Do Nothing or Do Something?

[Judi Lynn]

March 10, 2014
Do Nothing or Do Something?

Extinction!

by ROBERT HUNZIKER

The American Museum of Natural History/NY (AMNH-NY) conducted a survey about the likelihood of a mass extinction event. The majority of the 400 scientists polled were convinced that a “mass extinction of plants and animals is underway,” posing a threat to humanity in the next century. According to that same poll, the public is “dimly aware” of this threat of an extinction event.

The AMNH-NY survey took place in the year 1998; thus, “the next century” that they referenced is here now. Also, since 1998, above and beyond additional loss of habitat for plants and animals, the state of the climate has deteriorated considerably. Here’s why: Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels, i.e., oil, gas, and coal, have increased, on an annualized basis, by nearly 50% over the past 16 years (Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee). Ipso facto, the world’s climate has turned turbulent.

Perilously, the planet does not divulge extinction events. Rather, extinctions are clandestine, shrouded in mystery, and occur far away from where humans tread. Extinctions start under the water, at the top of the world, and in far away places unpopulated, remote, and hidden from the wandering eye of the human species, unbeknownst until it is too late.

Ergo, stating the obvious, the worst possible outcome for the planet is an extinction event because geologic history shows that 75% to 90% of all life is wiped out. But, without question, an extinction event takes some time to complete, like centuries or millennia, or longer, something along those lines.

More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/03/10/extinction/

[daleanime]

1. Kick....

[bemildred]

2. Yeah, totally, but we don't care.

All that will be left will be weed species that are tough, live anywhere, and eat anything, like us, the ones that gives us a run for our money like corvids and rats. And microbiota. And tough hard to eat plants. We are going to have to live in the low places too, when the Oxygen level declines from methane release. But nobody really knows where it goes.