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Our backyard is above a nature center and is representative of nearly all the wildlife in southern MN. You can find it here.
Occasionally DH relocates chipmunks and squirrels. Because of the rabbit population the last few years he's also talking about relocating them. I'm unsure if this is good ecological practice.
For the last few years we've managed to be an area of non-interest to the racoon population which is a good thing for all the damage they do.
With our bird feeders and fish pond I guess we create an attractive nuisance. Nice orange kitty sitting on deck seems to provide some counter-balance.
I suppose the correct stance is to not interfere in any way at all with the natural world and be willing to observe the "nature is red in tooth and claw" rule but I doubt most people are equipped to tolerate that.
I know this forum has been dorment for a while though do I think of this question.
I appear originally it appears bans were more about the product but nowadays bans are more about engineering consumer behavior rather than the product itself.
For example on the day a styrofoam ban as a takeout container takes effect there is usually no drama or confusion between restaurants and customers. As customers would still get a takeout box that is none styrofoam based. I haven't encountered a restaurant that expect a customer to take food(even if corn dogs or packaged fast food) out with their bare hands or bring a plastic bag/container just because there is a ban on styrofoam containers. Or try to charge customers for a non styrofoam container.
Though I noticed prior to the California straw ban restaurant owners and staff would usually carry straws by their hoisters and would ask whether customers want a straw and let the customer decide whether they want one. However, since the ban took effect many restaurants interpret the ban as they must hide their straws deep in the kitchen to discourage customers from asking for one and act irritated if a customer dares to request one. Which is not really the letter of the law which only prohibits unsolicited straws. The main reason restaurants offers straws for drinks is one the ADA, for customers who may have difficulty drinking out of a cup whether or not handicapped, the other is for health and safety as unlike plates many lips would be touching the cup and dishwashers may not kill all cross-contamination that may cause serious if not fatal illness. Wouldn't it make better sense for restaurants just to offer paper or compostable(which the layman would not tell the difference) by looking or using it. Bans on grocery bags are also measured upon consumer behavior rather than changing the type of bag used. Otherwise, why not ban stores from using those handleless roll plastic bags and make them use compostable ones the same with packaging. These are universally exempt for some reason.And why exempt newspaper companies and continue to allow them to wrap their papers in single use plastics rather than deliver to a paper box in front of the door.
Also these days utlility companies are increasingly adopting punitive pricing schemes to make electric bills higher. And thats after more than half of the population adopted energy saving methods such as setback thermostats, kill switches, timers, electric cars, etc, solar/wind generators, etc. Apparently, the unintended consequences of conservation methods is that power companies are losing money for their infrastructure as daytime power use declines, and now contend with a power rush at the evening when timers, electric cars, and setback thermostats recover temperatures and need to raise rates to purchase more expensive power from elsewhere. Apparently, in other words, if people haven't tried these energy conservation tactics the last ten years they would had been paying lower bills today than they are now, due to the higher rates, despite how they are using much less power today than in the past.
As with the security theatre the environmental theatre is just as heavy handed, first they took our nail scissors, and since 2006 they took our water bottles(lotions and toothpaste), than make us go through x ray body cavity scanners, then its war on drugs that gave police more power on normal citizens even in contravention of the constitution, and now they come for our grocery bags and straws. But in the end, no one is safer in anyways just annoyed.
Last edited by citizensadvocate; 07-30-2019 at 05:41 PM..
No, I think we need much more authoritarianism if we want to have the best chance of not going extinct. Specifically about everyday contributors to CO2 emissions, though, not stuff like plastic straws.
it's all about power & control....remember the day after the 9/11 attack? Every american had a flag in their window & on their car. A crisis unites people regardless of their political pov-- and those who want to gain power try to create an artificial crisis. What could be better?- an artificial one can't be solved; it just lives on as long as it's useful or until the naïve public finally sees it as a lie.
The environmental movement was ok when it got started. Stopping cities from dumping raw sewage or other industrial waste is just common sense. Our are and water are much cleaner than it was 50 years ago. But has gone completely crazy today. CO2 a polutant? Saving endangered frog species?
The environmental movement was ok when it got started. Stopping cities from dumping raw sewage or other industrial waste is just common sense. Our are and water are much cleaner than it was 50 years ago. But has gone completely crazy today. CO2 a polutant? Saving endangered frog species?
Like virtually all things that the left does, or demands others to do it is but mere pretext to their real purpose, i.e. gaining and increasing their power and control over the American people. They don't give a rat's ass about the environment, just stealing your freedom, and making your life smaller, bit by bit.
Like virtually all things that the left does, or demands others to do it is but mere pretext to their real purpose, i.e. gaining and increasing their power and control over the American people. They don't give a rat's ass about the environment, just stealing your freedom, and making your life smaller, bit by bit.
To me many of the 'save the planet' green ideas are similar to the push for red light cameras. Even though the facts do not back up their claims about safety and saving lives; many agencies have fought to get these cameras installed: https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...streets-safer/. In the meantime, the politicians promoting the cameras, are receiving substantial donations from the industries that manufacture and install the new cameras.
The push for electric vehicles comes to mind where there are many drawbacks: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/...-power-energy/. Like the red light camera push, it appears to come more from political groups and the industry; than from the market. Downsizing all of our super gas and diesel motors for even more efficiency, at the cost of speed, might produce the same results. But we will never know since the motoring public has been sold on mega horsepower, speed and open roads.
Of course the wind turbans are another hotly debated issue with many countries now turning their back when they one supported the windmill farms: A Problem With Wind Power [AWEO.org].
Every good idea can have supporters; but we have to closely monitor the sponsors. Anybody that has a vested interest should not be allowed to advise or promote their products without all the facts on the table. Our politicians should recluse themselves from any vote if they have received funds from the promoters - unfortunately it doesn't always work that way. Even if our politicians do not vote; they can still influence.
I agree, frog farts are terrible ...... but take heart because ...... Frogs? What frogs?
Seriously, who here has seen many (if any) frogs around wherever y'all live in recent years? Frogs are going the way of the bison. Disappearing world wide. Give it another 15 years and there won't be any frogs left anywhere in the wild, only rescued frogs kept in labs in breeding tanks.
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We have frogs everywhere around us. It has been a very wet summer and the frogs are abundant.
And even more this summer here than when I posted on this thread months ago. And more bees.
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...... but take heart because ...... Frogs? What frogs? 
