Age of Us
18 Oct 2014 7:00 AM
Share
The Anthropocene is here, whether geologists make it official or not
Humans rule the world, for worse or for worse. This week, a 30-strong team of geologists, ecologists, and climate scientists from around the globe are meeting in Berlin to discuss whether we’ve entered into a new geologic “epoch of humans.” Their question, in Greek-inspired sciencese (scienglish? scienceGreek?): Is it time to declare the Holocene officially over and the Anthropocene underway?
Our question, in plain English: Does it even matter what these highbrows decide? The sixth mass extinction, a remarkable build-up of atmospheric carbon dioxide, rapid sea-level rise, and the halving of the world’s wildlife populations — all human-caused — prove that the Anthropocene is upon us.
Popular discourse and scientists of every stripe aren’t waiting around for a royal decree from the egghead society to declare the Age of People a real phenomenon. CBS News reports that more than 500 scientific studies published this year alone have referred to the current time period as the Anthropocene. Grist has published dozens of stories about the Anthropocene concept, dating back to this 2008 think piece.
The big bureaucratic body that makes decisions about geologic time periods — the International Commission on Stratigraphy — responded to the overwhelming adoption of a term they’ve not formally approved by setting up this Anthropocene Working Group and giving it until 2016 to hash out a proposal.
So who’s in this little club? Twenty-nine men and one woman, which prompted this from the Twittersphere:
What these mostly white men are debating is whether humanity is leaving an impact on the earth that will affect the geologic record as much as other events that have marked new chapters in the planet’s history. If the ICS ultimately approves such an amendment to the geologic time scale, then somewhere a golden spike will be driven into a particular exposed rock layer to mark the epochal transformation.
Making it all official would be cool, but we don’t need their gilded nail to identify where humans took over the globe. That point in time will be distinguished by a layer of substances practically nonexistent in the pre-industrial geologic record: plastic particles, plutonium and other radioactive isotopes, as well as polyaromatic hydrocarbons and lead released by fossil fuel burning.
It would be a downer note to leave the story on that note. Instead, a poignant response to ecological-economic thinker Kate Raworth’s “Manthropocene” tweet:
Source:
Anthropocene: is this the new epoch of humans?
, The Guardian.
Find this article interesting?
Donate now to support our work.Share
Please
to view the comments.
Taken from:
The Anthropocene is here, whether geologists make it official or not
Double-decker invasive species illustrate the extent of the disruption of river ecosystems from human activities. More here: Dot Earth Blog: Ecology in the Age of Us – Double-Decker River Invaders Related ArticlesDot Earth Blog: Celebrating a Reviving River Through Sail and SongCelebrating a Reviving River Through Sail and SongDot Earth Blog: Two Climate Analysts Weigh the Notion of a ‘Good’ Path in the Anthropocene
See the original post:
Dot Earth Blog: Ecology in the Age of Us – Double-Decker River Invaders
Two climate scientists explore the idea of a “good” path in the age of man, the Anthropocene. Continued here: Dot Earth Blog: Two Climate Analysts Weigh the Notion of a ‘Good’ Path in the Anthropocene ; ;Related ArticlesDot Earth Blog: A Darker View of the Age of Us – the AnthropoceneA Darker View of the Age of Us – the AnthropoceneOpinion: Lessons for Climate Change in the 2008 Recession ;
View original post here:
Dot Earth Blog: Two Climate Analysts Weigh the Notion of a ‘Good’ Path in the Anthropocene
Divergent views on prospects for a “good” Anthropocene — this era of a human-dominated planet. Excerpt from: Dot Earth Blog: A Darker View of the Age of Us – the Anthropocene ; ;Related ArticlesA Darker View of the Age of Us – the AnthropoceneDot Earth: Indian Point’s Tritium Problem and the N.R.C.’s Regulatory ProblemDot Earth Blog: Exploring Academia’s Role in Charting Paths to a ‘Good’ Anthropocene ;
Visit link –
Dot Earth Blog: A Darker View of the Age of Us – the Anthropocene
