Biological Annihilation

[JasonPearson]

A sixth mass extinction in Earth's history is under way and is more severe than previously feared, according to research. This sixth mass is known as Biological annihilation.

[twopass]

Subject: Only if we discuss collapse might we prepare

As scientists and scholars from around the world, we call on policymakers to engage openly with the risk of disruption and even collapse of our societies. After five years of failing to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Paris Climate Accord (1), we must now face the consequences.

While bold and fair efforts to cut emissions and naturally drawdown carbon are essential, researchers in many areas now consider societal collapse to be a credible scenario this century (2a & 2c). A range of views exist on the location, extent, timing, permanence and cause of such disruptions; but the way modern societies exploit people and nature is a common concern (3a & 3b).

Only if policymakers begin to discuss this threat of societal collapse might communities and nations begin to prepare and so reduce its likelihood, speed, severity, harm to the most vulnerable, and to nature.

Some armed services already see collapse as an important scenario, requiring planning (4a and 4b). Surveys show many people now anticipate societal collapse (5). Sadly that is already the experience or memory of many communities in the Global South (6). However, the topic is not well reported in the media, and mostly absent from civil society and politics.

When potential collapse is covered by the media, it typically cites people who condemn discussion of the topic. Ill-informed speculations, such as on foreign misinformation campaigns, or impacts on mental health and motivation, will not support serious discussion (7). Rather, such claims risk betraying the thousands of activists and community leaders whose anticipation of collapse is part of their motivation to push for change on climate, ecology, and social justice.

People who care about environmental and humanitarian issues should not be discouraged from discussing the risks of societal disruption or collapse. That could risk agendas being driven by people with less commitment to such values.

Some of us believe that a transition to a new form of society may be possible. That will involve bold action to reduce damage to the climate, nature and other people, including preparations for major disruptions to everyday life. We are united in regarding efforts to suppress discussion of collapse as hindering the possibility of that transition.

We have experienced how emotionally challenging it is to recognise the damage being done, along with the growing threat to our own way of life. We also know the great sense of fellowship that can arise (8). It is time to invite each other into difficult conversations, so we can reduce our complicity in the harm, and be creative to make the best of a turbulent future (9).

http://iflas.blogspot.com/2020/12/inter ... ng-on.html

[twopass]

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-3010-5.epdf

[twopass]

[twopass]

[twopass]

Talk to any seasoned entomologist today and they’re likely to offer their own anecdotes of once-common insects and other arthropods, now notably absent. Art Shapiro at the University of California, Davis, has noticed the vanishing of local orb weaver spiders; there is very little “gossamer floating in the air,” he says. And those big green tomato hornworm caterpillars, the voracious pests that local garden columns still warn against, seem to be regionally extinct as well. “It sounds insane,” Shapiro says, but “I’ve seen one caterpillar, I think, in the last five years—extremely strange.”

https://www.pnas.org/content/118/2/e201 ... gn=General

[twopass]

Barring a universal all-hands-on-deck recovery effort of Earth’s support systems for complex life, e.g., revival of wetlands, it’s difficult to conceive of a future without the protection of Hazmat suits.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/01/22 ... hreatened/

[Telerock]

Fearmongering. Are you sure you didnt vote for Trump? That is his style.

[twopass]

Simply FYI. Here's more...

Since 1900, over 64 per cent of the world’s wetlands have been lost, with nearly 50 per cent of this loss happening since 1970.

https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/whe ... nce%201970.

[Telerock]

You do know that wetlands, particularly swamps, bogs and fens, are an important source of methane to the atmosphere? Perhaps not as much as cattle.