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How many people die per year from natural disasters and where does that fit in the overall picture of human suffering? Take that figure and deduct by whatever a

How many people die per year from natural disasters and where does that fit in the overall picture of human suffering? Take that figure and deduct by whatever amount is the natural baseline (since eliminating inclement weather is impossible). Fewer people die from natural disasters today than ever in human history and despite world population being at all time highs. You can believe the hype about a particular issue being "the biggest problem facing humanity" or you can look at it with a sober analysis.

metacritic12 5y ago
Absolutely! I think there's a group of people who get sucked into the narrative of X being the world's largest problem, and then get really exasperated when people are working on anything other than X. They see inattention to X as almost an affront. Substitute for X "climate change", "AI risk", "Nuclear risk", "Energy depletion". And interestingly the X's are mutually exclusive. So climate change maximalists and AI risk maximalists can be mutually exasperated at each other. BTW, this is not to say one of the narratives is not true. But they can't all be the unique #1 problem.
hall0ween 5y ago
From your comment, I get the sense that you believe climate change isn't a top priority for humans. I disagree, I hold the opinion that we humans are on course, and hold responsibility, for the sixth (current) mass extinction event. And that the cause of this has been human activity and our consumption habits [0]. Mass extinction, sounds sober, sounds like it might have an effect on humanity and human suffering on a global level, no? It may not be a concern if you are of the belief that humans _will not_ be among those included in this extinction event (and are wholly species-centered). I don't believe we will dodge the bullet of our own creation - it seems clear to me too few individuals are willing to change their habits to do. Let alone take the time to educate themselves on the topic. Here are a collection of quotes in support of my argument, accompanied with citation: "The overarching driver of species extinction is human population growth and increasing per capita consumption." [0] "In the past 500 years, humans have triggered a wave of extinction, threat, and local population declines that may be comparable in both rate and magnitude with the five previous mass extinctions of Earth’s history." [1] "Moreover, we have unleashed a mass extinction event, the sixth in roughly 540 million years, wherein many current life forms could be annihilated or at least committed to extinction by the end of this century." [2] "Our review lays out arguments clearly demonstrating that there is a biodiversity crisis, quite probably the start of the Sixth Mass Extinction." [3] Does this sound to you like one of the biggest problems facing humanity? If not, according to your rigorous and sober analysis, what is? Lastly, I'd like to know, where are you pulling "Fewer people die from natural disasters today than ever in human history" from? ----- [0] "The biodiversity of species and their rates of extinction, distribution, and protection". Science. 344 (6187): 1246752. [1] "Defaunation in the Anthropocene". Science. 345 (6195): 401–406. (2014). [2] "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice". BioScience. 67 (12): 1026–1028.(2017) [3] "The Sixth Mass Extinction: fact, fiction or speculation?." Biological Reviews (2022).

metacritic12 5y ago

Absolutely! I think there's a group of people who get sucked into the narrative of X being the world's largest problem, and then get really exasperated when people are working on anything other than X. They see inattention to X as almost an affront. Substitute for X "climate change", "AI risk", "Nuclear risk", "Energy depletion". And interestingly the X's are mutually exclusive. So climate change maximalists and AI risk maximalists can be mutually exasperated at each other. BTW, this is not to say one of the narratives is not true. But they can't all be the unique #1 problem.

hall0ween 5y ago

From your comment, I get the sense that you believe climate change isn't a top priority for humans. I disagree, I hold the opinion that we humans are on course, and hold responsibility, for the sixth (current) mass extinction event. And that the cause of this has been human activity and our consumption habits [0]. Mass extinction, sounds sober, sounds like it might have an effect on humanity and human suffering on a global level, no? It may not be a concern if you are of the belief that humans _will not_ be among those included in this extinction event (and are wholly species-centered). I don't believe we will dodge the bullet of our own creation - it seems clear to me too few individuals are willing to change their habits to do. Let alone take the time to educate themselves on the topic. Here are a collection of quotes in support of my argument, accompanied with citation: "The overarching driver of species extinction is human population growth and increasing per capita consumption." [0] "In the past 500 years, humans have triggered a wave of extinction, threat, and local population declines that may be comparable in both rate and magnitude with the five previous mass extinctions of Earth’s history." [1] "Moreover, we have unleashed a mass extinction event, the sixth in roughly 540 million years, wherein many current life forms could be annihilated or at least committed to extinction by the end of this century." [2] "Our review lays out arguments clearly demonstrating that there is a biodiversity crisis, quite probably the start of the Sixth Mass Extinction." [3] Does this sound to you like one of the biggest problems facing humanity? If not, according to your rigorous and sober analysis, what is? Lastly, I'd like to know, where are you pulling "Fewer people die from natural disasters today than ever in human history" from? ----- [0] "The biodiversity of species and their rates of extinction, distribution, and protection". Science. 344 (6187): 1246752. [1] "Defaunation in the Anthropocene". Science. 345 (6195): 401–406. (2014). [2] "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice". BioScience. 67 (12): 1026–1028.(2017) [3] "The Sixth Mass Extinction: fact, fiction or speculation?." Biological Reviews (2022).