Will it be science that saves our world?
By oldchem1
@oldchem1 (8132)
June 9, 2010 2:10am CST
There can be no one who hasn't read or heard on radio or Tv about the environmental problems that the world is facing.
Words and phrases like 'global warming', 'carbon footprints' and 'green house effect'are heard constantly.
The recent oil spillage disaster in the Gulf of Mexico shows the problems of our dependence on ever decreasing natural resources for our energy needs. In both the environmental damage caused by pipelines that are situated at depths that are too far down for us to work on repairing them, economic damage from the increased energy prices needed to fund ever more difficult extraction and environmental cleanups on top of the environmental problems created.
Then there are problems like over population, famines and diseases.
Do you think that it is going to be science that will find the answers to these problems and help save the world, or will Nature determine what happens.
Is this all part of our worlds natural evolution, after all over time ice ages have come and gone, continents have shifted thousands of miles and mountain ranges have risen and fell.
What do you think?
1 person likes this
12 responses
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
9 Jun 10
Hiya chem,
I worry about how I can consume less of those non biodegradable things but not to the point where I would not go out and buy anything.
I think Science is a double edged sword that can cut both ways for good and for bad. I am not knocking Science but there are more things in Heaven than in Earth so to speak. They don´t know everything. I think it seems they want to cast a mantle of gloom and doom over us all and I am not having any of that.
The Planet Earth knows how to look after itself too despite what we do or undo. Progress is a must but in moderation and I think they want us to go too fast so fast that we don´t learn anything properly at the speed they want us to go. Science is great but they don´t have all the answers I don´t know who has them either.
@jupitercrashing (635)
• Canada
9 Jun 10
"..there are more things in Heaven than in Earth.."
Religion has caused far more problems for this earth and it's creatures than science ever could.
@karen1969 (1779)
•
9 Jun 10
I think the whole thing is terrifying, but I certainly hope Science will find an answer or else, the future could really be too terrible to contemplate! 
I am pleased I don't have the job, because it is a huge one!
I think the main area we need to concentrate on is reducing the amount of waste that big businesses create. I completely agree with the individual recycling and doing what they can, but the key is with the businesses who waste so much on a way bigger scale!
I am pleased I don't have the job, because it is a huge one!
I think the main area we need to concentrate on is reducing the amount of waste that big businesses create. I completely agree with the individual recycling and doing what they can, but the key is with the businesses who waste so much on a way bigger scale!1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
9 Jun 10
Hiya karen,
Last week I was by a beautiful River called the Araxes. It was so hot and I thought of collecting a bottle of water from the natural Spring till I went past the local Paper Factory and although it´s derelict I saw a Pipe coming out of the Bottom of the Factory itself and that put me off the idea as the Pipe was going straight into the Water of the River Araxes itself.
Seeing as you can imagine all those cool things that they have thrown into the River itself it might take Centuries to clean all the junk in there up.
To think that all the Rivers go down to the Sea is just mind boggling what could be in the Sea. I hope Science concentrates more on this kind of thing too. Like those nice nuclear Christmas presents that have not been opened yet.
They are fining the small fry when they should be fining the bigger fry who have caused biggest part of all the junk.
I would love to be able to go the Shops and buy everything like before. I did not need any plastic or anything like that.
For example the Olive Oil you used a glass bottle and you cleaned it up and they refilled you the same bottle. You could use the same container for Eggs for a lifetime. Just an example.
2 people like this
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
9 Jun 10
Many years ago ( before Rhodesia was renamed Zimbabwe) my in laws visited relations there, and they were impressed as how there all jars - coffee, jam etc had a deposit on them and then they were cleaned and refilled in the same way as our original glass milk bottles are.
There is one supermarket by me that sells olive oil from the cask into your own bottle.
1 person likes this
@karen1969 (1779)
•
9 Jun 10
I think in some respects, it is good to go back to how we used to do things. I know as a kid in the UK in the 1970s, we would take our glass bottles back to the shop and get 5p (or whatever) back for each one we returned. This kind of thing should be brought in again. Also, we should return to using paper bags more as these can be recycled, unlike plastic bags.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
9 Jun 10
Hiya chem,
Whenever you buy anything here now like a Fridge if you buy it from a local Shop they bring with them a special package one for Video Recorders another for the Washer s and another for the Old Fridges. This is what I call fantastic as you don´t have to wait for the local recycling people to come around to pick it up. He packaged all of it up without me asking him. When I did ask him where was that going he said to People who use and recycle all the parts. Now who they are I don´t know but I did feel so relieved that I did´nt have to dump it in the bin. A lot of People buy in the big Stores and then dump their old stuff in the Bins. It seems the smaller shops have the right idea even if you pay a bit more. Now that for me is good Scientific thinking.
1 person likes this
@manojt2 (179)
• India
10 Jun 10
I don't think only science can save the world. It is our behavior towards nature which might save the world. We need to sacrifice on some of the things which we are mentally not yet ready for that. There's an ongoing challenge by environmentalists to curb usage of vehicles depending on fuels which give rise to pollution, but no one cares. Many of the greenpeace organisations have challenged people to make use of bicycles instead of smoke generating vehicles, but there are only a few who follow this. Even these people stop using their private vehicles and go on public transport then also they will help a lot to curb pollution and ultimately save the world.
1 person likes this
@kukueye (1759)
• Malaysia
10 Jun 10
Science and human are very important.It is human who discover science.Misuse and abuse of science is also human. Science create thro man create technology.Technology to save the world from misuse technology and also technology to kill humans and earth by humans too. There are 3 kinds of wars , first using the most advance technology in war , 2nd war no description , 3rd war it will be human fighting each other with stones and sticks.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
9 Jun 10
If we don't use science to fix some of our problems, nature may very well take care of it for us. Not in a way that we like...
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
9 Jun 10
We are always looking to the world of science for the answers we seek. Why would we not assume that science would help us in all of our endeavors to save the world. We are faced by so many environmental problems. The world of science must be credited for all of the eforts it brings our way.
@sherielapjat (169)
• India
9 Jun 10
i dont think so . because there is a force who is taking care of the world. and that is god. without his permission we cant do anything. after all we can know something only if that force allows us to do so. now it is we are in 21 st century, and still our scientist know very small portion of the world, and never think that with that knowledge we can save the world, it is impossible for human beings, do believe in god
@GreatAttractor100 (246)
• United States
9 Jun 10
At the rate where going I dont think science is going to save the world. There's just too much politics and peoples opinions and ignorance getting in the way of scientific progress. Soon Mother nature will take matters into her own hands for better or worse and we'll just have to ride it out and learn from our mistake of thinking we can do anything to our planet without consequences.
Knowledge, Earth, Human.
