Oceans heading for mass extinctions, experts warn

[Fuddnik]

Source: MSNBC.com

Oceans heading for mass extinctions, experts warn
Scientist: Situation is 'more dire' than any of us thought

msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated 42 minutes ago

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WASHINGTON — Mass extinctions of species in the world's oceans are inevitable if current trends of overfishing, habitat loss, global warming and pollution continue, a panel of renowned marine scientists warned Tuesday.

The combination of problems suggests there's a brewing worldwide die-off of species that would rival past mass extinctions, the 27 scientists said in a report presented to the United Nations.

Vanishing species — from sea turtles to coral — would upend the ocean's ecosystem. Fish are the main source of protein for a fifth of the world's population and the seas cycle oxygen and help absorb carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas from human activities.

"Things seem to be going wrong on several different levels," said Carl Lundin, director of global marine programs at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which helped produce the report with the International Programme on the State of the Ocean.

(snip) much more


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43479398/ns/world_news-world_environment/

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It's not looking pretty for our species. The deniers will hold sway until they die.

[liberal N proud]

1. So what would the reaction by humans?

Eat more fish.

Yes people will see this as a warning that one day they will not be able to enjoy seafood and will rush out and consume more while they still can.

[Fuddnik]

3. Ain't that the truth.

[shoeless]

5. Republican reaction

Republicans will say that it is junk science, and that nothing is happening, and even if something is happening, it's not caused by humans, and the whole thing is a conspiracy to hurt the free market.

[RKP5637]

2. "The deniers will hold sway until they die." If anyone is left to write the history

of this period some years from how it will go down as "The Age of Destructive Stupidity." This can't continue on its present course, but I have my doubts as to change because the captured wealth and greed and power are embellished with selfishness and really could give a F for the most part about the rest of humanity and earth. Hence they are driving the train over the cliff with all doors and windows welded shut.

I used to be an eternal optimist, then became more cynical, but anymore I'm pretty pessimistic. The greed, stupidity and ignorance are too great to expect IMO a whole lot of change.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

4. It seems there has to be a mass die off of humans.

They don't deserve this wonderful planet.

I always wonder what people will do when their food and water sources disappear. Will the end be so slow that they stop over breeding and quietly disappear or will there be huge wars when the go after the food and any drinkable water that remains?

The deniers just need to be ignored like the loonies that they are and we have to somehow fight to stop the destruction.

[Hubert Flottz]

6. Quick dump in some Corexit and the trouble will go away.

It worked in the Gulf!

[lonestarnot]

7. And a couple of dumpsters of plastic bottles and some radioactive Japanese stew, it'll be fine.

:cry:

[Hubert Flottz]

9. I thought pollution created sea life...

Didn't those scientists see Gawdzilla vs the Thang?

[SpankMe]

8. DU'ers apparently not interested.

This is a very important and devastating news story that should be blared high and wide. Yet, after being on DU for nearly 5 hours, it has only 11 recs and is just about to drop from the top ten news stories.

Even sadder is the flaming I'm about to get.

[Hubert Flottz]

10. "Even sadder is the flaming I'm about to get."

Twoublemaker!