Tuesday 24 February 2009

IN DEPTH REPORT INTO CORAL REEFS

This full scientific report concludes that corals are not under serious threat, but in fact are more than capable of adapting to any changes to the climate.

11 comments:

  1. By this logic, domestic violence is not serious. Most women survive, and even adapt to the situation.

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  2. Do you have any evidence that coral feels pain?

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  3. No. Do you have any evidence that they don't? Are you suggesting that we can do anything to another species as long as they don't feel pain? What if it is impossible to tell? Is it OK to damage the pain-insensitive habitat and food chain of animals that do feel pain (including humans)?

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  4. Nature can be very cruel. Coral reefs have survived for millions of years despite huge changes in climate. There is no evidence to prove that man is responsible for damage to coral.

    Domestic violence will never be stopped, and neither will damage to coral. Apart from that I don't see any similarity.

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  5. Have you heard of Kingman Reef? The absence of humans has allowed the reef to continue flourishing. Large predators and smaller fish blanket the reef, and the biodiversity is mind boggling. This is the natural state of reefs, and reports from the early study of other reefs bears this out. For example, Columbus's voyage through Greater Antilles reported masses of 1,000-pound sea turtles. The nearby human populated islands over-fish the reef. The fish that would normally keep the algae-coral balance in check are depleted, and the algae get out of control, smothering the coral [1]. This is just one mechanism by which humans damage the ecology of reefs.

    Declaring that there's "no evidence to prove that man is responsible for damage to coral" makes you sound like either an idiot or a bigot.

    The analogy with domestic violence was made to illustrate the poverty of your thinking. You don't appear to have any consistent principles on how humans should conduct themselves.

    [1] Alan Weisman, The World Without Us.

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  6. I am writing in terms of damage caused by CO2 emissions. There is no evidence that CO2 emissions damage coral. Of course there are other ways that some individuals could cause damage, and I am not suggesting that there should be no regulations to protect marine life. However these must be proportionate and allow for fishing to take place in a sustainable way.

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  7. It is a ridiculous claim even with regard to CO2 emissions. The report you cite here even admits that the changing pH level of sea water negatively effects reef ecosystems.

    You believe fishing must take place in a sustainable way? That's interesting, because doing that would destroy the livelihoods and existence of many people. Prematurely at least, before the fisheries collapsed. Do you think free lunches exist?

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  8. On the contrary, there could be a good living for plenty of fishermen. We just need to manage fish stocks in a sensible sustainable way. Some governments, such as Australia and the EU have become over-protective, which has destroyed jobs.

    Even if coral was slightly damaged by pH changes, this will not destroy them. As I have said previously they have survived much more drastic changes than that over millenia and still survived. QED.

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  9. "We just need to manage fish stocks in a sensible sustainable way" - no kidding. The implication you ignore is that this will generally mean a reduction in catch. So, how could the fishing industry avoid contraction and the lost calories and protein be replaced without causing other problems?

    So now you are going to change your statement to "There is no evidence that CO2 emissions eradicate coral"? That's brilliantly insightful. It gives me confidence that we can happily emit carbon dioxide, knowing that we are not sowing the seeds of our own - or other species - detriment.

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  10. We are beginning to mange fishing stocks in a more sustainable way, and I expect to see fishing expand again in the near future as stocks continue to grow.

    I am glad that I have been able to allay your concerns about CO2. It is a wonderful plant food which causes no long term problems at all. The coral will adapt and survive, the planet will not warm up. So relax and enjoy the bounteous resources of the planet.

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  11. Thanks for your platitudes, but I'll make up my own mind. I believe your judgement is compromised.

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