[Coral-List] Alert Diver Article on proposed coral listing

[mtupper]

Ulf Erlingsson wrote:

> I see several replies to my comment, but NOBODY mentions the core problem: We
> are depleting a limited natural resource at an unsustainable rate.
>
> Of course nobody wants to face this reality, because it impacts ALL OF US.
>
> So by denying it, WE ARE NO BETTER than the ones we criticize, the fisheries,
> the agricultural runoffers, etc.
>
> Let me state this clearly: OUR PRESENT SOCIETY IS FOUNDED ON AN UNSUSTAINABLE
> RATE OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
>
> That, and nothing else, is the CORE issue our civilization is facing. Deal
> with it.


The CORE issue our civilization is dealing with is overpopulation. Even if we
stopped burning fossil fuels, the human race is likely capable of polluting,
clearcutting, "runoffing", dewatering, fishing, and generally abusing this
planet into oblivion. I think a lot of people like to choose their (least)
favourite issue to deal with, but aren't they all synergistic to some degree?
For example,might corals not be more susceptible to certain levels of pollutants
if they are simultaneously dealing with thermal stress? Fish are certainly less
resilient to overfishing when their habitat is also being destroyed by other
activities (or by warming/acidification). There seems to be a view among many
that climate is global but pollution, overharvesting, etc. are local problems.
They are not only local problems. They are global problems too. You can find all
kinds of nasties in the water hundreds of km from the nearest populated
landmass. Fisheries all over the world are in decline. Other than polar regions,
pretty much all the world's coastlines are inhabited to some degree - certainly
most of the areas where coral reefs occur.

Anyway, when it comes to energy consumption, I think you would be more correct
to say:

"That, and everything else, is the core issue our civilization is dealing with."

Cheers,
Mark