[DAVETHOMAS90]

I know there's another thread, Da News, but I wanted to raise something here about several important things that don't seem to have had a mention.

Are topics like "Trump" and "EU Referendum" assuming the common role of the forum scapegoats?

What about the Extinction Rebellion protests?



Or the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Assange?



The terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, or news stories like this one

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/24/rotten-chicken-eggs-e-waste-from-europe-poisons-ghana-food-chain-agbogbloshie-accra

I suspect it's very easy to respond with a sense of indignation, when injustices hit home, and easier still to target our venom at one or two straw men.

I may have missed these things, but raising here to hopefully encourage just a little bit of broader perspective and balance.

[lagerstarfish]

meh

it's all just made up shit to further the egos of the journalists

 

[tomtom]

meh

it's all just made up shit to further the egos of bloggers/twitter personalities pretending to be journalists

 

[lagerstarfish]

meh

meh

it's all just made up shit to further the egos of bloggers/twitter/forum/UKB/UKC personalities pretending to be journalists

 

[lagerstarfish]

meh

[Offwidth]

 Meh?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/25/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-vast-expanse-rainforest-lost-in-2018

[lagerstarfish]

and how do I tell which bits of that are true?

it's well written and has a graph, I suppose

[tomtom]

and how do I tell which bits of that are true?

it's well written and has a graph, I suppose

Sources and citations.

[dunnyg]

I discovered pomegranate source recently. Boss stuff.

[DAVETHOMAS90]

Meh?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/25/death-by-a-thousand-cuts-vast-expanse-rainforest-lost-in-2018

Good stuff Offwidth.

There's so much important stuff dropping off the front page.

In my view, it's important to keep these other issues in sharper focus.

Nearly everything seems to come with Palm oil in it these days. "Sustainably sourced". Does that mean after the deforestation?

People like Trump may get lambasted for their position on climate change, but who isn't happy to take advantage of lower fuel prices - whether driving out to the Peak, or jet-setting off to some wilderness?

[Oldmanmatt]

It’s Hobson’s choice, though, isn’t it Dave?

Live in the modern world or don’t live.

I would have thought most people (or at least a significant minority (48%?)) are aware of issues such as the imminent environmental collapse, but if the “Powers that be” have wandered into senility and territories beyond the control of their respective populations AND those populations are so mind numb and overwhelmed with conflicting information; then we’re all fucked.

My perception, of the recent climate protests (for instance) is that they have been largely counterproductive and alienated more people than they educated.

[DAVETHOMAS90]

It’s Hobson’s choice, though, isn’t it Dave?

Live in the modern world or don’t live.

I would have thought most people (or at least a significant minority (48%?)) are aware of issues such as the imminent environmental collapse, but if the “Powers that be” have wandered into senility and territories beyond the control of their respective populations AND those populations are so mind numb and overwhelmed with conflicting information; then we’re all fucked.

My perception, of the recent climate protests (for instance) is that they have been largely counterproductive and alienated more people than they educated.

I'm not sure Matt. There are a lot of feelings for/against of course - polarised in the usual way.

Protest can become entirely self-referential. I was critical of some of the tactics employed during the (ongoing btw) tree felling debacle in Sheffield. However, raising awareness also raises other questions about what we can all do to change the debate.

What is The Modern World? It's made up of all the choices we make, and is changed by that too.

[Oldmanmatt]

However, raising awareness also raises other questions about what we can all do to change the debate.

What is The Modern World? It's made up of all the choices we make, and is changed by that too.

Oh I understand the idea that enough Snowflakes make a powerful avalanche etc etc.

It’s just that, in point of fact, a few million Snowflakes, make a little powder puff of irrelevant drift, on the side of a mountain. It’s going to take a couple Billion, before the mountain notices.

Unfortunately, the better educated first Billion (or so) Snowflakes, are so far up their own arses, they could clean their teeth from behind and the other 6 Billion are worrying about where the next meal, or sip of water, is coming from.

It’s been a bad day.
Pessimism rules!