To wonder when someone will stop us from destroying the planet before it is too late?

[Ohdoleavemealone]

Last night I watched a documentary about how the biggest threat to our oceans is the fishing industry. Worse than plastics (and actually 46% of the plastic is fishing nets), worse than killing sharks for fin soup or putting animals into captivity.
The bycatch from fishing means we are killing thousands of species for the few we want. We have depleted the oceans resources and killed the seabeds with the harsh methods used.
Of course this is on top of our piles of rubbish, fuel polution etc.
We have been destroying our planet for years but have really accelerated in the last 50 years as corporate companies have no moral compass and the rest of us are just sheep. We believe that we need all the consumer driven shit they tell us and we fund the industries killing our planet.
So how does it stop? Is it too late? Do we just accept it or do we try and fight for it? Are we little people enough?

Full disclosure: I do not do enough on a small level to do my bit but I am looking for ways I can.

I think a lot of people still think it's just fossil fuels and global warming that pose a risk, and don't consider the effects of fishing, and over production of clothes as well. Apparently one of the biggest causes of pollution is streaming as well- most people would probably just consider the electric used for the TV when watching Netflix or whatever, but actually the whole process is a huge contributor.

As to what can be done, I'm not sure. It would require a global political and personal effort, which unfortunately to me seems unlikely.

I agree it would need to be a worldwide effort and is unlikely to happen. In 1986 there was a gloabl ban on whale hunting which in recent years Japan have decided to go against and start whale hunting again.
Even if we can get a ban, we can't actually enforce it.

I once read somewhere that Mitsubishi is hording 40% of the world's tuna in freezers.

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/revealed-the-bid-to-corner-world-s-bluefin-tuna-market-1695479.html

I agree it's a tragedy. I have no idea what we can do about it.

Hahahaha.

We can't even get one island of people to obey simple social distancing, hygiene and lockdown rules. How do you think you're going to get 7billion people on board to stop going on holidays, stop producing plastic, stop using cars or any form of transport that pollutes, limit how many children people can have, plus many other ways that you would have to implement to save the world now, essentially asking everyone to stop being selfish?

It will never happen. Never ever. You're asking too much of people, they can't do it. You need to implement so many strict changes to save the world that it's not possible, and you can't half arse it like they currently are. You need to go full power on it, we've done too much damage now that small changes will do nothing.

When will they? Never, obviously. It's already too late for us

I think it’s too late and has been for quite a while. I know that’s pessimistic but I really do think that!

Honestly, no I don't. Short term financial gain will always win. As a result i have no investment in the future.

@ClarkeGriffin

Hahahaha.

We can't even get one island of people to obey simple social distancing, hygiene and lockdown rules. How do you think you're going to get 7billion people on board to stop going on holidays, stop producing plastic, stop using cars or any form of transport that pollutes, limit how many children people can have, plus many other ways that you would have to implement to save the world now, essentially asking everyone to stop being selfish?

It will never happen. Never ever. You're asking too much of people, they can't do it. You need to implement so many strict changes to save the world that it's not possible, and you can't half arse it like they currently are. You need to go full power on it, we've done too much damage now that small changes will do nothing.

This is very sad. Mostly because it is true.

But how do you get "full power"?

Ultimately there are too many humans for the planet to realistically support in a sustainable way. Unless there is a cull of humans to bring us down to a viable number then things are only going to get worse, and there is little to nothing we can do about it.

(it goes without saying that I don't actually support mass murder of people, just illustrating that this problem isn't solvable by eating less fish/meat/not going on foreign holidays)

It's already too late, in my opinion.

Humans are inherently selfish as a species.

Someone? Like a god type person? Or Elon musk? The Dalai Lama? Who do you imagine has that sort of power or influence over the entire worlds population?

But how do you get "full power"?

Is this a serious question? You can’t realistically think there will ever be a whole world power?

