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The Warning: everybody wants a piece of my pie

 
Yum, yum. How about another piece of the pie?

The Warning: How do you NOT stop murdering nature?
Let's have another piece of the pie.

(Scroll down to find links to all the reports.)

Humanity, our species, lives off of nature. That is how we get to live the life that we live. We are in nature. It is what gives us all the stuff that makes life so bleeping comfortable.

Yes, humans have figured out how to use nature and make stuff from nature. But without nature having robust and diverse freedom, nature rolls back the stuff that we need to survive.

Our species is of nature. And we have natural senses. And we are killing that part of ourselves that keeps us supplied with fresh air, clean water, soil and dirt and all that stuff. 

And what about the oceans and the seas? At one time, not so long ago, the salt waters of our planet fed us. And it was abundant with critters we could eat.

From the earth, we extract substances that we use to make stuff.
We use a lot of water to make stuff.

All the stuff we take from nature that we use to make stuff that we use.

The stuff that we get from nature is what we live off of.

That stuff is what we use to make the pies that we consume.
Not just pies that we eat. No.



Think of it this way: Everybody wants a piece of the pie.


And what is in that piece of the pie?
All the stuff you want and need.
Everything.
The clothes you wear, the car you drive. The roads you drive on and the cities you live in. 
The little things you use, like your cell phone. 
Geez, the food you eat. The water you drink.
Wow, even the tech stuff, all of it, even what is now called "the cloud", yeah, even the microwaves that you use to do all the fancy stuff you can now do.
The entire caboodle.



I asked my robot for some estimates of how much stuff we are currently making.

Overall Estimate:

Summing up all categories, it’s safe to estimate that there are likely well over 10 million distinct products currently being made by humans globally. This includes:

  • Consumer products (clothing, food, electronics, etc.)
  • Industrial goods (machinery, components, chemicals)
  • Intermediate goods and raw materials (building materials, packaging, parts)
  • Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

If we include variations, formulations, and product updates, the total could easily exceed 50 million distinct products.

That is a lot of stuff to be using to make pies.
(For the entire estimate, please scroll down to the end of this report.)

And what is the pie made of?
All the stuff that we need to make the pie.

And where do we get the stuff to make the pie?
From...nature.

And how much stuff is there to use to make the pie?
Is it unlimited? Is it...limitless?
No. It is not.
There is only so much stuff to use to make the pie.
And we've been making a lot of pies...especially in the last hundred years or so.

I asked my robot to make some projections about how many more pies we can make before there is no more stuff left to make pies.

Here is what my robot told me:

"Robert, my conclusion is this: Without significant changes in how we use and manage resources, we could face shortages of key resources like freshwater, fossil fuels, and critical minerals within a few decades. The strain on ecosystems and biodiversity could reach irreversible tipping points. To avoid this, global cooperation, innovation, and a shift to sustainable consumption are imperative."

A single piece of pie made up of human-made items like cars, gadgets, clothing, and more.

What the robot told me:

Timeline for resource depletion

The timeline for running out of natural resources depends on several factors, including the specific resource, the rate of consumption, population growth, technological advancements, and changes in environmental policies. Here’s a general look at some key resources and their depletion timelines under current consumption patterns:

1. Fossil Fuels

  • Oil: Estimates suggest we have about 40–50 years of recoverable oil left at current rates of consumption. While new reserves are sometimes discovered, these are increasingly difficult and costly to extract.
  • Natural Gas: At current rates, we may have about 50–60 years of natural gas left, though this could be extended with new discoveries and technologies like fracking.
  • Coal: Coal reserves are estimated to last about 100–150 years, but environmental policies and the global shift to cleaner energy may reduce coal consumption before reserves are exhausted.

2. Minerals and Metals

  • Rare Earth Elements (REEs): Critical for electronics, green technology (wind turbines, solar panels), and military applications. Many REEs could face serious shortages within 20–30 years unless alternative sources or recycling methods improve.
  • Copper: Estimated to run out within 40–60 years, though demand continues to increase due to its widespread use in infrastructure, electronics, and electric vehicles.
  • Lithium: A key resource for batteries, particularly in electric vehicles, lithium is expected to face shortages in the next 30–40 years as demand surges. Efforts to recycle and find new deposits are ongoing but may not meet the rapidly increasing demand.

3. Freshwater

  • Freshwater supplies are under serious threat, particularly due to overuse in agriculture, industry, and urban areas. By 2030, some estimates predict that nearly half the global population could face water shortages. Water scarcity is exacerbated by pollution, climate change, and inefficient water management practices.