Divergent views on prospects for a “good” Anthropocene — this era of a human-dominated planet. Read more: A Darker View of the Age of Us – the Anthropocene ; ;Related ArticlesExploring Academia’s Role in Charting Paths to a ‘Good’ AnthropoceneRoundup: Can New E.P.A. CO2 Rules Have a Climate Impact?Indian Point’s Tritium Problem and the N.R.C.’s Regulatory Problem ;
Visit site:
A novelist, an astrobiologist and an ecologist explore the impact of centuries of rising seas. Link: Dot Earth Blog: Three Long Views of Life With Rising Seas ; ;Related ArticlesProtest of Planned Incinerator Turns Violent in Chinese CityProtest Against Planned Incinerator Turns Violent in Chinese CityBrothers Battle Climate Change on Two Fronts ;
More here –
green4us
How to Paint Citadel Miniatures: Astra Militarum – Games Workshop
The Astra Militarum is an army of regimentation and proud tradition, with soldiers drawn from across the length and breadth of the Imperium. Their uniforms and iconography reflect this strict adherence to military organisation, and whether it is the Scions of the Militarum Tempestus, the Imperial Guardsmen of Cadia or the tanks of an armoured formation, each […]
iTunes Store
Codex: Astra Militarum (Enhanced Edition) – Games Workshop
The Astra Militarum are the mighty Hammer of the Emperor, an army so vast that it has never been fully recorded by the scribes of the Administratum. Drawn from a million worlds, its men and women are the thin line between Humanity and the void. On hundreds of thousands of warzones across the galaxy the armies of the Astra Militarum hold back the advance of a […]
iTunes Store
White Dwarf Issue 11: 12 April 2014 – White Dwarf
This issue, the Bullgryns smash into Warhammer 40,000 along with their Ogryn counterparts and the infamous bodyguard Nork Deddog, complete with painting guides in Paint Splatter. We also take the Astra Militarum out for a Battle Report: who will win, humanity’s finest defenders or the marauding Orks? About this Series: White Dwarf is Games Workshop […]
iTunes Store
The Art of Raising a Puppy (Revised Edition) – Monks of New Skete
For more than thirty years the Monks of New Skete have been among America’s most trusted authorities on dog training, canine behavior, and the animal/human bond. In their two now-classic bestsellers, How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend and The Art of Raising a Puppy, the Monks draw on their experience as long-time breeders of German shepherds and as t […]
iTunes Store
Codex: Astra Militarum (eBook Edition) – Games Workshop
Codex: Astra Militarum The Astra Militarum are the mighty Hammer of the Emperor, an army so vast that it has never been fully recorded by the scribes of the Administratum. Drawn from a million worlds, its men and women are the thin line between Humanity and the void. On hundreds of thousands of warzones across the galaxy the armies of the Astra Militarum hol […]
iTunes Store
All New Square Foot Gardening, Second Edition – Mel Bartholomew
Rapidly increasing in popularity, square foot gardening is the most practical, foolproof way to grow a home garden. That explains why author and gardening innovator Mel Bartholomew has sold more than two million books describing how to become a successful DIY square foot gardener. Now, with the publication of All New Square Foot Gardening, Second Edition , t […]
iTunes Store
Codex: Militarum Tempestus (Interactive Edition) – Games Workshop
Codex: Militarum Tempestus The Scions of the Militarum Tempestus are the highly skilled elite of the Astra Militarum. Trained from youth in the combat schools of the Schola Progenium, each one has been psycho-conditioned to obey without question and kill without remorse. In battle, the toughest missions fall to the Tempestus Scions. Their specialist sq […]
iTunes Store
How to Raise the Perfect Dog – Cesar Millan & Melissa Jo Peltier
From the bestselling author and star of National Geographic Channel’s Dog Whisperer , the only resource you’ll need for raising a happy, healthy dog. For the millions of people every year who consider bringing a puppy into their lives–as well as those who have already brought a dog home–Cesar Millan, the preeminent dog behavior expert, says, “Yes, […]
iTunes Store
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag . . . and Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha – Jolie Kerr
