New Video: We are The Asteroid
August 5, 2015
Old Indian proverb:
If you don’t change directions, you may wind up where you’re headed.
With climate change, that could be a very dark place.
Harrowing interviews with scientists who study some of the most catastrophic episodes in Earth history.
Climate Denial Crock of the Week 
August 5, 2015 at 10:24 am
“Harrowing” is not the word for it. We are indeed the “asteroid”. Although man’s impact may not be as abrupt as the asteroid strike, AGW looks to be occurring way faster than the Siberian traps episode.
Dr. Kump is a good addition to the stable of Crock experts, and I love Elizabeth Kolbert—-her book sits by itself on one corner of the lamp table I use for “books in progress”, rather than back on the bookshelves—-its eye-catching dust jacket serves as a constant reminder of the direction we’re headed.
August 5, 2015 at 1:40 pm
We are the asteroid in many more ways than just climate change, such as…
–Overpopulation in the last 100 years has skyrocketed from 1 to over 7 billion. A 2009 study found that the “carbon legacy” of just one child can produce 20 times more greenhouse gas than a person will save by driving a high-mileage car, recycling, using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs, etc.
–With our current agricultural system, we have no means by which to feed a projected 2050 population of 10 billion humans at our current rate of consumption. Simply to feed ourselves in the next 40 years will require that we produce more food than the entire combined agricultural output of the past 10,000 years, yet food productivity is set to decline drastically over the coming decades due to climate change, soil degradation, desertification, salinization, and groundwater depletion. Agricultural output would have to increase 70% by 2050 and demand for land to produce that food will double by then, putting pressure on the world’s remaining tropical rainforests which are predominantly the only available areas for expanding large-scale agriculture. Raising animals for human consumption accounts for about 40% of the total agricultural output in industrialized countries. Grazing occupies 26% of the earth’s ice-free terrestrial surface, and feed crop production uses about one third of all arable land.
–By 2050, energy demand is projected to double which would require that we build 1,200 of the world’s largest dams, or 15,300 nuclear power stations, 9.3 million wind turbines, 24 billion solar panels, or 24,000 new fossil-fueled power stations. However, to limit global temperature to a hypothetical 2 degrees Celsius rise would require a 75% decline in carbon emissions in industrial countries by 2050, if the population is 10 billion by then. (Energy numbers from the book Ten Billion, by Stephen Emmott)
August 5, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Link to the 2009 “carbon legacy”:
Click to access OSUCarbonStudy.pdf
August 5, 2015 at 10:57 pm
All true, and staggeringly big numbers and challenges. If we turn the telescope around and look through the big end, we can see many evidences of smaller things we need to worry about.
For instance, I watched the final episode of The Reef on PBS tonight. Sea level rise is causing ground water to infiltrate the nests of green sea turtles on the remote and uninhabited island that has the largest remaining breeding population of green sea turtles on the planet, and that drowns many of the young in the eggs. They are thinking of bringing in sand and spreading it over the island to raise its level enough to counteract this “flooding”. A very small thing perhaps, but green sea turtle numbers have declined by well over 50% in the last 100-150 years. The USFWS has a fact sheet that says:
“A major factor contributing to the green turtle’s decline worldwide is commercial harvest for eggs and meat. Fibropapillomatosis, a disease of sea turtles characterized by the development of multiple tumors on the skin and internal organs, is also a mortality factor and has seriously affected green turtle populations in Florida, Hawaii, and other parts of the world. The tumors interfere with swimming, eating, breathing, vision, and reproduction, and turtles with heavy tumor burdens may become severely debilitated and die. Other threats include loss or degradation of nesting habitat from coastal development and beach armoring; disorientation of hatchlings by beachfront lighting; nest predation by native and non-native predators; degradation of foraging habitat; marine pollution and debris; watercraft strikes; and incidental take from channel dredging and commercial fishing operations”.
Sounds like they have it tough, but we can now add “drowning in the nest before you hatch because of AGW-induced SLR” to that.
August 6, 2015 at 1:28 am
Seems like not much more than hospice work, masking tape and chicken wire to patch things up temporarily.
August 5, 2015 at 6:30 pm
My name is Tony Heller, Exposed. I’m a climate denier.
While it’s certainly important for your side to get the voice of scientists out into the public debate like this video does, it is not enough to move the masses.
Want my advice? Play down the science and have the scientists start mingling with Hollywood produces, writers, and actors. The gay marriage debate was settled by popular culture and that’s where the climate debate can be won, too.
Because as I point out here, the climate debate has little to do with science: https://tonyhellerakastevengoddardisnotasociopath.wordpress.com/2015/08/03/loud-and-proud-waving-the-tribal-flag-of-climate-denialism/
August 5, 2015 at 9:12 pm
To the thumbs downers, read what “tonyhellerexposed” has to say.
August 5, 2015 at 10:40 pm
Pay attention to Tony. He may say he’s not a denier and call himself a crackpot, but he knows what he is talking about—-he is the Donald Trump of the denier blogosphere, and has “fired” many unworthy people.
August 6, 2015 at 12:53 am
A social experiment or twisted sense of humour ? John Lennon’s Mind games ring in my ears. Confusing and sadly a truth in this crazy mixed up world, if Christopher Monckton and Anthony Watts can get away with it, a man with a BS in geology is laughing at the mindless stupidity of it all.
August 6, 2015 at 1:03 am
and a good excuse to include my favourite J.L song . . .
August 6, 2015 at 9:14 am
[…] From : https://climatecrocks.com/2015/08/05/new-video-we-are-the-asteroid/ […]
August 11, 2015 at 8:43 am
[…] Climate Denial Crock of the Week: We are The Asteroid […]
August 26, 2015 at 5:16 pm
[…] @@ We Are the Asteroid – extinction is forever, and we’re in the midst of a giant extinction event right now. Check it out! […]
August 26, 2015 at 6:02 pm
[…] @@ We Are the Asteroid – extinction is forever, and we’re in the midst of a giant extinction event right now. Check it out! […]
August 26, 2015 at 10:00 pm
[…] @@ We Are the Asteroid – extinction is forever, and we’re in the midst of a giant extinction event right now. Check it out! […]
August 28, 2015 at 6:59 am
[…] @@ We Are the Asteroid – extinction is forever, and we’re in the midst of a giant extinction event right now. Check it out! […]
August 28, 2015 at 4:45 pm
[…] @@ We Are the Asteroid – extinction is forever, and we’re in the midst of a giant extinction event right now. Check it out! […]