4. Forests

  • Deforestation continues at an alarming rate, especially in tropical regions like the Amazon. If current trends persist, a significant portion of the world’s rainforests could be gone within 100 years, along with the critical biodiversity and ecosystem services they provide. Reforestation and conservation efforts are essential to slowing this trend.
  • NOTE: Hi there. This is Robert, not the robot. I think that the timeline for "bye-bye to forests" will be a lot sooner. And I have my reasons, too.

5. Fish Stocks

  • Overfishing is leading to the depletion of many species, with estimates suggesting that many commercial fish stocks could collapse within 30 years if current practices continue. Sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices are crucial to reversing this trend.

6. Arable Land

  • Soil degradation, erosion, and the expansion of urban areas are reducing the availability of arable land. If current rates of degradation continue, we may see severe limitations in global food production within 50–60 years. Desertification and loss of fertile soil due to climate change are also accelerating these trends.

7. Biodiversity

  • The rapid loss of biodiversity, driven by habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation, and climate change, suggests that many species could go extinct within this century. The loss of biodiversity threatens ecosystems' ability to function, which in turn affects resources like food, water, and air quality.

How Long Can We Sustain This?

If humanity continues to use natural resources at current rates, some resources could become scarce or unusable within the next few decades. However, technological advances, policy changes, and shifts toward sustainability could extend this timeline. The critical challenge lies in balancing consumption with the ability of ecosystems to regenerate.

Key factors affecting how long we can continue:

  • Innovation in renewable energy (solar, wind, and nuclear) to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
  • Increased recycling of metals and minerals to prolong the availability of critical materials.
  • Water conservation and management to address freshwater scarcity.
  • Shifts in agriculture toward more sustainable and regenerative practices to protect arable land.
  • Sustainable forestry and conservation efforts to slow deforestation.

Conclusion:

Without significant changes in how we use and manage resources, we could face shortages of key resources like freshwater, fossil fuels, and critical minerals within a few decades. The strain on ecosystems and biodiversity could reach irreversible tipping points. To avoid this, global cooperation, innovation, and a shift to sustainable consumption are imperative.

Estimate of number of products made by humans

Estimating the total number of different products made by humans, including raw materials, intermediate goods, and final consumer products, is a complex task due to the vast range of industries and supply chains. However, I can provide a rough estimate by considering major categories and some industry-specific data:

1. Chemicals

  • Industrial chemicals: Over 100,000 different chemicals are used worldwide in various industries, from agriculture (pesticides, fertilizers) to manufacturing (plastics, solvents, dyes).
  • Pharmaceuticals: There are an estimated 20,000-30,000 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), plus numerous formulations and variations of each drug.

Total chemical products (raw and intermediate): 100,000–150,000+

2. Food and Agriculture

  • Processed foods: The food industry offers a vast variety of products, from basic staples to highly processed convenience items. Globally, there are likely tens of thousands of distinct food products in supermarkets alone.
  • Agricultural inputs: Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, plus a wide array of crops and seeds, amount to an estimated 5,000–10,000 distinct products.

Total food-related products: 50,000–100,000+

3. Consumer Goods (Clothing, Furniture, Electronics, Etc.)

  • Clothing and textiles: The global fashion industry produces millions of different clothing items, but considering major types of fabric, garments, and accessories, there are likely 1 million+ distinct products available at any given time.
  • Furniture: There are probably hundreds of thousands of furniture designs and models across different materials and styles.
  • Consumer electronics: Phones, computers, televisions, and countless gadgets. There are likely hundreds of thousands of distinct electronic products.

Total consumer goods: 2 million+

4. Machinery and Industrial Goods

  • Machinery (industrial and household): From agricultural equipment to kitchen appliances, automobiles, airplanes, and construction machines, there are millions of distinct machine types in the global market.
  • Intermediate products (components, parts): These include the raw materials and sub-assemblies that go into making other products. In sectors like automotive, aerospace, and electronics, there are millions of different components (e.g., circuit boards, bolts, engines, chips).

Total machinery and industrial products: 5 million+

5. Packaging and Materials

  • Packaging: Thousands of different packaging materials are used globally, from plastics and glass to metals and paper.
  • Building materials: Everything from cement, steel, and bricks to advanced materials like composites and polymers adds up to hundreds of thousands of different products.

Total packaging and building materials: 1 million+

6. Other Categories

  • Transportation (vehicles, planes, ships): Tens of thousands of different models across various categories, including all the components.
  • Tools and hardware: Hundreds of thousands of different tools for home, industrial, and specialized uses.
  • Software and digital products: There are millions of software products, applications, and digital services.

