6th Mass Extinction - Nat Morley
"Man has lost the capacity to foresee and forestall. He will end by destroying the Earth."
Albert Schweitzer
The phrase "The Tipping Point" is used more and more frequently of late, as we continue to degrade the planet and steadfastly refuse to mend our ways, or even to elect leaders who will be willing accomplices for the common good. In fact we display a stupefying proclivity to choose leaders who are steadfastly opposed to environmental remediation, and we edge ever closer to the brink.
Nat Morley's marvelous illustration above illustrates so graphically how perilously near we are to the abyss.
I just finished Tim Birkhead's excellent book, The Wonderful Mr Willughby, wherein he cites the following passage from the mid seventeenth century, speaking of the kind of religious fanaticism that is distressingly commonplace today, "The garland has been torn from the Head of learning and placed on the dull brows of disloyal ignorance." It defies credulity that there are those who dismiss physics, chemistry and other disciplines that operate based on evidence, in favour of metaphysical nonsense and wish to supplant the science curriculum in schools with the spurious beliefs of different religions and myriad sects within them. There was even a US president who said, "The scientists don't know what they're talking about", all the while tweeting on a device developed by - you guessed it, scientists!
Elizabeth Kolbert has authored a very important book, The Sixth Extinction (2014). Essential reading, I say!
Equally important, and very sobering, The Weather Makers (2005) by Tim Flannery.
I fear, however, it is all too late. We have become the architects of our own demise.
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The quote from Birkhead's book is certainly apropos. Sometimes it is really difficult to keep from despairing at the mess we've made of things.
ReplyDeleteYes, that drawing illustrates the sad facts, David. The quote is terrible. I know who you are talking about ;)
ReplyDeleteI fear the same as you. I feel very sorry about our children and grandchildrens future.
Hugs and kisses, Marit
I don't want to even mention his name, Marit. Hugs and kisses, David
DeleteThis is a great post. I often wonder how to open the hearts, and minds, of those people who refuse to acknowledge that we are killing our Mother Earth.....
ReplyDeleteAs you sow, so shall you reap...it's never too late to do better.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many aspects to this issue where it is in fact too late.
DeleteOh David, what an excellent drawing and a sharp quote (not presidential one!!!).
ReplyDeleteI alternately curse and cry over many of our leaders and lately I have been wishing all the world's misfortunes on a certain tiny little man with very little self-esteem and consequent overly large arm movements (I don't know if you say that in your country too - I hope you get the point).
I'll see if I can get hold of the drawing.
Thanks for your post. Lisbeth
I certainly do get the point, Lisbeth, and thanks for the comment. What an evil, inadequate little man he is, but he has it within his power to initiate the destruction of the world. We are already watching him destroy Ukraine.
Delete...recently I read that the earth and nature will be able to adapt to changes and will continue long after humans can no longer live in the changing conditions. Rather sobering.
ReplyDeleteI have little doubt that the earth will adapt, Tom, but it will be under conditions no longer within the tolerance of humans to survive.
DeleteLa couverture résume bien tout... Avec peut-être un espoir dans les générations futures quand on voit l'enfant qui ramasse le fruit au lieu de couper l'arbre. Bonne soirée
ReplyDeleteQuerido amigo ciertamente es muy preocupante lo que esta pasando y parece que la mayoría de las personas no ve la realidad, me parece muy muy triste. En cuanto a los gobernantes tienes toda la razón. Aquí ya tenemos muchos Eólicos y quieren poner aun más, todos estamos de acuerdo pero no ha cualquier precio. Somos una reserva de la biosfera y entre otras cosas preguntamos que pasa con las miles de aves que mueren a consecuencia de las aspas, sobre todo buitres. La consejera de medioambiente contesta que aunque seas reserva esto no impide nada, solo a nosotros cuando vamos a pedir un permiso. Así que sí, es muy triste. Perdona mi largo comentario. Un enorme abrazo. El libro parece muy muy interesante. Muchas gracias. Un enorme abrazo.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteSpot on, that man! That illustration is superb... I read The Weather Makers when it came out - shall look for the other recommendations. YAM xx
Sadly I am with you and my worry is for our young.
