We are in a new age – the Anthropocene. In the past all the threats to the existence for us as a species, and all other life on this planet, came from nature; now the main threat is coming from us.
I am optimistic.
We, as a species, are resourceful, intelligent and brilliant at problem solving. These are the very attributes necessary to solve the world’s problems.
If we are truly intelligent then we will put time, finance and resources into dealing with the major threats to life on this planet.
First we have to identify the potential disasters and then look to see what can be done about them. Then we have to properly finance the strategies needed to deal with it.
Here are some of the problems and how to deal with them:
- Population size – our numbers have increased to the point where we are causing sufficient pollution to alter the climate, pollute the environment globally, use up the resources and destroy the natural environments.
- We need to limit our numbers with a global policy of intent
- We need education for the third world
- We need contraception and contraceptive advice for all people
- We need to counter the religious drive to increase in numbers
- We need to bring in support for sickness and old age so that people do not rely on large families
- We need to deal with world poverty and have a fairer distribution of wealth
- We need to counter racial stereotypes that manhood equates to many kids
2. Meteor strike – a meteor strike could devastate life on this planet. It has happened three times before resulting in 97% of all species being annihilated. In the past we were helpless. We now have the means to do something about it.
- We need a thorough observation programme to map all possible strikes from meteors
- We need an early warning system
- We need to formulate policies to deflect or destroy asteroids or large meteors heading for Earth. That should not be too difficult. We have missiles and nuclear devices. We can surely work that out?
3. Virus pandemics. The most likely cause of mass human death is a mutated virus. At times it seems that we are intent on speeding up its inception. We need to plan how to stop this from happening. More people died from the flu virus that hit after the First World War than were killed in the war itself. The next one could wipe out 99% of humans.
- We need to prevent the sort of conditions in breeding and keeping farm animals that can lead to diseases passing to humans (particularly with fowl in Asia).
- We need to bring in an early warning process to rapidly identify problems and alert authorities to isolate and deal with this. This will necessitate a compensation scheme or else farmers will try to keep things quiet.
- We need to develop drugs that work against viruses so that when the epidemic hits we have the means of fighting it.
4. Climate change – the greenhouse effect. Venus is a similar planet to us. Venus has a runaway greenhouse effect. The surface temperature is 462 degrees Celsius – hot enough to melt lead. It would be a good idea to stop that happening to us. A few degrees warmer and there would be catastrophic climate events – droughts, sea level rises (all our major cities are around sea-level), hurricanes, typhoons, floods, heat-waves, changes in jet-stream, gulf stream and weather patterns.
- Reduce carbon output and move to sustainable energy (tidal, wind, solar and fusion).
- Reduce human numbers
- Protect our rainforests (which absorb carbon and give out oxygen)
- Protect our oceans – the phytoplankton absorb carbon and give out oxygen. Pollution is disrupting this. Over-fishing is causing an imbalance.
5. Global pollution. Pollution is threatening our ecosystems.
- Create global laws to limit pollution
- Enforce them
6. Conservation – we are destroying the natural environment at a huge rate and causing species extinction. The whole globe is one ecosystem. We are part of it. The imbalance we are causing is altering the planet. We depend on the soil, food, oxygen and water cycle created by the biosphere. We need to protect it or we will suffer the consequences.
- Conserve nature – 50% for humans – 50% for wilderness
- Stop chopping down the rain-forests for short-term gain (logging, slash and burn, crops for sale to the West – Palm Oil, Coffee etc)
- Protect the animals being hunted to extinction – put in armed wardens and arrest poachers, cut off supply and hunt down the people behind the trade and jail them.
7. Volcanic action – volcanoes or major volcanic activity could be disastrous. They can result in huge local devastation and produce ash that would cause a global winter for decades that would stop photosynthesis and cool the planet and effectively kill off plants and animals and result in mass extinctions. If the Yellowstone caldera was to collapse a third of America could be covered with lava and resemble the Russian steppes.
- More research into volcanic activity
- Ideas on how to influence and affect volcanic activity
8. War – we now have weapons of mass destruction that could eradicate most human life on this planet – nuclear bombs, nerve gas, biological weapons. It only takes a major conflict to escalate or a terrorist group of religious fanatics and we could be facing extinction.
- Stop wars
- Use diplomacy and economic strategies to end conflict
- Move to global government – think globally
- Do away with nationalism and patriotism
- Enforce the UN charter of Human Rights
- Counter religions and religious indoctrination
Other disasters would include Tsunamis, earthquakes and Solar activity.
Most of our future is in our own hands. We have the science and technology to ensure our safety. Do we have the will or intelligence?
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