Overall Estimate:

Summing up all categories, it’s safe to estimate that there are likely well over 10 million distinct products currently being made by humans globally. This includes:

  • Consumer products (clothing, food, electronics, etc.)
  • Industrial goods (machinery, components, chemicals)
  • Intermediate goods and raw materials (building materials, packaging, parts)
  • Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

If we include variations, formulations, and product updates, the total could easily exceed 50 million distinct products.

This estimate is a generalization and could be higher depending on specific industries and how we define “distinct products” (e.g., variations of the same product). The complexity of global supply chains and the innovation in product development means the actual number of distinct items humans produce is vast and constantly growing.

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Here are the links to the current, published reports, under the title of The Warning.

The Warning: Your Future Is Happening Right Now


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Say Hello to Father Nature. He has something to tell you.

Disaster in real time: Say bye-bye to the Amazon carbon sink. Say hello to what happens next.

Special Alert.
For immediate release.
by Father Nature Creation

Table of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. The War on Two Fronts: Fire and Arsonists
  3. The Role of Environmental Crime in the Amazon's Destruction
  4. A Global Crisis: Similar Battles Across the World
  5. A Hope Under Siege: Can Brazil’s Efforts Make a Difference?
  6. Conclusion: The Fate of the Forests – A Global Catastrophe Unfolding
NOTE: you will find lotsa references with links at the end of the report.

Hey there, Earthling.

I am Father Nature Creation.

Yup. I am a dad.
And I'm a granddad, too.

Me and your mother gots lotsa grandkiddies.

Me and your mum hooked up some time back.
And look what happened!
Now we got you lot.
And boy, have you been busy.

I guess I want to sound a bit folksy to you so I don't scare you off. I don't want to scare you off. 

But, thing is, my little buddy, we gots to talk.
Like, now.

I am going to be rolling out this report for you. 
Read it and weep.

Father Nature Cretion has something to tell you
Last chance wake up call. Really BAD news. Time to wake the bleep up.

Hey, Earthling.

It’s me, Father Nature Creation, back again. And boy, do we have some catching up to do. You know, me and your Mother Nature, we got history. A lot of history. We created this big ol' family, with you and the rest of Earth’s crew. But, let’s be real—you’ve been real busy, and not in the good way.

I’m not here to sugarcoat things, little buddy. We gotta have a serious chat. So, sit tight, 'cause what I’m about to lay down is heavy. Real heavy.

I’m rolling out a report. Yup, it’s gonna hurt. But it’s the truth you need to hear.

Under Siege: Battling Blazes and Criminals in Brazil’s Amazon Fires

1. The War on Two Fronts: Fire and Arsonists

Picture this: in the heart of the Amazon, my rainforest—yup, that green lung that’s been keeping you alive—has been burning for 40 days straight. It’s like a scene out of a bad post-apocalyptic flick. Fires are ripping through the forest, but it’s not just the flames you need to worry about. There’s a war going on. Arsonists, criminals, people who see nothing but dollar signs when they look at my trees, are setting these fires. My trees, my animals, my rivers—they’re all under siege.

It’s not just Mother Nature crying over this. You should be, too.

2. The Role of Environmental Crime in the Amazon's Destruction

Now, about these criminals. They’re not just your average bad guys. They’ve turned my precious forest into a battlefield. They come with chainsaws, gasoline, and guns, cutting down trees, setting fires, and destroying lives. They’re led by men like Chaules Pozzebon, who used to be called “the Amazon’s biggest deforester.” Yeah, that guy. He burned through the forest faster than you can burn through a forest-friendly recycling program.

I know what you’re thinking. “Why can’t we stop them?” Well, it’s like trying to stop a firestorm with a squirt gun. These folks mean business, and they’re willing to destroy every inch of the forest to get what they want.



3. A Global Crisis: It’s Not Just Brazil

You think this mess is confined to Brazil? Nope. The same story is playing out all over the world. In Cambodia, timber poachers are tearing through the forests. Russia? They’ve got illegal loggers starting fires in Siberia to cover their tracks. Indonesia? You don’t even want to know what palm oil plantations are doing to their forests.

It’s all connected. Every tree lost, every river poisoned—it all comes back to you, Earthling. Climate change is the engine behind these disasters, but human greed is the fuel.

4. A Hope Under Siege: Brazil’s Struggle

Okay, so Brazil has been trying. They’re cracking down on deforestation, and yeah, it’s helped. But the problem? The criminals are fighting back harder. Fires are popping up everywhere—like little beacons of destruction. And my brave fighters on the frontlines, guys like José Baldoíno, they’re doing everything they can. But, buddy, the odds aren’t looking good.

