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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be terrified by what David Attenborough has said?

416 replies

ArcheryAnnie · 04/12/2018 00:16

He's just said about climate change ""if we don't take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon." He's not the only one saying this - it's now common currency amongst scientists, and indeed anyone paying attention.

www.theage.com.au/world/europe/civilisation-may-collapse-if-climate-change-ignored-attenborough-20181204-p50jzs.html?platform=hootsuite

There's no time left for pissing about. We've got to take radical action now. It isn't something that any of us can ignore.

OP posts:
megletthesecond · 04/12/2018 09:28

He's right.
We over consume and live too long.

I'm 99% veggie but am trying to do one vegan day a month. Got an allotment, walk to work, can't afford to fly anyway and am trying to make my garden more wildlife friendly. But it's not good enough and I know I can do better.

Sadly I work with someone who recently said they didn't see why global warming was a problem because they "won't be around to see it". They're a truly thick piece of work.

MarshaBradyo · 04/12/2018 09:30

Yes it’s awful and there are a huge amount of defensive people who re a pp do post you’re all jealous I’ll do as I wish - holidays, dc have everything they want, have many dc, Christmas bedding or whatever tat

None of us are exempt, I fly on holiday, I could do better, but the conversation needs to change

AlaskanOilBaron · 04/12/2018 09:32

Yes it’s awful and there are a huge amount of defensive people who re a pp do post you’re all jealous I’ll do as I wish - holidays, dc have everything they want, have many dc, Christmas bedding or whatever tat

Christmas bedding

How did it come to this

Whatdoesitmatteranyway · 04/12/2018 09:33

I might, just might, be prepared to do some of the things required but whilst I can afford, I will continue to go on long haul holidays.

I see no point on holidaying in the summer when the weather is semi decent in this country - but my winter holidays are what gets me through the dark months.

Just got back from Mexico, off to Barbados for Christmas, and then Thailand in Feb.

We're screwed anyway regardless so I may as well enjoy what time I do have.

Whatdoesitmatteranyway · 04/12/2018 09:34

I'll also be dead long before its a problem and I don't have children to worry about.

fanfan18 · 04/12/2018 09:35

The global birth rate is already falling anyway and has been for decades. There's only more of us because we're living longer.

For every 2 people that die globally, four are born. So no.

MarshaBradyo · 04/12/2018 09:35

Alaskan I know it was a post on a previous thread - the poster was very happy to fly in the face of not over-consuming - stuck in my mind

DoodleLab · 04/12/2018 09:36

I share some of the blaséness on this thread about the collapse of civilisation... but we need to maintain some degree of infrastructure, technical expertise and education, in order to train and maintain all the nuclear engineers required to safely keep all the defunct nuclear power plants in a state of safety. Whilst after one nuclear accident, Chernobyl, wildlife is actually thriving around the abandoned region, hundreds of Fukushima type incidents going off would be curtains for all life on earth. What does that say about industrial civilisation though... that a nuclear accident is less catastrophic than the effect of industrialised human activity in that zone. Sobering food for thought.

FunkyKingston · 04/12/2018 09:37

Yes this is right. We need to price things to account for the cost of disposing of them in a sustainable way.

Yes, people claim EVs and Hybrids are expensive, but only because we don't pay anything like the true cost of petrol. If it included the damage it does not the environment, the cost of cleanups after leaks, the cost of propping up dodgy oil rich client states and oil wars into the 'cost' it would be many many times more expensive.

MrsGollach · 04/12/2018 09:37

Somone recently posted a you tube video about this same subject. It was a spoof and obviously depressing. I'd like to pass it on to someone. Anyone know where to find it?

MarshaBradyo · 04/12/2018 09:38

Who will tell people to stop consuming?
Not the government too short term and need the economy to grow
Pretty much not anyone on digital media who want people to buy more stuff

OnlineAlienator · 04/12/2018 09:38

I do think you have a point whatdoes - so what if we overstretch ourselves and die out? Its literally inconsequential. The planet will adapt and continue in our wake, but even if it doesnt and earth becomes a bare rock for the rest of eternity - so? It was that way for most of time so far. 'Life'was an interesting experiment for the universe, one that just didnt work.....

bobstersmum · 04/12/2018 09:38

It makes me think of the film wall-e earth just full of junk, trashed with no sign of life.

