Are we challenged by our actions more now, because we' re aware of the damage we can do to our planet?

Question

If so, in what way are we challenged and does it matter to you;

or do you simply feel helpless about the whole thing?

Answer 1

I think that we are better informed now than ever before about the environment and what needs to be done to improve it.  

This awareness will bring about gradual and very necessary changes.  I never feel helpless about it.

Answer 2

No, not at all. It hasn't "challenged" me to change my ways, but neither do I feel "helpless." Helplessness is a state of worry and fear. I do feel like there is nothing I can do, but I also feel that there is nothing I need to do. I am not afraid of Al Gore's "apocalyptic calamities," because I have researched both sides myself, and have come to realize that 1) there are many good scientists on the skeptic's side (who aren't paid by big oil companies), 2) CO2 isn't nearly as effective at influencing the climate as the sun is, not by a long shot, 3) CO2 rise, in past history, has been measured to follow warming temperatures, not cause it, and 4) Warming in the past has been beneficial. I hope I can convince you of this, if you don't already believe it.

Answer 3

I think u need to evaluate the problem and understand what u are trying to do . I assume u are helping the environmentalist . Look at the CO2 problem . It is not a problem as GOD put plants here to take care of the CO2 ,and the plants have done a great job. The plants need CO2 if they are to grow . Do u hate the plants what they have done for u. The planet is not in danger any more than u are going to blow up a black hole.

Answer 4

Okay, Cassandra,

First, stop listening to all the talking heads out there, including your teachers, who say we are damaging the planet.  I have been an environmental scientist a very long time and can tell you that we, as a species, humans, aren't clever enough, wise enough, nor powerful enough to "damage" this planet.

At best, we can make it uninhabitable for us to live here and we may poison the environment for ourselves and kill ourselves off, but the planet will remain, intact, undamaged and so will more than 3/4 of all species on it today!

Now, your question is very clever and keenly intuitive.  I have the feeling you have a future in science or engineering, or another profession that rewards intuitive logic.

It has been said, that there is no pure science because when you observe something, you inherently change that which you observe.  You can therefore never get a pure observation of anything or process to be objective in your evaluation of that thing you observe.  I believe this is what you have alluded to with your question without knowing it.

Yes is the answer to your question.  What makes all that is going on right now more scary is because of all of the networks out there that have turned news into what they now call infotainment....and there is alot of it.  So much of it and so many talking heads that don't have a clue of all the things they are told to talk about, that they frequently get it all wrong...and we eat it up as truth like dolts.  So, turn off the TV, turn off the infotainment, spend more time outdoors with friends and family and stop listening to the talking heads.  Pick up the Wallstreet Journal every wednesday to get the gist of the IMPORTANT news and world events, and forget the rest.  It's all hype just to sell you something, or sell you ON something.