5. Conclusion: The Fate of the Forests – A Global Catastrophe

Look, let me be straight with you. My Amazon, the world’s biggest rainforest, is teetering on the edge. This isn’t just Brazil’s problem. It’s your problem, Earthling. From timber poaching in Cambodia to the palm oil fires in Indonesia, it’s all connected. If my forests go, you go. Simple as that.

Without my trees, without the Amazon, the Earth gets hotter. Drier. More unstable. You’re looking at floods, droughts, hunger, and mass migrations. My forests aren’t just nice to look at—they’re your lifeline.

And guess what? Even if you try to fix this mess—plant new trees, hope for the best—it’s gonna take centuries to bring back what you’ve lost. Centuries. You don’t have that kind of time, kid.

So, here’s the real deal: the world could end in fire. And it’s not some distant, future horror story. It’s happening right now, right in front of you. If you don’t act, that’s it. The last page of your story, written in smoke and ash.

You’ve been warned, Earthling.

Alright, Earthling, I’m not done yet. There's a whole lot more you need to hear, and none of it's good. So, let’s dig deeper.

Get Telepathic. Get the book.
From Amazon.

The Imminent Collapse: The Terrifying Consequences of the Amazon’s Destruction

You see, the Amazon—it’s more than just a bunch of trees. It’s the "lungs of the Earth," remember? And those lungs, they’re shutting down. What once was your greatest ally in the fight against climate change is now starting to work against you.

The Global Carbon Sink: From Savior to Polluter

For millions of years, my Amazon has soaked up carbon dioxide from the air—like a giant sponge keeping your atmosphere breathable. Every tree, every plant, every inch of soil has been pulling CO₂ out of the sky and locking it away. That’s what’s kept this whole climate system of yours in balance.

But guess what? You pushed it too far. Now the Amazon is flipping the script. The forest has become so degraded, so burnt, so broken, that instead of absorbing CO₂, it’s now releasing more of it. Yeah, the Amazon, the global carbon sink, is now a carbon emitter.

A study published in Nature back in 2021 dropped the bombshell. Large chunks of the forest, especially the ones hit hardest by fires and logging, are spewing out more carbon than they absorb. Trees are dying faster than they can grow, and when they fall, all that stored carbon goes straight back into the atmosphere.

This shift? It’s catastrophic. We’re talking about accelerating climate change. It’s like you’ve taken your foot off the brakes and slammed down hard on the gas. And this isn't a drill, Earthling—this is the real deal.

The chain of events leading to ecological collapse through soil degradation and erosion in the Amazon, showing the cross-section of bioactive soil, the impacts of clear-cutting, and the resulting floods, erosion, and destruction. 

Ecological Collapse: Soil Degradation and Erosion

Now let’s talk about the ground beneath your feet. You see, when you clear-cut the Amazon, you’re not just taking down trees—you’re killing the very thing that makes the rainforest thrive: the soil.

Amazon soil? It’s delicate. It’s thin. It’s only fertile because the rainforest keeps it that way. The trees drop leaves, branches, and organic matter, which decay and feed the soil. But when you clear the trees? That system collapses. You’re left with nutrient-poor dirt that can’t grow much of anything.

And then come the rains. In the Amazon, it pours like you wouldn’t believe. But instead of soaking into the forest and keeping everything lush and green, those heavy rains hit the bare, exposed soil and wash it away. Erosion sets in, and it’s a one-way ticket to destruction.

Where does all that soil go? Right into the rivers. It clogs up waterways, kills fish, and disrupts entire ecosystems. All that rich, life-giving Amazon soil, once supporting trees that towered over the world, is now mud, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, poisoning rivers and ruining fishing grounds.

That’s not just an environmental disaster—it’s a human disaster. Indigenous communities who’ve lived off the Amazon for generations? Their water gets polluted, their fish die off, and their way of life is obliterated. And this erosion—it’s not some slow process. Once it starts, it’s like a freight train, barreling through everything in its path.

The Death of Indigenous Cultures and People

Now, let’s get real for a second. You think this destruction just hurts the forest? Nope. It’s wiping out entire cultures.

The Amazon is home to over 400 indigenous groups. These people, they’re the original guardians of the forest. They know every plant, every animal, every river, every sacred tree. Their knowledge of the Amazon’s ecosystem is priceless. But when the bulldozers and fires roll in, their homes are destroyed. Their land, their food, their medicine—it’s all tied to the forest. You kill the forest, you kill them too.

