hoyetytoity

Originally posted by: ExiL3 hoyetytoity: just wanted to correct you, Europe isn't a country... Though I am sure you didn't mean that. Haha, no no, I didn't mean it that way. I assure you I know its a Continent. Please tell me its a Continent.... I should know since I've back packed there hahaha.

Ok, I am going to admit, I am no expert on Global Warming or Climate Change. However, I have been following it for quite a few years now, and have my own experience to back up that I think regardless of what you want to call it... there is something wrong with our planet, and it IS because of humankind. We are in serious need of changing our habits. We are destroying the planet and there is absolutely no way any of us can deny that fact. Most of us on this forum are probably also the most wasteful people on the planet. It's not nessessarily our fault, its our lifestyle, its what we've been conditioned to our entire lives. We were the lucky few to be born or live in a country such as America or Canada or the UK or Japan or wherever. And its a shame the way we live and how destructful it is, when there is so much excess here and not enough of anything elsewhere. but hell, I get it, why would we want to give up the luxuries we are acustomed to? It's hard to change, but we got to do it. We really really have to. People are so short sighted, we don't ever look at the long term. Yeah, we're going to be taxed, yah, its going to cost the government X amount of billions of dollars. Yah, there will be a bunch of people from certain industries that are going to lose their jobs. But you know what, those are all sacrifices that are nessessary if we are even going to have a planet for the future. And I don't just mean for our kids, I mean... US TOO. I bet most people who visit this site are are pretty young... Don't think in 60-70 years from now you aren't going to see a bunch of sh*t going wrong because we were too lazy to recycle or walk 5 minuets up the road instead of drive... If a bunch of people are going to lose their job, cool, maybe instead of complaining go and find another. Does everyone honestly think that a green movement wouldn't open up an incredible amount of new technologies and industries, which translates into more jobs? Anyway, I'm on such rants today, and i think its cause of these wonderful meds I'm on... But for those of you who are arguing about theres no proof, and some people might experience some oceans rising and 1 degree in temperature doesn't make a difference. I would to share my own experience with an environment going to hell.... I am from British Columbia, Canada. For those of you who don't know, thats the west coast of Canada. The province is known for its natural beauty and dense forests. I have grown up here, and I love it... But something strange has occured in the past few years due to a little critter called the Mountain Pine Beetle. This beetle burrows into the bark of a tree where it does whatever beetles do, and sends our pheramones which attracts a whole swarm of other beetles, who make themselves at home, and litterally within a week will kill an entire tree and turn it red. Generally, they only attack trees 70 years +, and nature has always kept these guys in check by killing them off during cold winters. The thing is, the past 5-7 years or so winters have been so warm that they are not dieing off, and so their population has exploded. They now also attack trees of any age instead of the older trees. The result is devastating, within months the forests are completely dead. And instead of a nice pretty forest there are huge expanses of red, dead trees. Not exactly a sign of a healthy environment. I have litterally witnessed the forests die before my eyes. Which is such a shame, because they were once truely magnificent eco systems. Now we can all argue that humans have nothing to do with it, or that because of humans the climate is warmer, and therefore they beetles are going nuts. Either way, something is terribly wrong with our planet and as the only species with the ability to save it... something needs to be done. I don't know how to post pictures, but if you would like to see what I am talking about, google the Mountain Pine Beetle, or follow these links for pictures of what these guys can do, in very short time: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho/images/dpp-mpb-yoho.jpg http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/entomology/mpb/management/silviculture/images/valley_lrg.jpg

I don't know if I would agree with that statement. But I guess your opinion is your own opinion. I am not one to be a fan of "older" architecture either. And also prefer the glass and steal look. But to say american architecture is better than european isn't really a valid argument. It's not like Europeans continue building old-styled buildings... their architecture is as up-to-date as any modern country. Also, take a look at American architecture... New York for example is a city absolutely full of old looking gothic style buildings.. As for myself, I really like the kind of stuff their building over in Asia, like in Hong Kong and Shang hai. Also the architecture going down in Dubai is quite amazing. EDIT: "Or more than likely, Greek as in born in USA with grandparents from Greece, don't you hate it when Americans claim they're *insert European country citizen* when really they just have relatives from the place?" Oh yeah, I was going to comment on this as well... I am not sure where you are from, but I can understand why you would feel that way. But also, when you come from a country where the entire population is made up of immigrants (apart from the Natives) and someone asks you your nationality you say, "Swedish" or "Italian" it doesn't nessessarily they mean we are saying we are a citizen of Brazil or Mexico, we are just establishing our ancestry or blood... or whatever. Its hard to explain to a non-"american"... I am Canadian, and we do the same thing, as do Aussies, and im sure people who immigrated to the countries you are from and are now citizens in your country. Our Countries are too young, we have identity issues hahahahaha. I am adopted and so have no knowledge of my family history so I just claim to people to be a 100% Canadian. Which could mean I am anything, considering where I am from roughly 30% of the population is of Asian decent, 20% roughly east indian, and the rest a mix of EUROPEANS! wow... can you tell I got my wisdom teeth out today and I have nothing to do but blab on and on about nothing... hahaha! By the way, percosets are amazing... I might as well be floating over here. LOL. I should get teeth pulled more often!