this post was submitted on 16 Sep 2023
305 points (98.7% liked)

World News

32348 readers
49 users here now

News from around the world!

Rules:

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Missing winter sea-ice signals changes in Antarctica that could be "absolute disaster for the world", scientists say.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 year ago (3 children)

"Humans will survive this" - I am unconvinced, I think there are very real reasons to consider the coming climate variations as an existential threat.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

My new nightmare is that we manage to kill off oceanic algae and the rainforests and most us oxygen-breathers just all slowly collectively suffocate to death. Probably at a rate that we know it’s coming for humans at a certain point. Scientists would probably be able to predict it down to the week. So us humans all see our fate and are just patiently waiting for our death as we watch all the smaller mammals perish before our eyes.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

In this scenario I think the largest mammals will go first? Like if you consider there was a higher concentration of oxygen during the dinosaur era and some dinosaurs were really big. So it seems larger mammals might need a higher concentration of oxygen.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Difficult to predict the future, anything is likely. But my point was if humans do survive, it'll only be the priveleged few. Even in the last days of humanity, those who have the means will survive longer

[–] Rand0mA 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well, sure, the super-rich might think they can buy their way out of the global warming apocalypse right now, but when the proverbial excrement meets the oscillating appliance, I doubt their stacks of cash will make a great umbrella. Imagine their surprise when they're left high and dry, clutching their last bottle of water in a world that values survival skills over bank account balances. It'll be a chilly reality check for them, and I can't help but wonder who'll be eager to assist former wealthy folks when their wallets no longer do the talking. 🌎💸😉

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I always find this "money doesn't buy you happiness" argument really strange & pointless. In your scenario where are the rest of us? Dead & gone a long long time ago. There's little meaning in having the moral high ground when we're all dead.

What I feel gets overlooked a lot is money equates to capital & opportunity. Their "stacks kd cash" have real power right now. They can leverage just the existence of that to do what they want. Take Elongate Muskrat as a prime example and how he bought his website keeping stock as collateral (not even selling it).

Which makes its extremely important to not leave the rich with their money. Now is when that money actually has value, we need to tax the ever living fuck out of the ultra rich and start thinking about saving as many people as we can.

I also understand I am part of the 1-5% of the world's population and am ready to pay and make others like me pay as well. And I am definitely not alone.