MarshaBradyo · 04/12/2018 09:40

I can’t be blasé when it’s children’s children who’ll bear the brunt

I can see it would be easier to be so if you don’t have any dc, but it’s awful to think of the decline for next generations

BMW6 · 04/12/2018 09:42

How many of you are planning to fly next year on your summer holiday?

TheDowagerCuntess · 04/12/2018 09:43

Honestly the arrogance of man to think they can interfere with Earth... she was doing fine before we got here and will continue to do so!

I find this such a hilarious 'get out of jail' card, from the denial camp.

Of course Earth will continue to survive. There's no way we could ever defeat it. No way on Earth (pun intended).

The way it will continue to survive is by eradicating humans.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 04/12/2018 09:46

I don’t plan anything long haul, but will need to do a couple of short haul flights.

Have only done two long haul holidays ever and am not tempted to do it again.

Littletabbyocelot · 04/12/2018 09:51

I read an article recently showing how changing clothes purchasing choices are influencing clothing brands. Fast fashion is becoming less profitable (H&M are literally burning unsold clothes and are moving into sustainable style).

I was hugely environmental in the late 80s & early 90s - teenage passion. I chose not to drive, was recycling, vegetarian, campaigning for Greenpeace, raising money for the rain forest and it felt like it did nothing. I've just got complacent. Now I think we need to be part of a sea change. If I change what and how I buy and if others do too it will change how companies work. My dc are getting mostly 2nd hand for Christmas, for example.

Fatasfook · 04/12/2018 09:56

Sadly it won’t change as humans are completely selfish.

DonDrapersOldFashioned · 04/12/2018 09:58

The production of battery cells for EVs and hybrids is hugely environmentally damaging. The environmental impact of traditionally powered vehicles is less damaging over the life cycle than that of EV’s due to the harmful nature of battery production (not to mention the disposal of them when the car reaches the end of its life).

www.bv.com/insights/expert-perspectives/environmental-impacts-battery-production-and-efforts-mitigate-them

DoodleLab · 04/12/2018 09:59

I flew to Denmark a few weeks ago, the first time I'd flown in four years. I haven't flown long haul for 30 years (family visit to east coast North America). When I lived in a different part of the British Isles and had to travel to visit family/friends I almost always travelled by ferry & coach/train, even though the door to door journey time was up to three times longer.

MsLexic · 04/12/2018 10:05

I'm not sure why people keep going on about humans being wiped out as a good thing when they never seem to volunteer as an exercise in saving the ozone .It's always third hand.

DonDrapersOldFashioned · 04/12/2018 10:06

I’m not denying climate change but I do think it’s a bit rich that we often get preached this stuff by people who are seemingly engaging in more harmful behaviours than Mr & Ms average.

Plus, there’s a lot of red herring BS, like the electric car stuff. This article discusses the fossil fuels vs electric debate further, www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/11/battery-batteries-electric-cars-carbon-sustainable-power-energy/

The linked article also raises social issues around human rights and health safety of those working in and around battery production. Mostly those in China, mining hazardous materials. There may be some benefits but EVs are definitely not the smug Utopian solution.

DonDrapersOldFashioned · 04/12/2018 10:08

Isn’t the ozone layer in recovery?

www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/nasa-study-first-direct-proof-of-ozone-hole-recovery-due-to-chemicals-ban

SlothMama · 04/12/2018 10:14

I do try and lessen my impact on the environment, I limit the plastic that I use and I recycle as much as I can. However with my job I travel a lot, and I can't always use trains as I can't get to where I need to be without using a taxi anyway.

However the countries with a much higher impact also need to help if the planets got a chance. And with Trump in power who is too stupid to care I can't see the US turning anytime soon.