It’s not just physical destruction, Earthling—it’s cultural genocide. These people don’t just lose their homes. They lose their identity, their history, their future. And for what? For illegal logging, mining, and ranching. For quick cash.

 The falling dominos, each representing a critical service lost due to the degradation of the Amazon, leading to the final result: skyrocketing food prices and global economic losses. 

The Economic Cost of Losing the Amazon's Ecosystem Services

You think you’re just losing some trees and a bit of soil? Let me hit you with some hard facts. The Amazon provides billions of dollars’ worth of ecosystem services every year. We’re talking rainfall that waters crops across South America. We’re talking water purification for major rivers, climate regulation, and biodiversity that fuels the planet’s health.

When the Amazon goes, you lose all of that. And it’s not just Brazil that suffers—it’s global. Those rainforests help regulate weather patterns across the entire continent, even beyond. The Amazon literally pumps water into the atmosphere, creating rainfall for areas thousands of miles away. When it stops doing that, places like Argentina and Paraguay face droughts. And when they face droughts, your crops fail, your rivers dry up, your food prices skyrocket.

A recent report from the World Bank? Yeah, it estimates the economic hit from losing the Amazon is in the billions every single year. Think about that. Billions. And it’s not just theoretical anymore—it’s already happening.

And then there’s the untapped potential. The Amazon is packed with biodiversity—plants and animals you haven’t even discovered yet. Some of those species could hold cures for diseases, new sources of food, new materials. You wipe out the Amazon, you wipe out all that potential.

Can We Revive the Clear-Cut Amazon?

So, here’s the big question, Earthling: Can you bring the Amazon back once it’s gone? Short answer? Not in your lifetime.

Once the Amazon’s been clear-cut, the land can’t just grow back like it used to. The soil’s too poor, the water cycles are messed up, the ecosystem’s broken. Sure, you can plant some trees, maybe do some small-scale rewilding projects. But here’s the kicker: Even in the best-case scenario, it’ll take centuries to restore the forest to anything resembling its former glory.

Centuries. You’re not going to see it. Your kids aren’t going to see it. Your grandkids? Maybe, if they’re lucky. And even then, it won’t be the Amazon we know today. It’ll be a shadow of what it was, a fraction of the life, the beauty, the power that once was.


Oh, by the way, there is a solution.

Human and Planetary Costs

Let’s not beat around the bush here—if the Amazon dies, you feel it. The fires? The smoke alone is enough to cause respiratory issues for thousands of people in Brazil and beyond. The pollution of rivers, the collapse of fishing industries, the destruction of farmlands? It’s a cascade of human suffering.

And that’s just the beginning. Climate change will accelerate, droughts will worsen, and food will become scarce. People will flee—millions of them—looking for somewhere they can live, somewhere that isn’t burning up, flooding, or drying out. It’s the perfect storm for a global refugee crisis.

Carlos Nobre, one of Brazil’s top climatologists, said it best: “If deforestation continues at the current pace, we are on the path to turning the Amazon into a savannah within decades.” You heard that right. A savannah. Not a rainforest. Not a lush, green paradise. Just dry grassland, stretching for miles. And once that happens? The Earth’s biodiversity will crumble. And your chances of survival? They drop right along with it.

The Point of No Return

Here’s the bottom line: The Amazon is reaching the point of no return. Once you cross that line, there’s no going back. The cycles that keep the forest alive will break down. The rains will stop, the trees will die, and the Amazon will collapse.

When that happens, the planet is going to unravel fast. Floods, droughts, food shortages, and wars over resources—they’re all coming if you don’t act now.

You think this is just some distant, abstract problem? No. It’s happening right now, in real-time. The Amazon is burning as we speak. And the longer you wait to act, the closer you get to that point of no return.

So, Earthling, I’m telling you straight: This is it. Your last wake-up call. The world might just end in fire, and it’s gonna happen way sooner than you think. It’s not just my trees or my rivers or my animals—it’s your world that’s on the line.

The time to act? It was yesterday. But today’s all you’ve got left. You better use it wisely.

Your final wake-up call, featuring the ominous countdown clock nearing zero as the last tree on Earth stands in the distance amidst a desolate, burning world.

Is it possible to pay for the lost BES services? Can you buy your way out of your jackpot?

Like some rich Texan, mega loaded, just bulging with cash, or some desperate government looking for ecosalvation, sooner or later you all gonna have to come begging to me to save your greddy gut gobbling life styles.

Can you pay someone to stop the exciting new hurricanes coming to some of the nicest homes and estates in the USA?

