OT: curious paragraph in the Guardian

[charles]

What it might mean is "leave it suitable for future generations".

[Mark Carver]

I don't know, I'm just trying to provoke a philosophic discussion, but it seems to have wound you up (ironic given your name).

Yes, perhaps it is, I'd describe myself as an atheist BTW.

[whisky-dave]

With an agreement your ,most likely get a larger salery or move up to a better job that's the point, and with no agreement the same. Not sure how either will effect the temerature of the earth.

[The Natural Philosopher]

generations of what? Bacteria? Polar bears? Cycads? Champagne socialists and green morons?

[charles]

Take your pick. I was thinking about "normal human beings", but perhaps they don't exist.

[The Natural Philosopher]

No, I think they became extinct about 1970.

[dennis]

Well what exactly do you think we could do that made the planet uninhabitable by humans? There is zero chance that we could change the climate enough to do so so what else? WW3? even then would it really kill everyone?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Think what you may mean is *look* clearer. The unseen pollution levels in towns and round motorways etc are at an all time high.

[Bill Wright]

That would be a good thing because they'd keep away.

Having a tooth, appendix, or tumour removed under anaesthetic. . .

However, in total, is all of that beneficial for the planet ?

I don't believe in the Gaia concept of 'the planet'.

I don't believe in Mother Nature, or any other all-powerful being.

Except Allah of course. Not gonna say I don't believe in Him in a public forum am I? Not likely!

I don't think there's any point in doing that. I think we should simply carry on as we are, because we are progressing so well with everything.

Bill

[Bill Wright]

How sweet.

Bill

[Bill Wright]

But when I was a kid the pollution was far worse. Good grief we had smog so bad they used to send us home from school at dinner time. When I was fixing aerials as a teenager the rain used to sting my eyes so bad I couldn't see.

They tell us how bad it is now and yes it could be better, but things are improving.

Bill

[Capitol]

Yes, the thing I noticed when flying back after periods in Scotland was the foul smell of exhaust fumes in the South of England.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Never seen a smog when I was a kid despite coal fires everywhere. It would depend on the part of the country you lived in.

Again, that would depend on which part of the country/world you live in.

[charles]

There was one serious smog event in London - end of 1962, I think, but it might have been early 1962. It was so think that even taxis wouldn't run. Those of us on the late shift at TC had to spend the night there.

[Ian Jackson]

Cue the Four Yorkshire men sketch (one already here, three more needed).

[Tim Streater]

Precisely. So Fido can f*ck right off.

[Tim Streater]

I conclude the Mr Carver is a twerp.

[The Natural Philosopher]

He and his chums are very amateurish.

[Mark Carver]

Nothing at all to do with religious mumbo-jumbo, but are we not part of one big self regulating eco-system ?

[The Other John]

I remember that one. I drove from Wood Green (North London, Milord) to Highbury with a colleague hanging his head out of the passenger window to tell me how far from the kerb I was! Buses were following a man with an oil burning torch at walking pace! Those were the days!