Prince William and Sir David Attenborough warn public: Earth is at 'tipping point'

[Boats]

Prince William and Sir David Attenborough warn public: Earth is at 'tipping point'
By: Ilona Amos - The Scotsman - 12-31-19
Re: https://www.scotsman.com/news/enviro...oint-1-5068889

Personal note: Ah the Dreamer's and a possible Future

Prince William has unveiled a prestigious new multi-million-pound prize in a bid to solve some of the greatest challenges facing mankind and the planet.
Photo link: https://images-e.jpimedia.uk/imagefe...mage/image.jpg
Kensington Palace said multimillion-pound prizes will be awarded annually to five winners around the world, in each year of the 2020s, in an initiative that draws inspiration from US

The Earthshot Prize, created to encourage innovative solutions for the world’s biggest environmental problems, will be awarded to five winners each year for the next decade.

It aims to refocus global attention on issues around climate change, energy generation, protecting nature, cutting air pollution and ensuring supplies of drinking water.

Inspiration for the new prize was taken from a similar scheme, known as Moonshot, which was crucial in bringing about the 1969 lunar landing.

Announcing the initiative, the prince, who is second in line to the throne, said he wanted to begin 2020 with a new drive to dispel the current pessimism around the state of the earth and replace it with fresh optimism and action.

The Queen’s grandson also hopes to help build the biggest coalition of scientists, economists, activists, leaders, governments, businesses, philanthropists, cities and countries ever set up to tackle ecological issues.

Prince William said: “The earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve.

“Remember the awe-inspiring civilisations that we have built, the life-saving technology we have created, the fact that we have put a man on the moon.

“People can achieve great things. The next ten years present us with one of our greatest tests - a decade of action to repair the earth.”

TV presenter and naturalists Sir David Attenborough has welcomed the new prize.

In a special film made to launch the initiative, he said: "The spirit of the Moonshot can guide us today as we confront the serious challenges we face on earth.

“This year Prince William and a global alliance launch the most prestigious environment prize in history. The Earthshot Prize. A global prize designed to motivate and inspire a new generation of thinkers, leaders and dreamers to think differently. Visionaries rewarded over the next decade for responding to the great challenges of our time.”

Colin Butfield, executive director of conservation group WWF, said: “Advances in science, technology and global communications mean we now know with astonishing detail what happens if we don’t reverse the damage to our planet.

“But what if we use those same advances to change direction?

“In just ten years we can go from fear to hope, from disaster to discovery and from inertia to inspiration. The Earthshot Prize challenges us all to make this the decade that we build a future to be proud of.”

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Personal note: Though born with a Silver Spoon in his mouth - William has a good heart.
He's kind and he's a former soldier. The Royals (are old school) but they have heart and without heart - there is no future. The Brit's are proud of their Queen and their history.
Though it took several 100's of years to finally get it right.

The old history has to turn the corner eventually. If and when William becomes "King William" we will see how his majesty takes a foot hold. It won't be easy but if he stays on course I'm sure he will be remember well in history.

England is old school but moving forward with class. It's had its issues but its always been a good foundation and example for many to follow. Pomp and Circumstance may be a little much but the English sorta like that old style of mannerisms. His brother will make his way and do much for his country & service to his older brother - as will their children.

I can only hope that England and the US will still be close as we are today. We can always depend on the Brits should push come to shove. True Allies are difficult to find though we've battled one another in years gone by - we are still Brother's in Arms when the call comes.

They say history repeats itself - I don't believe that as much as I believe that good leaders can prevent such undoings but only with constant lines of communication - trust - and good will.

Boats

[Boats]

Define The Politics of Veganism
Re: http://dailynexus.com/2017-05-22/the...s-of-veganism/

Depending on who you talk to, veganism is either the social movement that will solve the world’s problems and usher in a new utopian society where humans and animals live in harmony with a flourishing ecosystem, or it’s an annoying dietary fad that’ll go the way of the Atkin’s diet. My experiences with the ubiquitous diet are manifold, and my motivations are mainly health and environmentally based. If I cook and eat without animal products, my skin is clearer, I have slightly more energy and I don’t have to feel guilty about the calories I ingest from beer or the tacos I eat by the half dozen with my friends. However, the all-or-nothing, restrictive, almost puritanical cultishness behind what should be a change that makes you feel good about yourself and your mitigated impact on the planet makes this regime seem more like a four-letter word. Because of the privilege and judgment that can sometimes rear its ugly head in classes like “vegan lit” (which I’m currently enrolled in), I choose not to identify as a vegan at all.

The class is a comparative lit course that necessitates discussion. I find myself having to rein in the comments that constantly spring to mind over questions such as “Do plants have feelings?” It seems like a course-wide pity party that discusses all of the ways in which vegans are put upon by meat eaters and the fierce arguments for a plant-based diet. This is not to say the attitudes sometimes exhibited in the course are representative of all vegans, nor do I think all meat-eaters are defensive in their consumption of animal flesh. In fact, I think politicizing diet is an unfortunate by-product of an age where everything has a series of wider implications that cannot be avoided, and it results in a hailstorm of guilt and finger-pointing.

Coming from the perspective of environmentalism and sustainability makes it easier to sit back and analyze the confusion. A plant-based diet saves about 600 gallons of water per capita, daily. That is enough of an impact to mitigate any guilt I have about killing cute and fuzzy animals. I’ve also seen chickens slaughtered and eaten them anyway, so I’m confident in my ability to confront the real source of meat as opposed to fooling myself into pretending the hermetically sealed packages in the supermarket were never alive. The focus on animal ethics is one of the factors that makes this argument so personal. People who eat meat are called murderers. Well, to some extent, we all are if we live in developed countries. Every bit of privilege we have is built on the backs of someone in another country, and no amount of fair trade buying will change that. I don’t think it’s inherently right or wrong to eat animal products; we’re clearly evolved to have at least the option, whether or not we decide to pursue it.

However, the extent to which we consume meat — every meal for some of us — and the way in which animals are raised is not only morally repugnant (in the case of animal husbandry), but it is also extremely harmful to our planet and to human health. I think this is the root of the problem, and guilting someone into a diet (no matter how beneficial it may be) will never be effective.
I have yet to even touch on the fact that college-aged women who eat restrictive diets have much higher rates of eating disorders. It’s almost no wonder, with the diet’s link to fitness and the association of an act so simple as eating linked with cheating. I remember telling a friend I had eaten a hamburger on a drunken night, and she literally gasped. With that reaction, who wants the stigma?
I’ve decided the most effective way of avoiding controversy is to identify as vegan-ish. I have a co-op membership I use happily, and I take pride in buying fair trade whenever I can. However, this privilege comes from the fact that I am a student lucky enough to have multiple jobs and no children or family to feed with picky diets or cravings for dino nuggets. (That’s what kids eat, right?) Yes, it can be cheaper to eat a plant-based diet, but that requires the planning and access to healthy and whole foods that not every American has, and the privilege behind assuming this is currently a feasible choice for everyone is part of the reason I often leave class feeling disheartened and painfully aware of the demographics of UCSB.

At this point, veganism is a concept surrounded by controversy. To utter it is to invite speculation, comments on the most personal of activities and judgment. I believe people, in general, do want to make a difference, and I don’t want to be actively judged. Even so, to politicize every bite is as unhealthy as eating a triple cheeseburger every day. Instead of focusing on what people are eating, let’s expand education on the choices we have and make sure that all of those choices are as healthy for the planet and its inhabitants as possible.