Fundamentally the only way to really stop it is a drastic population drop... Lack of demand for stuff resolves or drastically slows a number of env issues.

My old chemistry a level text written in 1977 talks about global warming, my geography a level in the early 90s..discussed plasics and over fishing. We have the knowledge but not the desire to change... My degree is env science.. A long time ago.. I always remember a lecturer talking about what changes individuals could do and comparing it to moving around deckchairs on a sinking titanic. Pessimistic but perhaps true....

So .. A huge population drop.... And I mean huge is the only real option I see for our long term survival as a species..as I doubt many people would agree to a 50% cull of everyone alive (concentrating on most wealthy as use the most and limits on children going forward) then it would be that from famine, war, disease etc.. Perhaps a respiratory pandemic or two? . Globally by the end of WW2 we had killed a ridiculous number but replaced that population quite quickly so now at the numbers we are at it'd have to be a huge drop...
I think the sustainable figure of humans on the planet has actually been calculated as much lower than a 50% reduction.
Its depressing.. I just live my life.. Make best choices I can but aware its not enough and hopeless if majority ignore..

@UhtredRagnarson

Someone? Like a god type person? Or Elon musk? The Dalai Lama? Who do you imagine has that sort of power or influence over the entire worlds population?

I don't mean one individual, that is unrealistic but governments/united nations sort of bodies need to come together and make some sort of change.

Greed and (mostly) male need for superiority & dominance will have to be resolved. Unfortunately I think that is unlikely.

Just to bring a tiny bit of positivity to the thread, technology is developing at an astounding rate and could be our saviour.

For example, labs are now able to grow meat in a petri dish - how incredible!!! If lab grown meat and fish is the main source eaten, with traditional farmed cuts being seen as luxury items (like a wagu beef fillet steak now) then that would go a long way to improving things. It being that wide spread it a little way off, but maybe 50 years that will be normal to eat lab grown food items.

Unfortunately much of the world is democratic and we'll never vote for the measures needed.

I don't mean one individual, that is unrealistic but governments/united nations sort of bodies need to come together and make some sort of change.

This is also unrealistic.

I agree with PP that technology exists to overcome these problems in a relatively short time frame. Look at the covid vaccine work we did and take heart. Humanity can overcome these issues. We are the solution, not the problem.

I disagree with Kendodd’s implication that totalitarianism is the way to solve problems!

For example, labs are now able to grow meat in a petri dish - how incredible!!! If lab grown meat and fish is the main source eaten, with traditional farmed cuts being seen as luxury items (like a wagu beef fillet steak now) then that would go a long way to improving things. It being that wide spread it a little way off, but maybe 50 years that will be normal to eat lab grown food items.
You can eat it. I won't.

Humanity can overcome these issues. We are the solution, not the problem.

You can’t be serious? We are most definitely the problem!

Industry has to massively change.

I disagree with Kendodd’s implication that totalitarianism is the way to solve problems!

I'm not sure... I hate to say it but using the UK to Chinas COVID response as an example, totalitarianism works in these situations. Here, people break rules because they can, because they don't fancy isolating for 14 days after a holiday to Spain, because they want to see their friends. In China the government went hard - people were tracked, they had to get permission to leave their home to take rubbish out, and were imprisoned for rule breaking. Which one worked better to prevent spread and save lives? Similar with saving the planet. It won't happen because people don't want to do what it takes and make the required sacrifices, they will never choose it for themselves, and the free world won't be forced to comply.

But how do you get "full power"?

No sorry I think you've misunderstood what I meant.

I meant that we need to go 100% on this. We are currently working at about 10% based on what little we are doing to stop this happening. We need to make drastic, massive changes to our lives to stop this happening. Changes that you will never, ever get everyone in the world to agree to.

It's not possible though. You will never get 7 billion people to agree.

Let's face it, thanos had the right idea. But no one is willing to admit it.

Go vegan or vegetarian and cut out plastics.