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing piece of art. That tree is precariously balanced just like the planet right now, as we slide towards that tipping point too fast.I watched a show (NOVA) on arctic melting that talked about how lots of methane and carbon locked up in the permafrost is being released as the temperatures rise and the permafrost melts. It was frightening. And too bad I live all the way over in NH as I would join you on that walk Saturday. But I was excited today as I saw a flock of red winged blackbirds and a red shoulder hawk took a fly by my yard. He/she was calling so I could look that up that call. Thank goodness there were scientists who were able to develop cellular phone technology for that. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteI have actually seen videos of the methane bubbling up through the soup that is created when the permafrost melts, Erika. There are also grave implications for ground-nesting birds, and for prey biomass such as lemmings which are being deprived of habitat.
DeleteToo frighteningly true.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how many studies come out confirming that man is destroying his home planet there are those who will not believe. Flat-earthers presumably? Or fossil fuel billionaires.
This is awesome. I will need to look at these books.
ReplyDeleteI can't disagree.
ReplyDeleteso,, let's save the world 😇
ReplyDeleteI fear the same, David. It is already too late.
ReplyDeleteClever illustration! I still hope it's not too late.
ReplyDeleteWe all hope it's not too late, Stew, but I fear it's a vain hope.
DeleteMany of the largest deserts were forests millions of years ago. Now they're uninhabitable (no water) - The Amazon forest is being decimated by cattle farming & development and will also turn into desert eventually. People don't realize that trees create moisture that turns into rain.
ReplyDeleteWithout rectification by our children, we are lost.
ReplyDeleteDavid - I worry for all future generations.
ReplyDeleteI am not too sanguine about this generation, Angie. Half the continent burns and/or floods every year, and that is predicted to get worse. And I see that in Montana you are still mercilessly huntings wolves, often in the cruellest of ways, despite the mountain of scientific papers proving that a healthy predator/prey relationship is the keystone of a healthy ecosystem. Cannot deny those rapacious humans their fun, though. That scientific crap is probably all fake news anyway!
DeleteYes, it is a sad state of affairs.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for the earth and all the creatures upon it.
Why do humans not realize we are just another of the creatures who need this earth to survive?
I hope we will find a way, we must!
ReplyDeleteThere are many people who care and do change it all. We must not give up hope, mankind so far never did.
Using up finite resources irresponsibly. Throwing plastic in the sea. Polluting the air we breathe with poisonous gases. We surely don't need to be scientists to realise that these are probably bad ideas. Most seven-year-old children can grasp the idea of re-cycling, why not presidents and politicians?
ReplyDeleteThe main problem is that we don't choose political leaders. We (Westerners) believe we choose our policy-makers. Digital and environmental transition is in delay, although the world biggest green energy groups say they will exit coal and gas generation by 2027 and 2040, respectively, replacing them with new green capacity and hybrid renewable-storage solutions.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to this, same electric utilities' owners are looking for coal, once again, because of rising price of gas due to the war in East Europe. I am afraid you are right, as it is too late, unfortunately. People give everything for granted.
Thank you for sharing the two books about this hot topic!
Gee, what U.S. president would that be? Don't start me. That's a fabulous illustration and as you said, it really summarizes the current situation.
ReplyDeleteIt is an amazing quote.
ReplyDeleteI share your view.
DeleteHumans are very destructive and lazy and just don't care about these issues. Sad but true.
ReplyDeleteThe painting says it all quite clearly. We quite clearly know what is happening and that every living thing is capable of extinction and that we are culpable in our own demise. Yet … we live for the immediate and bury our heads in the sand. It’s maddening.
ReplyDeleteIt's the total disregard for our own children and grandchildren that is the most incomprehensible to me.
DeleteIt's not like we haven't known :( We've put off doing anything about it, and I'm afraid it's too late now. It makes me sad.
ReplyDeleteAsí es querido amigo y así lamentablemente es mi propia apreciación. El ser humano tarde o temprano será el causante de su propia desaparición. Ojalá no se adelanten los acontecimientos con esta iniciada maldita guerra.
ReplyDeleteUn fuerte abrazo querido amigo y compadre.
I feel sick for the world we are leaving our grandchildren. “There are none so blind as he who will not see”.
