NASA: Human civilization will experience major collapse in a few decades

[DetlefK]

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2014/mar/14/nasa-civilisation-irreversible-collapse-study-scientists

- We mine, use and waste too many ressources.
- Population-growth is out of control.
- Rising economic inequality elites-vs-masses.
- Those who are affluent oppose structural changes of society for 1. short-sighted selfish reasons, 2. ignorance for the plight of larger parts of the population.

quote:
"While some members of society might raise the alarm that the system is moving towards an impending collapse and therefore advocate structural changes to society in order to avoid it, Elites and their supporters, who opposed making these changes, could point to the long sustainable trajectory 'so far' in support of doing nothing."

quote:
"Collapse can be avoided and population can reach equilibrium if the per capita rate of depletion of nature is reduced to a sustainable level, and if resources are distributed in a reasonably equitable fashion."

[brooklynboy49]

1. We were a bit ahead of schedule

40 years ago, my wife and I made a conscious decision not to have children because we didn't want to bring children into a world we feared was going to self-destruct. It's beginning to look like there may have been something to our thinking, although the self-destruction has been postponed and our kids probably would have made it in under the wire. There's still time to avert our own destruction, but we're gonna reach a point of no return sooner rather than later. If the climate change deniers (I'm not just talking about climate change, I'm talking about a wide array of issues) don't see the light pretty soon, it's gonna be too late. And with people like Eric Cantor likely to lead the next generation of thugs, well, you know that song "the future's so bright I have to wear shades"? I think we can safely throw out our shades.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. My 2 sons also made that decision for the same reason.

Independently of each other, no less.
they are "middle aged" as I like ot point out to them...often....

I could not object, their reasons are the same as mine ( which is why I only had 2 kids)

At this point, I worry about THEM, seeing what today we are facing, esp. Fukishima.

[brooklynboy49]

4. I think your sons will make it ok

Interestingly, I just posted about the enormity of Fukushima a couple of days ago. It's not going away, and it's not being reported on. Fukushima is not your typical story that consumes the media for a week and is then forgotten. The media may not be reporting on Fukushima, but they should be. it may be the beginning of the end.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

2. Change the paradigm? ... Study this.

Very interesting website I found after a discussion with my son about capitalism and the destruction it is causing on our society and environment. Big site but well managed, lots information.

http://endofcapitalism.com/

[Fantastic Anarchist]

6. Commenting because I want to read this link.

Thanks for posting.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. Funny how quickly this "could it?" study has gone to "will it?" to "IT WILL WUR DOOMED!!!!"

Last edited Tue Mar 18, 2014, 08:33 PM - Edit history (1)

The study - funded by NASA, not "done by" NASA - asks the theoretical question, could it collapse.

It is most emphatically not NASA SAYING CIVILIZATION IS GOING TO COLLAPSE ARRRGGFGHHJGHGG