Jesus, Der. I'm sorry to hear that you have died four times. Hang in there.

I deleted my comment here, it was too negative and distracting.

VPiR, I agree with you about the fracking!!! But, I think you would revise your opinion about what scientists are saying, if you thought about this more. Scientists in other countries say we in trouble too, it's not just US scientists. Even the US scientists are not exactly making big bucks. If they wanted to make big money, they would just get on the payroll of the fossil fuel companies and lie their asses off. The people who do that make a solid living. But, real scientists who say what they think are just terrified, and crying out in the wilderness with no one paying attention. Cut and paste the following into the YouTube search bar, and just watch anything that comes up. kevin anderson climate "democracy now"

wait, sorry, I didn't mean to ignore this thread. I had kind of a long day today, I was exhausted when i got home and just completely crashed. I am gonna try to get caught up on this thread, but, sorry if it doesn't happen tonight. But, just to say this quickly, if you go on Youtube and watch a few lectures and interviews with Lester Brown of the Worldwatch Institute, or Paul Ehrlich (yeah, THAT Paul Ehrlich, he's still alive), I think you'll see where I'm coming from.

I totally agree with you on this. Overpopulation is the 800 pound gorilla in the room, no one can even mention it. Everyone can talk openly about vaginas, homosexuals, and all kinds of other previously taboo topics now, but if people talk about overpopluation... it's just a huge no-no.

I think we should always make as massive an attempt as possible to answer the question "Is it really worth saving our species?" with the answer "oh yah, you betcha."

Me too. I think about this stuff every day.

I deleted my comment here, it was too negative and distracting.

I used to do a lot of campaigning about environmental issues for Jill Stein, before she was running for president. She wasn't running for any office at all, she was trying to pass a bill called the Secure Green Future for Massachuetts. I used to stand out in all kinds of weather at busy intersections, asking people to sign petitions. Also, I helped start a local community garden, and volunteered at... well, not at another community garden, but a pretty similar type of place, called a CSA. I walk and bike a lot, and haven't owned a car in years. I relaize that for most people, having a car is an absolute necessity, and there's just no way around it. But, where I live, there are lots of trolleys and buses I can take.... I've done other stuff over the years, but I know it won't make much difference.

So anyways, I do what I can, but it's basically impossible to do enough to make a difference.

In a couple weeks I'm gonna fly across the country for the second time in four months, which is just horrendous for the environment. But, when I try to say "no, I can't go," someone in my family will just make me do it anyway, and everyone will look at me like I'm mentally ill because I tried to do what I think is right. Aaaarrrrggghhhh..