ReplyDeleteI could write a lot, but I'll try to keep this brief.
ReplyDeleteI agree about humankind's degradation of the planet. But I also think, based on Science, some of the changes are the natural changes that will occur regardless of the presence of humans (i.e. tectonic plate shifts, etc.)
That US president you refer to isn't what he seemed, but few see past either hating him or liking him, which is unfortunate. (I'm neutral on him: I neither like nor dislike him. I see him for what he was, and continues to be.)
There is an Iranian Leader whose May 22, 2020 tweet, advocating genocide, still remains up on Twitter. So I guess Twitter thinks what he has to say is acceptable, while others, for saying less, get banned. But they're a private company, so it's all good who they choose to censor, and who they don't.
And I chuckled at your double entendre comment on my blog, but I usually don't go for that type of humor. (But no offense taken. People seem to be offended too easily.)
Plate tectonics are naturally occurring events to be sure, in a totally different category from anthropogenic actions such as deforestation, burning fossil fuels, polluting the ocean with plastics, overfishing, over population......and on and on. As far as the president you speak of is concerned, he is one of the most despicable people I can imagine. When I see the events in Ukraine and look back to the way he tried to extort Zelensky to dig up dirt on Hunter Biden, I am reminded that there are no depths to which he will not sink. I am curious that you seem to know that "few see past hating him or liking him". Please don't assume that you know how I feel, "which is unfortunate." When you say that you"see him for what he was and continues to be" I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. I am quite sure that my life has been based on rationality, common sense and decency. Your past president meets none of those criteria. Like you, I could go on, but it's pointless. It's like trying to prove that the tooth fairy exists.
DeleteI agree 100% with all of your points about what humankind has done to this planet.
DeleteYou refer to Trump as despicable, so I apologize if from that, and past comments you have made about him, I assumed you disliked him, and was incorrect in that assumption. I have no opinions, good or bad, about Trump. But he is certainly not worth me alienating you over. He got impeached for trying to dig up dirt on Hunter Biden. I can't elaborate on what I meant by, "I see him for what he was, and continues to be." I had thought once he was no longer President, I would stop hearing about him, yet he continues to appear in the News.
For some time i see on TV: just diggit..it is not a scream, but rather a squeak of a mouse...
ReplyDeleteThe Illustration is beautiful and brings a realistic view of the madness.
Dispite that....have a nice weekend,
Big hug Maria
Sufro muchísimo con lo que está pasando y como se está destruyendo todo. Por Extremadura hay bastante Litio y las personas están felices con hacer minas... es trabajo, pero yo quiero que se quede el paisaje tal y como es Reservas de la Biosfera, Zonas Zepa, Zonas de Especial de Protección de Aves... Tienes que venir a Extremadura David, te encantaría. Abrazos.
ReplyDeleteThat's a wonderful illustration David, beautiful and sad at the same time.
ReplyDeleteAm currently pinned down at base by 69 mph winds and heavy rain, David, and using the time to catch up with what's happening in blogger land.
ReplyDeleteI remember, from my youth, the derision piled on a few people with placards declaring that "THE END IS NIGH". I can't help but think that they were just a few decades before their time. At one time, I thought that we might just manage to halt or even reverse the destruction of the planet, but then Covid, followed by Putin, came along and have shifted the focus. It's currently impossible to hold any degre of optimism.
Best wishes to you and Miriam in these difficult times. Richard
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteI feel the same as you about the world and it makes me very sad. Because so many children are being born in my environment at the moment - we became grandparents in November, my youngest nephew will be a father in September, my other two nephews have a total of five children, my daughter's best friend is having her second child in the summer... I don't think I would have a child these days, but the urge (and maybe the hope) is probably too ingrained in most people. I would wish all these lovable and clever young people that they can lead a good life themselves and that their children also have a chance to do so. And the leaders I elect are all fit to help the world. But like you, I read books or get information ... and although information is now easier to obtain through so many media than ever, there are far too many people who never read, don't watch documentaries, etc. And therefore not like that act that something can be improved. The illustration gets right to the point.
Anyway, happy weekend!
Traude
It´s a pity...All this makes me very sad... And now the war... We don't learn... Good weekend my friend.