“Wise and funny. . . . The Lorrie Moore short story, or the Tina Fey memoir, of cleaning tutorials.” —Dwight Garner, The New York Times “Thrillingly titled. . . . For a generation overwhelmed not just by dust bunnies, but by bong water on the carpet, pee stains on the ceiling and vomit seemingly everywhere, Jolie Kerr dispenses cleaning advice free of judgme […]
iTunes Store
Project Kid – Amanda Kingloff
Perfect for crafty parents who are eager to get their kids excited about DIY, ProjectKid is everything you could want in a craft book: 100(!) stylish, inventive projects; step-by-step photographs; tips for the novice crafter; easy-to-follow instructions; and a fresh, modern look. What really sets these projects apart are the unexpected, ingenious ways Kinglo […]
iTunes Store
See original article –
green4us
The Art of Raising a Puppy (Revised Edition) – Monks of New Skete
For more than thirty years the Monks of New Skete have been among America’s most trusted authorities on dog training, canine behavior, and the animal/human bond. In their two now-classic bestsellers, How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend and The Art of Raising a Puppy, the Monks draw on their experience as long-time breeders of German shepherds and as t […]
iTunes Store
World of Warcraft: Dawn of the Aspects: Part II – Richard A. Knaak
A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader. […]
iTunes Store
The Drunken Botanist – Amy Stewart
Sake began with a grain of rice. Scotch emerged from barley, tequila from agave, rum from sugarcane, bourbon from corn. Thirsty yet? In The Drunken Botanist , Amy Stewart explores the dizzying array of herbs, flowers, trees, fruits, and fungi that humans have, through ingenuity, inspiration, and sheer desperation, contrived to transform into alcohol ov […]
iTunes Store
World of Warcraft: Dawn of the Aspects: Part III – Richard A. Knaak
A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader. […]
iTunes Store
Train Your Dog Positively – Victoria Stilwell
Victoria Stilwell, positive reinforcement dog trainer and star of the hit Animal Planet TV show, It’s Me or the Dog , explains how to use her force-free, scientifically-backed training methods to solve common canine behavior problems. Victoria Stilwell is one of the most well-loved and trusted names in America’s […]
iTunes Store
All New Square Foot Gardening, Second Edition – Mel Bartholomew
Rapidly increasing in popularity, square foot gardening is the most practical, foolproof way to grow a home garden. That explains why author and gardening innovator Mel Bartholomew has sold more than two million books describing how to become a successful DIY square foot gardener. Now, with the publication of All New Square Foot Gardening, Second Edition , t […]
iTunes Store
The Honest Life – Jessica Alba
As a new mom, Jessica Alba wanted to create the safest, healthiest environment for her family. But she was frustrated by the lack of trustworthy information on how to live healthier and cleaner—delivered in a way that a busy mom could act on without going to extremes. In 2012, with serial entrepreneur Brian Lee and environmental advocate Christopher Gavigan, […]
iTunes Store
World of Warcraft: Dawn of the Aspects: Part I – Richard A. Knaak
THE AGE OF DRAGONS IS OVER. Uncertainty plagues Azeroth’s ancient guardians as they struggle to find a new purpose. This dilemma has hit Kalecgos, youngest of the former Dragon Aspects, especially hard. Having lost his great powers, how can he—or any of his kind—still make a difference in the world? The answer lies in the distant past, when savage beasts cal […]
iTunes Store
How to Raise the Perfect Dog – Cesar Millan & Melissa Jo Peltier
From the bestselling author and star of National Geographic Channel’s Dog Whisperer , the only resource you’ll need for raising a happy, healthy dog. For the millions of people every year who consider bringing a puppy into their lives–as well as those who have already brought a dog home–Cesar Millan, the preeminent dog behavior expert, says, “Yes, […]
iTunes Store
Inside of a Dog – Alexandra Horowitz
A fresh look at what goes on inside the minds of dogs “that causes one’s dog-loving heart to flutter with astonishment and gratitude” (The New York Times Book Review)—from a cognitive scientist with a background at The New Yorker. As one of the millions of dog owners in America, Horowitz is naturally curious to learn what her dog thinks about and knows. And […]
iTunes Store
Visit site:
Scientists Propose a New Architecture for Sustainable Development
Libros
