Evironmentalism

[Niachu]

Time for a proper environmental thread!

Do you take an interest? Is there anything you do to help out, however small? Opinions or hopes for the future? Biggest concerns? I'd like to hear anything you have to say about it.

 

[Bugaboo]

I made a post on this on the relief form but: Deformed frogs the musical (The soundtrack is Space Jam)

Since amphibians are so, so sensitive to any foreign substance in the water or air pollution fucks em' up real good.
And just like on the relief form we end with happy frogs having a foursome.

They are all male.

 

[The Hunter]

Time to repost what I said on the old forum:

If you'd ask me this question when I was 13, I'd probably say something along the lines of, "keep yer change and yer progress out of my fuckin' land. If you city boys need yer precious cheeseburgers and electricity, keep that to yerself. God bless the south." If you ask me today, I'd sadly say something along the lines of that, but with far less sass.

One of my favorite presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, probably put it best.

"Conservation means development as much as it does protection. I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us. I ask nothing of the nation except that it so behave as each farmer here behaves with reference to his own children. That farmer is a poor creature who skins the land and leaves it worthless to his children. The farmer is a good farmer who, having enabled the land to support himself and to provide for the education of his children, leaves it to them a little better than he found it himself. I believe the same thing of a nation.
Moreover, I believe that the natural resources must be used for the benefit of all our people, and not monopolized for the benefit of the few, and here again is another case in which I am accused of taking a revolutionary attitude. People forget now that one hundred years ago there were public men of good character who advocated the nation selling its public lands in great quantities, so that the nation could get the most money out of it, and giving it to the men who could cultivate it for their own uses. We took the proper democratic ground that the land should be granted in small sections to the men who were actually to till it and live on it. Now, with the water-power, with the forests, with the mines, we are brought face to face with the fact that there are many people who will go with us in conserving the resources only if they are to be allowed to exploit them for their benefit. That is the one of the fundamental reasons why the special interests should be driven out of politics.
Of all the questions which can come before this nation, short of the actual preservation of its existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us, and training them into a better race to inhabit the land and pass it on. Conservation is a great moral issue, for it involves the patriotic duty of insuring the safety and continuance of the nation. Let me add that the health and vitality of our people are at least as well worth conserving as their forests, waters, lands, and minerals, and in this great work the national government must bear most important part." - Theodore Roosevelt on environmental conservation

It's not entirely a political concern, but it really is the only way to get some people to listen to it. We aren't naturally fucked as if some sort of prophecy is doing this to us or that the world is simply dying on its own. The problem is that nobody is giving back and only taking for themselves. The environment does much more for us than we could possibly do for it. As Roosevelt stated, the country is like one big farm. If you're a shitty farmer, if you don't replant your crops and simply take everything without any concern and expecting it to yield even more product, your shitty dirt farm is going to die and your kids are going to starve to death. If you're a good farmer and you know how to work the land, you'll always have product, your kids will have product, their kids will have product, etc. Not saying we should go back to being an agricultural country (look at what happened to the south when they tried to do that), the point is that it works the same way with the environment. The only thing you can blame for things like global warming or failing crops is man. Don't try pinning it on God either. He of all people would know that you fucked up.

So in the end, you're not a hippy if you defend the environment. You're more patriotic than any lobbyist or senator or anyone else that uses patriotism as some kind of excuse to not do anything about it. As for those kinds of people, they're terrorists/communists/unamericans that want nothing more than to see the dismantling of our nation. So be a God loving patriot and go design an inexpensive hydrogen powered vehicle, or at the very least pick up some garbage on the highway.

As for something I forgot to mention, what I've done to help. That'd be pretty close to jack shit because the only time I'd get out of the house was when I was a wee one. I recall taking an interest in things like that when I was like, 5 or 6 and I'd go with my dad to volunteer (at the time, the main concern was littering and recycling so there were a good amount of cleanup efforts). Although the city's recycling program was always a little questionable, but they've gotten more dependable over the years, so now we recycle like normal American citizens. Again, when I was a kid, a lot of my time would be spent outside or on a ranch, so I hated the idea of people coming in and dumping their garbage all over the place or not picking up after themselves or big companies not taking environmental responsibility (but then again, the school I went to sort of made sure I didn't fall off that path (which I did when I started acting like an apathetic douchenozzle when I was like, 10, only to start getting concerned again when I was 12)). It's not the center of my life, but I think it needs more attention and care. Now that I'm in college and all, maybe there's something I can do around here if I don't just wind up spending whatever free time I have at the environmental science center (they always go through classes in the first few weeks and ask if anyone's interested in helping out there, which just means giving tours for groups of elementary school students). I'm not doing that this year because it's my first year and I'm not too familiar with the place. In the time being, it might not be such a bad idea to look around for organizations and groups to join since I have so much free time. Although I might consider sucking it up and getting a job to help pay fo-okay, I'm rambling again. Long story short, last time I helped out was when I was a kid, I'd do it again if I knew who to go to, etc, etc.