ReplyDeleteAsí es David. Y puede que sea tarde. Es increible que seamos los más inteligentes y no usemos mejor esa inteligencia, tremendo el hombre esté empeñado en desaparecer. Interesante libro.
ReplyDeleteQue paséis buen fin de semana.
Un abrazo.
My worry is for our young ...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
That drawing certainly depicts the sad facts.
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks for the earth we are leaving to our children and their future generations.
Powerful post, David!
Don't be so pessimistic David. For me, the future is generally unclear how bad it will be. But I try to be distracted by simple things - spring, the snow is melting, buds appear on the branches, starlings have arrived, tits sing joyfully. Let us hope for the best.
ReplyDeletePessimism and realism are not to be confused, Nadezda.
DeleteHi David - I remember you recommended Tim's book on Bird's Eggs ... so I'm sure this will be along the same lines. I love Nat Morley's illustration - brilliant. Thank you too for the other two recommendations ... I have 'lots' to read here ... but I'll remember these.
ReplyDeleteLife is interesting ... and has definitely got a nasty look at the moment - with Putin. I wonder where we'll go ... it's interesting to watch and see how the world is going to change. Leaders ... not always helpful. People - who don't evaluate and think.
Live for the moment ... here's to living as happily and as cheerfully as possible. Cheers - Hilary
Hi David - believe it or not Tim Birkhead was on BBC's 'Start the Week' programme 'Feathered Friends' yesterday morning - talking about his most recent book 'Birds and Us' ... fascinating ... cheers Hilary
DeleteMy wish is that despite our insignificant decision-making power, people who are aware of the irreversible nature of the critical situation that nature and its inhabitants are going through, will be able to elect leaders in our countries who are capable of adequately combining economic power with the sustainability of the planet. A great hug Julio
ReplyDeleteOur record of electing competent leaders is pretty dismal, Julio.
DeleteI totally agree with your thinking, it's already too late, hopefully we're wrong. And it is just one of the dangers, there are nuclear weapons and the development of artificial intelligence and other technologies that will soon, perhaps before the destruction of the species, end us if there is no strict control, which I doubt there will be.
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreement with everything you say, Hernán.
DeleteI don't disagree with your observations in this post, David, and also appreciated the comments left by others. I would like to remain optimistic about the world's future, but fear that could be like looking through rose-colored glasses. It does seem that historically men of short statue are the largest threats to others.
ReplyDeleteDavid - despite all evidence to the contrary, I cannot lose hope. If I did, I might as well lie down and die ... I will continue to do what I can to raise my voice about climate change. And looking at the spectacular pictures on your blog always reminds me of what is at stake. Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!
ReplyDeleteI raise my voice about climate change every day, Angie, and in every public presentation I do, whatever the topic, I raise it. This assuages my inner self, I suppose, but it certainly does not give me cause for hope.
DeletePerhaps we will luck out in a twisted way. A virus has already wiped out a large number of people, partly due to overcrowding and overconfidence. There are signs that pollutants are lowering our birth rate. Nature strives to maintain a balance, and it does not care about us.
ReplyDeleteIt is not easy to stay optimistic about the future. The picture makes it very clear. It reminds me of a cartoon I saw about 50 years ago. It made clear that although the economic profits where getting better and better, there was no attractive environment left where you could live, relax and spend your money.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100%. Well said, David.
ReplyDelete😥😥😥
ReplyDeleteIt's sad, very sad for the nature, for the animals. We are poor human? No, I believe, we reaping what we sow.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this post.
A sad but accurate summary of the mess we've made of things. I've no doubt the earth will survive but it will be markedly different from what it is now. Sigh. I despair of what my grandchildren's land their children's ives are going to be like since we seem to be standing on the edge of a precipice right now.
ReplyDeleteVery subtle caricature.
ReplyDeleteI am late on reading this. Totally depressing and so very true. I also watched the NOVA program about the melting permafrost, and it was shocking how far the problem has progressed. Sometimes I think the tree has already fallen in Nat Morley's drawing. I honestly don't know how we may correct the situation at this point in time when many humans don't seem phased by any of it. How have we become so complacent, that we aren't even interesting in not killing ourselves?
ReplyDelete