U.N. warns of worst mass extinctions for 65m years

[lady lib]

UN warns of worst mass extinctions for 65m years
David Adam, environment correspondent
Tuesday March 21, 2006
Guardian

Humans have provoked the worst spate of extinctions since the dinosaurs were wiped out 65m years ago, according to a UN report that calls for unprecedented worldwide efforts to address the slide.
The report paints a grim picture of life on earth, with declining numbers of plants, animals, insects and birds across the globe, and warns that the current extinction rate is up to 1,000 times faster than in the past. Some 844 animals and plants are known to have disappeared in the last 500 years.

Released yesterday to mark the start of a UN environment programme meeting in Curitiba, Brazil, the report says: "In effect, we are currently responsible for the sixth major extinction event in the history of earth." A rising human population of 6.5bn is wrecking the environment for thousands of other species, it adds, and undermining efforts agreed at a 2002 UN summit in Johannesburg to slow the rate of decline by 2010. The global demand for biological resources now exceeds the planet's capacity to renew them by 20%.

Continues at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329438787-111492,00.html

[Raster]

1. Not to worry, Jeebus will return and make everything A-O-K!

We can do whatever we want whenever we want however we want with no repercussions because we are the favored species of the Universal Creator and his God-Prince son. After all, we are created in their image. They will wash this planet clean of our toxic footprints and make everything showroom new. We don't have to take any responsibility for our actions because Jeebus will give us the big ol' planetary free pass. And what's a few species going extinct, eh? Why this planet has enough species as it is. And besides, we don't have to worry 'cause exxon/mobile said it's OK.

[lady lib]

4. ((Lifts hands in the air)) Thank you, Jeebus!

And thank you, Exxon!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charlie-cray/exxon-exxposed_b_17663.html

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. Yeah, that's the spirit! Go Jeebus!

[The Stranger]

2. Kicked and recommended.

[blindpig]

3. In the end this may be the least forgivable of our many sins.

That is if anybody gives a damn while they're rummaging through the remains of our civilization.

[SpiralHawk]

5. How the elders dreamed it

"...Then in time the world would become sick. Because of unrelenting greed, the Earth would be filled with deadly liquids and metals, the air would be rendered foul with smoke and ash, and even the rains — which are intended to cleanse the Earth — would plummet in toxic drops. Fish would turn belly up in the waters. Whole families of animals would disappear. Forests would begin to wither. A hole would open up in the sky. Wars would circle the globe. There would be mounting chaos — koyanisquatsi — in the world..."

snip

"...the new people would see that the threat to life comes not from outer space or a remote, satanic figure, but rather from the very decisions and lifestyles people have chosen..."

http://www.chiron-communications.com/communique%207-9.html

[lady lib]

6. Great post on "our working myths."

Whether they think of themselves as Christian, Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Native American, agnostic, atheist, or in some other way, rainbow warriors recognize the fundamental necessity of respecting differences, and honoring the Earth we share.

The overall myth points out no details, only a general direction that we need to travel: a direction in which there is full respect for the self, for others, and for all the creations who share life with us upon the Earth. By proceeding in this direction, we will create a spiritually informed culture that uses scientific technology to maintain freedom and enhance the balance of life.

[SpiralHawk]

10. The legend in brief

"...In brief, the legend of the rainbow warriors says that when the Earth becomes desperately sick some of the people will recognize that they are destroying themselves and their Earth Mother. With spiritual insight and support, the rainbow warriors — people of all colors and faiths — will come to the rescue using only peaceful means, eventually establishing a long and joyous reign of peace..."

[blindpig]

8. kick

[newportdadde]

9. In best NeoCon voice "Hey all those dead animals will just mean more oil

someday.