 

[Niachu]

I made a post on this on the relief form but: Deformed frogs the musical (The soundtrack is Space Jam)

Since amphibians are so, so sensitive to any foreign substance in the water or air pollution fucks em' up real good.

Poor things. The critters that dwell around/in the water really have it rough.

On that note, has anyone ever heard of microplastics? If not, about two years ago I composed a nifty presentation for my environmental science class. Uploaded, a much easier read than me writing an essay about it on here! It's not terribly long (or the most professional looking--I've gotten better ) and I made it as straight-forward as I could. It includes some real simple solutions, too.

I was inspired to get the word out after I went on this alternative spring break trip, which involved sailing across the Puget Sound. The men who worked on the boat were informing us about microplastics, and at one point they got out their net that they use to catch plankton--and consistently pulled up plastic bits.

If you'd like to inform yourself some more, wikipedia offers a handy overview.

 

[Bugaboo]

Poor things. The critters that dwell around/in the water really have it rough.

On that note, has anyone ever heard of microplastics? If not, about two years ago I composed a nifty presentation for my environmental science class. Uploaded, a much easier read than me writing an essay about it on here! It's not terribly long (or the most professional looking--I've gotten better ) and I made it as straight-forward as I could. It includes some real simple solutions, too.

I was inspired to get the word out after I went on this alternative spring break trip, which involved sailing across the Puget Sound. The men who worked on the boat were informing us about microplastics, and at one point they got out their net that they use to catch plankton--and consistently pulled up plastic bits.

If you'd like to inform yourself some more, wikipedia offers a handy overview.

I didn't know about the microplastic thing, but thankfully I already don't use any of those products and I'll certainly avoid them more consciously in the future :3

Speaking of plastic things fucking up aquatic life meet this turtle
[youtube]ln7_m8Msrgc[/youtube]
I've actually seen turtles that have much worse deformities of this type than this one. The one I saw had a very frail spine and if she were to fall or be picked up wrong she would die.

And contrast with this happy tortoise who wants these cats to get the hell away from his plastic bowls
[youtube]kFP6kzZJGOs[/youtube]

 

[Niachu]

I didn't know about the microplastic thing, but thankfully I already don't use any of those products and I'll certainly avoid them more consciously in the future :3

Speaking of plastic things fucking up aquatic life meet this turtle
[youtube]ln7_m8Msrgc[/youtube]
I've actually seen turtles that have much worse deformities of this type than this one. The one I saw had a very frail spine and if she were to fall or be picked up wrong she would die.

And contrast with this happy tortoise who wants these cats to get the hell away from his plastic bowls
[youtube]kFP6kzZJGOs[/youtube]

Cool!

Er, not to the tortoise thing, to someone informing themselves about microplastics.

I love tortoises and turtles...they're one of the cutest animals, in my opinion. I went to Costa Rica with a group in May of last year to patrol the beaches for leatherbacks that would come up to the beaches to lay their eggs. Poachers are a real bad problem there cause they sell the eggs to bars since people think they're some kind of potency tonic...

I should get to uploading the video I took of the babies crawling out to sea, though. It's wonderful.

 

[Bugaboo]

Cool!

Er, not to the tortoise thing, to someone informing themselves about microplastics.

I love tortoises and turtles...they're one of the cutest animals, in my opinion. I went to Costa Rica with a group in May of last year to patrol the beaches for leatherbacks that would come up to the beaches to lay their eggs. Poachers are a real bad problem there cause they sell the eggs to bars since people think they're some kind of potency tonic...

I should get to uploading the video I took of the babies crawling out to sea, though. It's wonderful.

I've had a gif of some baby sea turtles attempting to get to the ocean on my tumblr for a while

The one on the left lands on his head and keeps going and the third one does a flip. They're lil' cuties.

I'd love a pet tortoise or turtle if I had the room to keep them, they're silly little things

 

[Trombonista]

I've always had an environmentalist side. I remember making "Save the Worms" signs when I was younger (and did not realize the worms were just fine). Sometimes I collect litter when I go on walks (I always wash my hands afterward).