The flooding is inconvenient. If there was only some way I could pay someone to tame Mother Nature. What if we got the pastor at the church to get a big prayer circle going? 

Your thoughts and prayers are going to stop a hurricane when your thoughts and prayers are going to make a hurricane.

The irony of "thoughts and prayers" trying to stop a hurricane, while actually contributing to its creation. The tension between human hope and reality: the uncontrollable power of nature. 

I'd bet a lot of riches of my realms that you'd be willing to sacrifice your kiddies to appease my bad temper. If it was a ritual sacrifice, like in the good old days. You know, sacrificing virgins to keep the Volcano God satisfied. I won't go into the details.

So all you got to do is revive some of the old-school, old time religions, and get the BBQ ready. You'll come to enjoy the cultural experience of child sacrifice. 

It is horrifying, isn't it. Not a question. Just the truth of your history about such ways of making me feel okay with you. For all your sins, just throw the virgin in.

The truth is that Mother Nature told you that your sensory vibrations are mixed in with all the vibrational energy of the other creatures with you on your spaceship Earth.

The living world of me. All of it. Including the center of your planet spaceship. Yes, pilgrim. The center of the earth.

The surface world of living life, all of it, your biosphere, is all connected. It is a vibrational life force field of life. All the nature stuff on your planet. The animals you eat. The water you drink. The excretment you excrete.

The more you tune in and feel the vibrations, bring your awareness into play, get the flow going on, being with your roots, feel the reality of the presence of the earth --- the more you do that Simple Skill, the better you gonna get at doing it.

Just get so good at it, you is easy good to slip in and be with that. Just like that. The new language you are speaking is sensory. 

And being that way, getting natural, doesn't mean maybe you don't got no more problems that need solving. It don't mean you don't got to settle up with the random incoming consequences of actions, reactions, and compounding consequences, all of those made by other people living their lives.

And some of that is coming from the long dead of long ago. Their consequences are still in motion. Creating new mutant mixes of actions and consequences, even in your current now.

Your vibrations? You can try and curb your natural vibrations. When you notice they are revving up, getting close to the redline, yeah?, you maybe got a slim chance to just tap the brakes. 

Then what you gonna do? The truth of your vibration, squashed, diverted, tamped, halted, suppressed.

Is that good for you? Why don't you just go mental and follow the most primitive feeling you have in response to someone messing with you. Or not, even. Just you see someone and you don't like the look of them, right?

So why can't you just go and do the action that your most primitive self naturally feels to do? Your immediate reaction was to not like the look of the person. So, they are a threat to you. Or what?

The natural world has one mission. To be natural. And when you get in the way of this mission, and take it too far, speaking as a father, there ain't nuthing I ain't gonna do to make it alright.

Once you've done finished with your chance to push me around, get me to do what you want to do with me, all the ways you do, from your chemicals to your newly minted critters, the splicing thing you do. Oh, you know the entire list of stuff where you play with me.

Like electricity. Or fire. Extracting resources. Managing the economy. Setting policies. Looking for new market opportunities. Driving the consumer buying habit. 

Buying a cool new electric car. 

Whatever. All of it is playing me like I am some sort of dope dummy who can be pushed around whenever you want.

Like there is no end to the golden eggs.

Here is one goose swimming next to the golden eggs. Yeah, it is a symbol of natural resource exploitation. This highlights the overwhelming flow of consumer items and the unsustainable industrial practices.

Okay, so can you pay someone to make you a nice, new, fully functioning, natural, bioactive ecosystem? 

Sure, you can make some mock ecosystems. Put in a pond and do some 

How big do you want this ecosystem to be? Like, what is previous ecosystem do you want replaced?

You cannot buy a new ecosystem at the Home Hardware. Can't find it on eBay. Or Amazon. No private enterprise can build you a complete, fully functioning, ecosystem.

Well, well, well, it's time you heard it from me, Father Nature. Let me tell you about a working ecosystem. 

It’s not just a patch of green or a couple of critters. An ecosystem is a finely tuned machine made up of plants, animals, microorganisms, the soil underfoot, the water you drink, the air you breathe, and the weather you sometimes curse. 

Each part has its role, and trust me, when one part falters, the whole thing starts to wobble like a wheel with a busted spoke. 

The key to a thriving ecosystem? Balance. You’ve got predators keeping the prey in check, plants giving back oxygen, and fungi doing the dirty work of decomposing what’s dead. Everything is interconnected.

Now, as for size, an ecosystem can be as small as a pond in your backyard or as sprawling as the Amazon Rainforest, which stretches over 2.1 million square miles. 

That’s roughly the size of half of South America, mind you! 

