Climate Change/Mass Extinction Megathread

[Syt]

Fantastic speech.  It is actually quite funny and amusing.  Can't believe he really used those visual aids.  I love how he delivered it in a straight face, and how his aide seems to be desperately holding back. 

I am totally for having more babies, as long as those aren't mine.  I think an ever increasing number of babies is a necessary foundation of a growing and prosperous nation.  It also has absolutely nothing to do with global warming.

A bit worrying though.  If his goal is to undermine the Green New Deal, I fear he has achieved the opposite.  Because it highlights the quality of the opposition to the Green New Deal.   We need sane arguments against the Green New Deal.  Not...this.

How many people do you think the planet can sustain? 10 billion? 15 billion? 50 billion?

[Monoriu]

How many people do you think the planet can sustain? 10 billion? 15 billion? 50 billion?

Not sure.  But I think human societies and technologies evolve to deal with new challenges.  Right now we may support, say 10 billion people.  If there are actually 15 billion people, then the additional population pressure will incentivise humanity to find new ways to support more people.  In short, life will find a way.

[Tamas]

I am listening to an audiobook (Keegan's about the British Empire) and it mentioned how there was an early 19th century fear of overpopulation.

[Syt]

I am listening to an audiobook (Keegan's about the British Empire) and it mentioned how there was an early 19th century fear of overpopulation.

It was what drove Hitler to try and conquer Lebensraum for Germans, because he felt the territory was too small for its population (it was then at about the same levels as modern Germany).

That said, I don't think turning Earth in an ecumenopolis is a splendid idea.

[crazy canuck]

I am listening to an audiobook (Keegan's about the British Empire) and it mentioned how there was an early 19th century fear of overpopulation.

I wonder what Malthus would say about this

[Malthus]

I am listening to an audiobook (Keegan's about the British Empire) and it mentioned how there was an early 19th century fear of overpopulation.

I wonder what Malthus would say about this

It's a crisis! 

[Tamas]

I am listening to an audiobook (Keegan's about the British Empire) and it mentioned how there was an early 19th century fear of overpopulation.

It was what drove Hitler to try and conquer Lebensraum for Germans, because he felt the territory was too small for its population (it was then at about the same levels as modern Germany).

That said, I don't think turning Earth in an ecumenopolis is a splendid idea.

That's why we need to colonise the solar system.

[Monoriu]

Wait a second.  I rewatched the speech from the Honourable Senator, "...former President Ronald Reagan, naturally firing a machine gun, while riding on the back of a dinosaur."  Did I hear it correctly that he used the word "naturally?"  That word choice is simply glorious. 

The sanity of US voters is one of the most important foundations of world peace, and after watching this video, my faith in the US electorate and US senators has been eroded.  A bit. 

[crazy canuck]

I am listening to an audiobook (Keegan's about the British Empire) and it mentioned how there was an early 19th century fear of overpopulation.

I wonder what Malthus would say about this

It's a crisis! 

I knew you would not disappoint 

[crazy canuck]

On the good news front a sea plane company operating out of the port of Vancouver is going to convert its whole fleet to electric engines starting this year.  I use them to fly to Victoria and other towns on Vancouver Island and the Coast of BC on business.  I look forward to the more quiet ride 

[Zoupa]

I am listening to an audiobook (Keegan's about the British Empire) and it mentioned how there was an early 19th century fear of overpopulation.

It was what drove Hitler to try and conquer Lebensraum for Germans, because he felt the territory was too small for its population (it was then at about the same levels as modern Germany).

That said, I don't think turning Earth in an ecumenopolis is a splendid idea.

That's why we need to colonise the solar system.

I'm all for it but it won't help overpopulation on Earth. Unless we figure out how to build space elevators, 99% of the solar system population will be here.

[Malthus]

On the good news front a sea plane company operating out of the port of Vancouver is going to convert its whole fleet to electric engines starting this year.  I use them to fly to Victoria and other towns on Vancouver Island and the Coast of BC on business.  I look forward to the more quiet ride 

It's amazing that batteries are now good enough for that.

[Grey Fox]

On the good news front a sea plane company operating out of the port of Vancouver is going to convert its whole fleet to electric engines starting this year.  I use them to fly to Victoria and other towns on Vancouver Island and the Coast of BC on business.  I look forward to the more quiet ride 

It's amazing that batteries are now good enough for that.

Yes.

Lithium batteries are subject to spontaneous combustion & we're putting them in planes!

[Valmy]

Because jet fuel is noncombustible?

[PDH]

Lithium batteries are subject to spontaneous combustion & we're putting them in planes!

As long as Boeing makes the avionics and autopilot software kit, we're good.