 

[Bugaboo]

I've always had an environmentalist side. I remember making "Save the Worms" signs when I was younger (and did not realize the worms were just fine). Sometimes I collect litter when I go on walks (I always wash my MANOS afterward).

When I go for walks I find worms on the sidewalk and put them back on the grass so they can go back in the ground. I do the same thing with other bugs that shouldn't be on the sidewalk, because I really like invertebrates.

 

[Trombonista]

I guess I did need to save the worms.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Bugaboo]

I guess I did need to save the worms.

Thanks for the tip!

I have no problem with them getting eaten by random things but drying up in the sun doesn't benefit anyone

 

[Stratochu]

Since I moved up to Oregon it is all over the place, I get all kinds of shit for driving around in my van (which has no emission controls beyond a PCV valve and has more miles on it than Son-Chu does), but the food and beer produced by these treehuggers makes up for it.

And the worms don't need to be saved here, Trombonista, the ground is full of them.

 

[Niachu]

I've always had an environmentalist side. I remember making "Save the Worms" signs when I was younger (and did not realize the worms were just fine). Sometimes I collect litter when I go on walks (I always wash my MANOS afterward).

When I go for walks I find worms on the sidewalk and put them back on the grass so they can go back in the ground. I do the same thing with other bugs that shouldn't be on the sidewalk, because I really like invertebrates.

I do the same thing I love worms. There are some kids around here who thought worms were BAD for whatever reason and I couldn't correct them fast enough. They said they threw out whatever worm they came across...

On the alternative spring break trip I mentioned, a garden we worked in had so many worms and it was lovely.

One thing I do really love about Washington State (besides most things) is the biodiversity and how many opportunities there are to improve the state of the environment. Not to mention how much nature there is to see. It's a major reason why I'm into protecting it as much as I am.

 

[The Hunter]

I've always had an environmentalist side. I remember making "Save the Worms" signs when I was younger (and did not realize the worms were just fine). Sometimes I collect litter when I go on walks (I always wash my MANOS afterward).

It doesn't matter if they're just fine, someone needs to defend those poor worms!

As for the litter thing, I don't walk a whole lot (living in Texas and all), but on occasion, I'll kick litter until I reach a garbage or recycling can and toss it in there. The only exception to this is loaded diapers and dead birds, and sadly, I've seen piles of both of them together in the same spot. For a generally liberal town, a lot of disgusting people live here...

When I go for walks I find worms on the sidewalk and put them back on the grass so they can go back in the ground. I do the same thing with other bugs that shouldn't be on the sidewalk, because I really like invertebrates.

I actually do the same thing with a lot of bugs. I try my best not to squish them because life is sacred. For some reason, a lot of bugs like hanging out in front of my house, and I constantly have to kick them from the pavement into the little patch of dirt we have that's somehow supposed to be a garden. Oh, that reminds me of a funny thing that happened last year. My friends decided it would be a great idea to come to my house at like, 1 a.m. So they knocked on the door (I left the middle of a chat for this, btw), and they offered me to go out and according to one friend, "get fucked up, get laid, and get even more fucked up," and according to the other, "have fun with my friends and play smash brothers while the other friend continues to delude himself." So anyways, the most common insect we find in front of the house is, no surprise, ants. Big ants. I'd already gotten used to it because I lived there for so long, and my friend noticed something on my neck. It was an ant, which I flicked off. All of a sudden, my friends were COATED in ants, and the guy who suggested I get fucked up was screaming like a little girl stomping all over the ground trying to kill all the ants while me and my other friends were casually brushing them off of our arms. I just had to ask him, "what is it that ants did to you that makes you so spiteful towards them?" To which my friend replied, "YO, FUCK YOU MAN, WHY DO YOU HAVE SO MANY ANTS? I'M LEAVING." But yeah, if you don't disturb the little guys, they won't climb up on you like that.

 

[Niachu]

Actually, I had TWO videos of the baby leatherbacks.

[youtube]IBsyapytUj0[/youtube]

[youtube]HRc5g6NAYys[/youtube]

The group that provided the area where we stayed for a few days were raising hatchlings. We got there just as they were releasing them. The woman was raking out the sand so they wouldn't get caught in any footprints.

 

[Bugaboo]

I've always had an environmentalist side. I remember making "Save the Worms" signs when I was younger (and did not realize the worms were just fine). Sometimes I collect litter when I go on walks (I always wash my MANOS afterward).