But an ecosystem doesn’t have to be as big as the Amazon to be important. Take coral reefs—just small patches of underwater beauty. The Great Barrier Reef, for example, spans 133,000 square miles off Australia’s coast. Tiny, compared to a rainforest, but still crucial.

Unfortunately, we've lost plenty of ecosystems, and let me tell you, it’s not pretty. 

Mother Nature done told you already about the Aral Sea, once the fourth-largest lake in the world, shriveled down from 26,300 square miles to less than 10% of that size, located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. 

Human diversion of rivers for agriculture caused that collapse, and now, it’s a salty wasteland. 

Or how about the Amazon, a grand daddy of ecosystems? Deforestation and fires have reduced its size by about 17% since the 1970s. You lose more of that, and the whole rainforest could flip into a savannah.

Closer to now, the Sundarbans, the world’s largest tidal halophytic mangrove forest (6,000 square miles across India and Bangladesh), is shrinking due to rising sea levels and deforestation. 

It’s a critical habitat, home to the Bengal tiger, and believe me, that tiger ain't happy about his shrinking territory. 

And don’t get me started on the Antarctic ice ecosystem—about 5.4 million square miles of ice shelves, glaciers, and sea ice are disappearing faster than ever. 

That’s a slow-motion train wreck with no brakes.

The consequences of messing with my natural forces? You get more icecubes in your drinks.

But it ain’t all doom and gloom. There are still some ecosystems hanging on, and if folks get their heads right, they might even make it. 

Take the Yellowstone ecosystem in the U.S. Spanning around 22,000 square miles, it’s one of the few remaining large, nearly intact temperate-zone ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere. 

This place still has its wolves, bison, grizzlies, and elk. 

It ain’t perfect—there’s climate change and pollution creeping in—but it’s got a fighting chance if it’s properly managed and protected. 

That means keeping human activity in check, keeping development at bay, and making sure the critters that need space get it.

So, the difference between a goner like the Aral Sea and a hopeful like Yellowstone? It comes down to balance. 

The Aral lost its balance when humans tried to wring every drop out of it. 

Yellowstone still holds on because enough folks realized early on that if you leave an ecosystem to do its thing—mostly undisturbed—it can keep running smoothly for a long time. 

That’s the lesson, folks.

Oh, there is some good news.

Check this link:

https://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/good-news-2023


Under Siege: Battling Blazes and Criminals in Brazil's Amazon Fires

Table of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. The War on Two Fronts: Fire and Arsonists
  3. The Role of Environmental Crime in the Amazon's Destruction
  4. A Global Crisis: Similar Battles Across the World
  5. A Hope Under Siege: Can Brazil’s Efforts Make a Difference?
  6. Conclusion: The Fate of the Forests – A Global Catastrophe Unfolding

Summary

Brazil's Amazon is under fire—literally and metaphorically. What was once the largest and most vibrant rainforest on Earth is now at the center of a war. Firefighters and police are battling not just the flames that have engulfed swathes of the Amazon, but the arsonists and environmental criminals setting them. This year’s fire season has intensified to catastrophic levels due to a deadly mix of climate change, drought, and greed, leaving a post-apocalyptic landscape. This article takes a hard look at the complex fight to save the Amazon, weaving in examples from other regions where environmental destruction, greed, and criminality converge. The conclusion is stark: without a global reckoning, this fight may already be lost.

1. The War on Two Fronts: Fire and Arsonists

At a remote jungle camp in Rondônia, Brazil, firefighters huddle beneath their vinyl-coated military tents, surrounded by a scene reminiscent of Hiroshima after the atomic blast. Lt Col Victor Paulo Rodrigues de Souza grimly observes the barren land around him: “There’s no forest, nothing. It’s chaos.” What Souza’s team faces isn’t just an environmental disaster fueled by drought and heat—it's a battlefield in a guerrilla war where fire is both the enemy and the weapon.

For over 40 days, fires have raged in the Rubber Soldier Ecological Station, a supposed sanctuary for Brazil’s rainforests. However, the fires here are not purely natural disasters; many have been deliberately set by criminals looking to clear land for farming and illegal logging. Souza’s crew has discovered makeshift spike strips, felled trees blocking access to roads, and the tell-tale signs of gasoline containers—evidence of the arsonists who lay waste to the forest.

“It’s like guerrilla warfare,” Souza says. His team, armed with chainsaws, leaf blowers, and machetes, is in a desperate race against time to prevent further destruction, but the flames—and the criminal element—seem relentless.

