War on Climate Change

in teammalaysia •  7 years ago  (edited)

On 13 April 2018, Trump launched a missile attack on Syrian targets as an attempt to show the US military muscle and prowess.

The missiles hit nothing.

Well, of course, it hit something. But by nothing, I mean the target.

The U.S.-led strike did not hit a single airplane, airfield or delivery system, and it left Syria with chemical weapons capabilities. Even at the sites we did hit, the Syrians had plenty of time to move equipment and chemical stockpiles. - Washington Post, 15 April

It caused destruction alright... and cost the US military about US$100 million.

Meanwhile, @eco-alex poses the question,

"What would the world be like if 50% of the defense budgets of the 10 biggest nations was given to philanthropic causes?"


I'd like to entertain this idea.

The top 10 biggest nations are going to spend about $1,200 billion in defense this year; with the United States carrying the largest budget in the world.

If half of this amount ($600 billion/yr) is used for causes that are good for the earth & humanity; it is the equivalent of:

  • 300X Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; which has already
    -- Saved 100 million children from chronic malnutrition and under-5 mortality.
    -- Saved thousands of mothers from maternity deaths every year
    -- Distribute vaccines against tuberculosis, malaria, HIV.
    -- Improve sanitation and living conditions in impoverished countries.
    -- Provide education & financial services for the poor.
    -- Empower women the rights to own property and defend them.


For me, a budget this size can do a lot to spur renewable energy adoption; namely:

  • Mass manufacture the most powerful solar panel in the world.
  • Equip 700 million households with solar electricity every year.
  • Optimistically, this would cover the world population within 10 years, wouldn't it?

Thus, reducing the largest contributor to carbon emissions by 90%, returning our global temperatures back to its balanced state.

Can't we just work together? LOL.

A New Kind of World War


Thanks @eco-alex for posing the question.
I imagine a new kind of war on the horizon.
World War 3 will be the War on Climate Change.

Climate change is real and will not discriminate your nationality. Its effects will be felt in this generation and the next. And it will take a global race to solve a global war.

I believe climate change is solvable. I invite everyone to focus on the solvable part of the equation. I believe we have it within our power to decide how much of it actually gets solved.

Let’s be ambitious. Let’s lead.


Buzz


Hi, my name is Jason aka @buzz.lightyear. I envision a future where renewable energy is our main source of electricity in this lifetime; reducing the largest contributor of carbon emissions by 90% and bringing our global temperatures back to its natural balance.

I believe that this is no easy task but it is achievable with your support.

I am developing an open blockchain that incentivises both producers and consumers of renewable energy and am looking to collaborate with brilliant minds who share this vision so that we can create a future where it just makes sense to go 100% renewable, visit your local store, buy some latest tech and generate energy for your own use and for others.

Photo credits:
Boat: VisualHunt
Syrian Soldier: Hassan Ammar on Washington Post / AP

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War in modern times has rarely been about correcting evils as they claim. War is about big business. Making the rich richer. The only way to change it without causing millions of people to die is to fine a group and work together to turn them into just as big of a business as any others, and take away their income streams. As @buzz.lightyear suggested, solar energy is the future of a clean earth and just might be the industry to focus on.

I hope we do.

When a hurricane, hailstorm, flood, drought hits, and you realise it is caused by man-made climate change, which single nation can you lay blame to solve the problem?

In the TV Series Game of Thrones, countries are squabbling amongst themselves, meanwhile a greater threat looms... a cold dark undead army marches unsuspectingly from the North.

'Winter is Coming', they say.

Our situation is less far from fiction than we might think. The Earth is having a fever and is reacting with cold sweat, abnormal temperatures and all kind of different mood swings that mirror us when we are unwell.

It wants to heal. I believe it is possible. It is not a question of can, the only question is how.

I totally agree with everything you mentioned and I did think about this topic as well. But the world doesn't work this way. There is Ying and Yang. It is impossible to live in a world that gives us what we want.
At the same time, war economy is a big thing in America. If US reduce their defence budget, then it will have a huge impact on livelihood of many Americans.

True, cutting down defence budget will greatly change the lives of millions of people but how can we go about it. How can we make the world we want? I still believe there is hope and that we can make the world we want. I tried to answer the question and will like you to take a look at our response https://steemit.com/ecotrain/@thegreens/philanthropy-can-t-stop-wars

Alright, I shall have a look at your post

A significant difference indeed!

what do you think about our opinion of the question? https://steemit.com/ecotrain/@thegreens/philanthropy-can-t-stop-wars

I would have to read it first ;)

Sneaky, but loveable. Will check it out later

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

Great to see some numbers here.. WOW 300x the melinda & gates foundation. That is amazing! Thank you for contributing to this QOTW!

lets do it! lol

Thanks for creating the @ecotrain too.

I am a numbers guy. Right now I'm doing a simple research to find out how much electricity is the world currently using.

I currently have data for the following countries ; collected from other Steemians around the world.

Where are you from @eco-alex? Can u help me find out how much electricity your country used last year (in GWh)?

yes Buzz Lightyear is a numbers guy

@buzz.lightyear Climate change is our common enemy and we must wage a war against climate change if humanity wants to thrive and survive. I with together with you in this war against climate change and i am glad that there is a climate hero like you out there.
I like the way you analyze how much good the 50% of defense budget will bring it was used for philanthropy. It could change lives and if we stop investing in weapons and start investing in the climate, it could bring us a lot of wealth.
Thanks for this great thought provoking and inspiring post.

Thank you for sharing your posts with us. This post was curated by TeamMalaysia as part of our community support. Looking forward for more posts from you.

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