, and their right to essential public trust resources, by permitting, encouraging, and otherwise enabling continued exploitation, production, and combustion of fossil fuels.

[Timo]

That lawsuit uses the exact same argument that sustains the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act as essential elements to the fulfillment of our constitutional liberties.

Should be jail climate-change deniers?

That would be enjoyable, just to see the look on their face.

[Timo]

Here's another idea.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/04/12/3768314/climate-action-risk-morality/

It's awfully hard to come up with too many ways to stop/slow our assault on Earth.

[Timo]

Here's a question that might move this thread forward to some sort of answer. Think about this first before you answer. I do have a direction for this question in mind. More questions will follow.

Which is more valuable for humanity? Money, or energy?

Bonus question: Which of those two answers is more important to humanity today?

[Cog]

Inside every doomer is a serial killer busting to get out.

[Timo]

Inside every doomer is a serial killer busting to get out.

Be careful with those personal confessions of yours.

[clif]

Yes, he should stop projecting his deep dark secret dreams on the rest of us..