When I go for walks I find worms on the sidewalk and put them back on the grass so they can go back in the ground. I do the same thing with other bugs that shouldn't be on the sidewalk, because I really like invertebrates.

I do the same thing I love worms. There are some kids around here who thought worms were BAD for whatever reason and I couldn't correct them fast enough. They said they threw out whatever worm they came across...

On the alternative spring break trip I mentioned, a garden we worked in had so many worms and it was lovely.

One thing I do really love about Washington State (besides most things) is the biodiversity and how many opportunities there are to improve the state of the environment. Not to mention how much nature there is to see. It's a major reason why I'm into protecting it as much as I am.

I get there are no shortage of worms, but I like helping them because I'm nice.
The only animals that are in Southern Ontario's suburbs are insects so I grew up catching them and then letting them go and reading about them. Now some of my favorite animals are invertebrates (hermit crabs)

Baby sea turtles of all species are just the sweetest little things

 

[The Hunter]

I get there are no shortage of worms, but I like helping them because I'm nice.

You should be doing it because it's the right thing to do, and when I'm prez, you're gonna be doing it because it'll be the law.

The only animals that are in Southern Ontario's suburbs are insects so I grew up catching them and then letting them go and reading about them. Now some of my favorite animals are invertebrates (hermit crabs)

Baby sea turtles of all species are just the sweetest little things

I grew up around mammals because I live around a lot of ranchers. I went to a lot of festivals and fairs and whatnot and I always loved being around the horses and pigs and especially the lambs (lambs are really freaking cute). My grandparents had a ranch and goats and dogs that I'd spend a lot of my time at, and watching the deer and rabbits was always fun. Hell, I even thought the bears and coyotes were cute, and those things terrified my brother (because, you know, unlike me he had a brain when he was a child). I was always an outdoorsy type as a kid, and a lot of people here grew up that way as well. It's actually really fascinating (until your grandfather asks you to help him castrate a goat). It's the kind of experience that only natives of the state get to have (not native as in Native American like me, I mean native as in people who have roots here no mater what racial background they have). My dad and I were really big on fish as well. He used to have posters and books and all sorts of things identifying different types of fish (mostly because we were really into fishing (catch and release)). Although if there's one animal I could never stand to be around, it was definitely snakes. I used to run from those things like crazy until I saw my dad shoot the head off of one with a 12 gauge. Although what worries me is that I still can't bring myself to kill an animal, and my dad really wants to take me hunting at least once in my life...

And turtles are adorable. I remember one time in 4th grade, a classmate brought their turtles to class and we had a little turtle race by pushing a bunch of tables together to make a race track (since they'd just walk all over the place if they were on the floor). The saddest thing was watching one of them fall off the table, but fortunately, it was alright. The other one was really able to haul ass too, and that was amazing.

I never realized how often I was around animals as a kid until now... lol.

 

[Bugaboo]

I used to catch and release fish but once I caught a bass and the hook went through his eye, he was okay but I felt bad so I stopped.

 

[The Hunter]

I used to catch and release fish but once I caught a bass and the hook went through his eye, he was okay but I felt bad so I stopped.

Similar experience happened to me, actually. When I was 14 or so, I was fishing at a pond at my dad's friend's ranch, and when I reeling in a fish, the jaw tore right off. The fish died as a result.

Oh, speaking of fishing stories gone wrong, I almost reeled in a huge turtle at my mom's friend's ranch. Like, I don't know how I was able to do it, but I got the thing about a yard or two away from me until it rose from the water and ate the hook by breaking the line off. Needless to say, I haven't gone fishing since that jaw incident.

 

[trip2themoon]

Our bin men come once a week but they alternate between one week for our blue recycling bin and our black everything else bin. I put everything I can in to the recycling bin, even washing out yoghurt pots and plastic packaging from food but to be honest I wouldn't be surprised if the blue bin was there just to appease greenies like me and went to the same land fill as the black bin.

The rate of single use packaging and rate of population growth alarms me greatly because we just can't keep going as we are. With current growth and use of our planet's materials man will be lucky to have 100 years left. I can't believe we are 13 years in to the 21st century and we still burn oil to propel our vehicles.

My own theory for man's future is if population growth can't be curbed then some sort of super virus will be unleashed to cull a few billion humans and help heal the planet. As Hulk Hogan says "eat your vitamins" gotta get the immune system tip top. Chris would be one of the first to drop if the was a viral population cull.