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Originally Posted by Ustwo
What is a humans natural state?
If you look at countries where they have an overpopulation vrs those where we have a stable or population in decline, the countries in population decline are all wealthy and high technology. The populations on the rise are those in countries with little technology and poor economies. When you are well fed and well off you can turn off those survival genes that say 'make more babies' and start to rationalize things like having children.
Whatever is done lowering the standard of living is not the answer, if anything we need to raise it across the board. The problem with more 'earth friendly' concepts is they lower or in some cases VASTLY lower the standard of living.
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Not true.
* Organic meats and vegetables: Negatives? They cost more. Positives? They put less harmful chemicals into the environment and into our bodies making us and the Earth healthier.
* Recycling: Negatives? If done wrong, can be harmful to the environment. Positives? If done right, can be quite beneficial. Recycling can also go on ad infinitum, more or less. Plastic bags turn into pop bottles which can turn back into bags, or sandwich bags or milk jugs which can be recycled back into pop bottles. This goes for most metals and paper and MOST plastics. Also less of a need to deforest the planet entirely.
* Alternative fuels: Negatives? High cost in R&D. Also can be bad if done wrong. Positives? Hydrogen and electric vehicles could SIGNIFICANTLY reduce ozone depleting chemicals and smog producers. The creation of electricity can be done using solar/wind/water power for ultra-clean, and controlled nuclear power for semi-clean (still much better than coal and the like which is used is many countries around the world, including the US). Hydrogen can be created using reduction methods that do not have harmful byproducts.
* Soaps and detergents: Negatives? Neutral and biodegradeable products are considered "niche" and are more expensive. If they were requested 100% then they would not be niche and would cost less (probably not as much as 'cheaper' stuff, but still). Positives? They are better for you, the Earth, animals that must swim in, live in or drink our planets water.
I'd be interested to hear about "earth friendly" options that would lower the standard of living in civilized countries.