Saving the Planet? Or Keeping it Livable

Let's face it, it's not about saving the planet. The planet is going to be just fine without us. The bigger question is will we be able to live on it for a while, and will be we be able to do so without a whole lot of pain? This is definitely a Save Ourselves situation.

Case in point: The unpleasant and unhealthy smoggy opening to the Olympics. Despite the car bans and the factory closures, China was not able to prevent a thick coat of pollution from settling on the city. There is even some talk of postponing some events, such as cycling.

Photo: Aussiegall via Flickr.

The point is, we could continue reeking havoc on the world, unchecked -- but would we want to breath the air, drink the water, and live with all the trash around us? Frankly, on this path, the earth will become a pretty horrible place to live.

And yes, eventually, our survival comes into question.

We all saw "An Inconvenient Truth," but here's a reminder of some of the science-backed statistics: Deaths from global warming will reach 300,000 a year in 25 years -- more than double the amount now. Malaria will spread. Heat waves, droughts, hurricanes -- all will be more frequent. More than a million species will disappear.

On the other hand -- if the world's biggest invasive species (that would be us, folks) -- took a hike, the world would quickly reclaim itself, according to Alan Weisman. In his book "The World Without Us," labeled a "nonfiction eco-thriller" by The New York Times, Weisman predicts that New York's subway system would fill with water within two days, the world's 441 nuclear plants would melt down into radioactive heaps within weeks, and Lexington Avenue would transform into a river in a mere 20 years.

We need to learn from China and their choking smog. If for no other reason than for the luxury of stepping outside to suck in a big gulp of clean air.

More From TreeHugger on Pollution
::Despite Government Efforts, Smog Hovers Over Beijing On First Olympic Day
::Chile Fights Critical Air Pollution in Santiago
::How Does Pollution Affect Cyclists?
::Duckweed: The Pollution Cleaning, Climate Change Fighting Super Food?

More from Graham Hill on Huffington Post
::Eating Local or Not: It Depends
::Tap Has 1/100 Impact of Bottled Water
::Do Big Homes Mean Bigger Happiness?
::Why I Don't Flush
::Would You Kill What You Eat?
::Europeans Happier than Americans yet Half the Footprint
::Phones as Fashion: Can You Resist the New Apple iPhone?

Follow Graham Hill on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ghill

Comments

[markie1111]

AND their choking smog is your choking smog. everytime you buy something "chinese" or send your "waste" to china to be processed etc etc., you condone their lack of environmental regulations, you condone their labor laws, etc. etc. and you are an active participant in creating "their" environmental mess.

[markie1111]

be glad you lived when you did. with 6 billion plus eating itself out of house and home, sustainability is a pipe dream. the future of humanity is going to be a vicious ride, but then, those living in abject poverty already know that.

[garbovatwins]

Your very survival is at stake. The time to act was yesterday. The time to act is now.

[mergina]

We definitely can make it next to impossible to survive as a species. This beautiful, ever changing, living creature we inhabit, will still be here long after we are gone. Perhaps something else will evolve that is not a species as brutally illogical as humans. When we are not destroying each other, we are destroying this planet's ability to sustain us.

[leduck]

of course the planet will exist no matter what we do
we can damage it but we can't destroy it
that's obvious

the real question is one of SUSTAINABILITY
are we sustainable or not
i doubt it

[greenola]

I think that a majority of folks have been awake for a while now. The problem is that it just isn't in human nature to snap out of dirty habits.

There is a website called Green Groove where people can sign up for free, select from a database of weekly goals, and put together a plan to help them "conduct a phased withdrawal on catastrophic climate change."

My wife is working through her second week right now. It seems really sensible.

http://www.greengroove.org

[eeVas]

I have been working on the one change at a time idea for awhile. First the light bulbs, the rechargable batteries, and then recycling. But the thing that made the most difference for me was reusable grocery bags. I think the reason they made the most difference is because there is no benefit for me. It is truly giving back to Mother Earth. Since I have started using reusable bags I find that I notice other habits. Habits that I have had for awhile, I find that I change them a lot easier now.

[rocketman73]

Very Interesting & True Post.

I just saw this documentary that is about to premier on PBS. Great story about this couple who lived a completely sustainable life in the swamp during the 1970's. The images were amazing and made me wish for a more simple life. The Documentary will air nationally on August 31st at 10:30 ET

To see some of the images of the couple and thier Houseboat go to . http://www.lpb.org/programs/houseboat/

[eeVas]

You make a very good point, but sad point. For many people they only care about themselves - so if we are going to "save the planet" we have to frame it into self serving terms for those people. We must answer their questions "What's in it for me?" and even sadder "What's in it for me NOW?"

[Jenna Woginrich - Huffpost Blogger]

Hopefully we'll wake up before it's too late.

[BobGreenie]

Sadly mankind is a very slow learner - he repeats the same mistakes over and over!

Here in New Zealand many thought we had learned to care for the environment but, alas, we are on the lip of another election where (if the public opinion polls are correct) we are likely to throw out a Government that has introduced many forward-thinking green initiatives and change it for a political party which, even before it is in power, wants "roads,roads,roads" a diminishment of a resource Management Act, fast tracking of approvals for damming rivers, etc. All this because many people wanted to pay less tax!
I am no disciple of any political party as there are good and bad on each side of the political divide but I am keen to ensure directions are enlightened for the common good.
In this day and age it is very much "the me generation" - too many will look as to what they can gain most from for themselves. Human greed! It reigns the World over!