[ExI] cure for global warming

[Samantha Atkins]

On Dec 28, 2010, at 10:18 AM, spike wrote:

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> From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org [mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of Samantha Atkins
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> >May I ask why we are wasting mental energy talking about something there is no demonstrable need for instead of deploying the same energy on things that are of great concern and/or need?    How rational are we?  How rational do we actually decide to be? – Samantha
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> Ja and another question that comes up repeatedly is: what if we do something to actively combat global warming, then the next winter there is a killing freeze somewhere, as there is always, every single winter and always has been.  But now those doing the SO2 pumping, or any other *action* are liable for the damage, and all unintended consequences.  But by historical precedent, passiveness ordinarily doesn’t result in legal liability: if our failing to burn sufficient carbon fuels to create global warming results in a killing freeze somewhere, it isn’t our fault.
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> I can easily imagine that line of reasoning killing any and every attempt at any active solution to global warming.
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Worse of all, there is no significant GW problem to solve in the first place.  So we use all this speculative, scientific and actual engineering talent and time.  

I am pretty sure that we only have a decade to resolve at least two of the main actual problems we currently face - cheap plentiful energy and obtaining sufficient resources.    The big threat is major economic collapse of much of the developed world.    That one I don't have much hope of solving in a way that doesn't involve hitting bottom at possibly fatal velocity.   


- samantha

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