r/boringdystopia • u/torch_7 • May 21 '24
Environmental Degradation 🌍 Why Are Alaska’s Rivers Turning Orange?
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-are-alaskas-rivers-turning-orange/241
u/willdabeast907 May 21 '24
I've lived in Alaska my whole life, the environment has changed dramatically from when I was a kid. Where moose and bears used to be easy to spot, you can now go days or even weeks without a sighting. Trees are doing this thing where they all start to lean and fall over while still alive and healthy due to the permafrost melting. They call them drunken forests. Wetlands are more sulphuric, lakes and rivers have far fewer fish. For the first time in my life I've had the thought of wanting to move somewhere else, but there's nowhere to go people haven't tainted.
75
u/WaveRaider369 May 22 '24
Crap, man, lower 48 has some of the worst temperatures these recent years, and at the same time I've seen cooler summers and warmer winters up here.
But for sure, I'm glad I'm not in Texas.
43
u/Comfortable-Soup8150 May 22 '24
I'm glad I'm not in Texas.
As someone who works in conservation here, tbings are looking grim. People are trying to do well though, our state government is just run by a few corporations wearing sock puppets.
2
u/fluffylilbee May 22 '24
if you don’t mind my asking, what kind of conservationist work are you doing down there? i can’t imagine a state as environmentally hostile as texas doing much to ‘conserve’ anything, it never even crossed my mind that that line of work could be viable. i’m genuinely extremely curious about what you do, ‘important work’ is a huge understatement
3
u/Comfortable-Soup8150 May 22 '24
if you don’t mind my asking, what kind of conservationist work are you doing down there?
Texas is a big place, our cities are a lot more liberal than the state government. We just have less representation statewide despite making up the bulk of the population.
I don't want to get too specific about my situation, but there are a lot of private orgs that are invested in preserving at least some of this state. In regards to the state there's the Texas Master Naturalist program, it's usually retired folks. They make up a bulk of volunteers for these private orgs. At least in my area. Usually jobs in conservation here are managing easements or private properties(owned by said private orgs), or growing out plants for restoration.
That said my work is entirely focused on botany, I'm sure there's a lot more in regards to animal preservation.
i’m genuinely extremely curious about what you do, ‘important work’ is a huge understatement
I appreciate it lol, throughout the south there are different orgs trying to make the best of a mucky situation.
3
u/fluffylilbee May 22 '24
this has actually given me a really valuable glimmer of hope. in this era of doom and gloom it’s very difficult to remember that people are out there doing such good work; i always remind myself of it, but actually seeing it in action is very special. thank you for what you do! you and all your conservationist buddies :)
3
u/Comfortable-Soup8150 May 22 '24
Yeah absolutely! I definitely recommend volunteering at any conservation or restoration orgs in your area. If there are none, and you have land you can plant on, try planting native plants. If you don't have land, try getting your city or towns parks department to do more native plantings or to provide more green spaces.
There's a lot of things that can be done, just not enough people trying, or able, to do them.
Thanks for the compliments, I'm glad my work is appreciated!
8
u/Heylookanickel May 22 '24
Am in Texas, can confirm is hot as fukk down here
2
u/Dragonnstuff May 22 '24
And then it’s cold asf the next day, weather’s indecisive
0
30
u/kosk11348 May 22 '24
The planet is dying. Another Great Extinction looms. Hang tight, things are going to get a little bumpy.
69
u/stilettopanda May 22 '24
The planet isn't dying. The planet is becoming inhospitable to humanity. And when it finally wipes us out, it will thrive again.
19
u/BlueberryBubblyBuzz 💙 May 22 '24
It is not just becoming inhospitable to humanity, it is becoming inhospitable to tons of species alive today.
8
u/stilettopanda May 22 '24
Oh I realize that. But the earth itself is not dying. Some species will hold on, some will die off, and new ones will evolve. It's almost comforting in a way. The climate change would have happened eventually anyway. We just sped it along. (exponentially)
5
u/BlueberryBubblyBuzz 💙 May 22 '24
Yeah I just wanted to make it clear that it is not as it humans are just affecting themselves. It is kind of cool when it is the result of natural earth cycles but it is definitely not cool when man interferes and causes tons of avoidable suffering. I mean of course there is always going to be species suffering as the Earth changes but at least when it is natural, usually there is some time to adapt. Human have made it so there is no time for lots of species, because of how fast things are changing.
Anyway, it just seems that you are taking most of the culpability away from humans and I just want to be very clear..humans are causing the rapid climate change that we are seeing the affects of now and it is a very sad state of affairs of how many species will be prematurely wiped out because of it.
I am not trying to lecture or anything, I just do not want to leave up ammunition for climate denialists, so I am saying this for whoever may be reading. Thanks and have a good day!
2
u/stilettopanda May 22 '24
I agree with you. Man has exponentially caused the destruction of a sustainable ecosystem for most life. And I appreciate your clarification to both me and whoever decides to read this thread. I don't want my comment to be taken by denialists as proof of their viewpoint. ☺️
1
u/kosk11348 May 22 '24
Oh I realize that. But the earth itself is not dying
Well, obviously. The earth is a hunk of rock that isn't alive so it can't die. It's a figure of speech that refers to the catastrophic loss of living things that exist on the earth. Did you really need that clarified?
8
u/theaviationhistorian May 22 '24 edited May 22 '24
The warnings were there long ago. It was a reason it made me guilty to procreate because I didn't want to be another generation that lived a decent life & deliver a hellscape to the next generation. Be a **** you, got mine to my bloodline. I tried my best, but I couldn't best others, corporations, industries, etc. from pushing our extinction.
Especially after warnings long before, including of the unlikeliest of places, a sitcom involving puppet dinosaurs.
5
u/stilettopanda May 22 '24
OHMYGOD I LOVED DINOSAURS! In the last episode they were waiting for impending doom after the asteroid hit. It devastated me as a child.
1
u/ruInvisible2 May 22 '24
You guys with the gloom and doom. I’m doing great!Look at all the made up paper that means absolutely nothing except for the value we have given it, that used to be based on a shiny rock that also absolutely meant nothing but the value we gave it I have. When everything collapses, whom ever have chickens will be king. No nutritional value in paper or rocks.
6
4
u/FlairWitchProject May 22 '24
As someone who lives in Louisiana, don't come to Louisiana. We put the "swamp" in "swamp ass."
1
18
1
•
u/AutoModerator May 21 '24
Thanks for posting, u/torch_7!
Please Upvote + Crosspost!
Welcome to r/BoringDystopia: Showcasing the idea that we live in a dystopia that is boring! Enjoyed the content? Give it an upvote and consider Crossposting it on related subreddits.
Before you dive in, subscribe and review the rules. If you spot rule violations, report them.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.