One chance....... - Page 2

colden46 · 05-17-2010, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlene

Industrial whaling, starting in the 1700s, and, by extension, today's "factory" fishing ships, drifter nets, vacuum trawlers and all their cursed, greedy ilk...

Goodbye forever, noble Northern Cod.

I couldn't help but notice the juxtaposition of this comment about whaling, and those mentioning petroleum. Whale oil was used for fuel (among other things), and one of the things that saved the whales was the discovery of petroleum as a replacement.

As for the question, I would have somehow let humanity know a few hundred years ago that our actions can have a huge effect on the planet. We didn't seem to realize that until relatively recently.

Hobbitling · 05-17-2010, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colden46

one of the things that saved the whales was the discovery of petroleum as a replacement.

That and the near extermination of most whale species (at least all the "useful" species). Good point. it's interesting to note that this isn't the first energy crisis or "peak oil" crisis we've encountered.

randomscooter · 05-17-2010, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redhawk

Okay, here's the deal.

You have one (and just one) opportunity to go back anywhere in the past 500 years and change just one thing to alter the course of environmental impact.

It can have nothing to do with regulation, politics, laws, etc.

When, where and what would it be?

Be serious, here's your chance to save the planet. Don't blow it!!

Hawk

Can we change history? Yes, because we are living in this moment of history. I would go back zero seconds, reach out to those who I can, and influence them to focus their attention on the scientific data and not the politics of this multi-faceted issue. Don't ask me how I'd do that, but my point is that we can't change what is already done, but we can alter the course of our future.

There, this post is history.

Hobbitling · 05-17-2010, 09:49 AM

ok Redhawk, tell us the truth.
Did you manage to build a time machine out of a food dehydrator?

05-17-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colden46

I couldn't help but notice the juxtaposition of this comment about whaling, and those mentioning petroleum. Whale oil was used for fuel (among other things), and one of the things that saved the whales was the discovery of petroleum as a replacement.

As for the question, I would have somehow let humanity know a few hundred years ago that our actions can have a huge effect on the planet. We didn't seem to realize that until relatively recently.

good point,colden46. hindsight is more of a lesson than foresight,to me.

looncry

WillisB · 05-17-2010, 12:08 PM

I would spread a disease that reduces mankind's IQ to about 60. We would never have invented any of these things that foul and destroy.

swizzlenutz · 05-17-2010, 12:30 PM

I'd invent Spanish Fly for whales so we would never run out of whale oil and then never have to drill for oil. Swiz

colden46 · 05-17-2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swizzlenutz

I'd invent Spanish Fly for whales so we would never run out of whale oil and then never have to drill for oil. Swiz

I know this is a joke but I was curious. It turns out the total biomass of blue whales is almost identical to the daily US consumption of petroleum.

So if every ounce of every blue whale on the planet could be converted to oil, it would last this country a single day.

(I know, other whales were more important for oil, etc etc but I thought it was interesting nonetheless)

adkman12986 · 05-17-2010, 03:40 PM

Go back to the times when politicians had the country and it's people at best interest instead of the $$$$. Reincarnate Teddy Roosevelt

redhawk · 05-17-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adkman12986

Go back to the times when politicians had the country and it's people at best interest instead of the $$$$. Reincarnate Teddy Roosevelt

I'm a teddy Roosevelt Fan, but he wasn't as idealistic as you may think.

His actions in 1905, An "Imperial Cruise" into the Pacific, (Hawaii, Japan, Korea and the Phillipines, led by William Howard Taft, his Secretary of War and the secret treaties (A violation of the Constitution since he didn't include Congress) would lead to The War in the Pacific in WWII, The triumph of Communism in China and the Korean War.

The plan was to secretly aid the Japanese takeover of China, Manchuria and most of eastern Asia and open the way for American and British Businesses.

He also planned the annexation of the Phillipines when he was an under secretary of the navy and he aided and abetted the succession of panama from Columbia in order to build the Panama canal.

So, let's not depend on ANY politican to try to straighten things out.

Hawk

swizzlenutz · 05-17-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colden46

I know this is a joke but I was curious. It turns out the total biomass of blue whales is almost identical to the daily US consumption of petroleum.

So if every ounce of every blue whale on the planet could be converted to oil, it would last this country a single day.

(I know, other whales were more important for oil, etc etc but I thought it was interesting nonetheless)

Wow we're gonna need a bigger ocean!! Ok I'm going back to my shooting the guy who invented the gun idea. Swiz

Thunderball · 05-17-2010, 11:56 PM

I hunt down the inventor of the leaf blower and slowly strangle him over several hours. Smiling all the time.

randomscooter · 05-18-2010, 07:15 AM

I suppose if there was never an apple tree. But I doubt we'd have apple computers now either. And you'd have to go back more than 500 years.

bobrok · 05-18-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomscooter

I suppose if there was never an apple tree. But I doubt we'd have apple computers now either. And you'd have to go back more than 500 years.

fisher39 · 05-18-2010, 09:46 AM

I would have put in fish barriers all over the place to keep perch, bass and other NBWI species from invading and decimating the trout populations.

Neil · 05-18-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillisB

I would spread a disease that reduces mankind's IQ to about 60. We would never have invented any of these things that foul and destroy.