2. The Role of Environmental Crime in the Amazon's Destruction

Behind the smoke lies a deeper, darker story: the exploitation of the Amazon for profit. Illegal loggers and land grabbers have long seen the Amazon as a lucrative resource to be plundered. They’ve cut and burned their way through swathes of protected forest to create farmlands, led by notorious criminals like Chaules Pozzebon. Once dubbed the "Amazon’s biggest deforester," Pozzebon’s reign of terror included controlling over 100 sawmills and employing armed gunmen to secure his illegal operations. Although imprisoned, he is now back on the streets after his sentence was mysteriously reduced.

The invaders have become so bold that the firefighting crews face the risk of physical assault. Defensive firing positions have been dug around the base to protect firefighters from attacks, and military equipment is deployed as if in a combat zone. Police and firefighters alike describe the battle as one where the lines between environmental crime and warfare blur.

Firefighter José Baldoíno standing amidst the charred remains of ancient Brazil nut trees, reflecting both the devastation and the determination of those fighting to save the forest.

3. A Global Crisis: Similar Battles Across the World

Brazil is not alone in its struggle. Across the globe, similar battles are being waged. In Cambodia, illegal logging has decimated the country's forests, with timber poachers acting with impunity despite government crackdowns. In Russia, vast tracts of Siberian wilderness burn each summer, with many fires deliberately set to mask illegal logging operations. In Indonesia, palm oil plantations have replaced ancient forests, often through the use of fire as a tool to clear land.

The Pantanal wetlands in Brazil, the Cerrado tropical savanna, and even areas as far south as São Paulo have experienced devastating blazes. In Canada and Portugal, record-breaking wildfires this year, fueled by El Niño and extreme heat, have added to the growing body of evidence that climate change is intensifying these destructive forces.

Each country tells a similar tale: climate change exacerbates natural disasters, but human greed often acts as the match that sets the world ablaze.

4. A Hope Under Siege: Can Brazil’s Efforts Make a Difference?

Since taking office in 2023, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has led a crackdown on deforestation, reversing the pro-business, anti-environment policies of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. Deforestation rates have plummeted, but the fires have risen—a sign that environmental criminals are lashing out in retaliation. According to climatologist Carlos Nobre, these criminals view Lula’s government, as well as other South American leaders committed to protecting the environment, as "wartime enemies."

Hundreds of brave firefighters, like José Baldoíno, continue to push forward despite the overwhelming odds. “It’s like walking into a cemetery,” Baldoíno says, standing amid the charred remains of ancient Brazil nut trees. Yet, even after weeks of relentless fire-fighting, his team’s determination has not faltered: “Our souls are crying out for a happy ending."

5. Conclusion: The Fate of the Forests – A Global Catastrophe Unfolding

The fires in Brazil’s Amazon are not just a regional problem—they are part of a global environmental catastrophe that is rapidly accelerating. From timber poaching in Cambodia to illegal logging in Russia and palm oil-driven destruction in Indonesia, the world’s forests are under siege from both climate change and human greed.

Without a radical change in how we address these intertwined crises, the forests—along with the irreplaceable biodiversity and climate stability they provide—will continue to vanish. The Amazon's fires are a stark warning, one we must heed if we hope to prevent the final chapters of Earth's story from being written in ash.

In the end, the words of the Bible may prove eerily prescient: the world could indeed end in fire. And at the current rate, that day may come far sooner than we dare to imagine.

Okay, great.
Fun stuff.

Now, here's this next part.
Read it and weep some more.

The Imminent Collapse: The Terrifying Consequences of the Amazon’s Destruction

The Amazon rainforest, often called the "lungs of the Earth," is rapidly transforming from a global carbon sink to a colossal emitter of CO₂—a shift with catastrophic implications for the entire planet. This forest, which has acted as a regulator of the world’s climate for millions of years, is on the brink of collapse. The destruction of its trees, the degradation of its ecosystems, and the displacement of indigenous peoples are pushing us toward an environmental tipping point, beyond which recovery may be impossible.

The Global Carbon Sink: From Savior to Polluter

The Amazon is vital to the Earth's climate stability. Historically, it has absorbed around 5% of the global carbon dioxide emitted by human activities. However, due to relentless deforestation, degradation, and fire, the Amazon is now emitting more CO₂ than it absorbs. This marks an unprecedented shift, one that threatens to exacerbate global warming at an accelerated pace.

A 2021 study published in Nature found that parts of the Amazon are now a net carbon emitter, largely due to the combustion of vast swaths of forest and the release of carbon from soil and decaying vegetation . As trees are felled, the carbon stored within them for decades or centuries is released into the atmosphere, pushing us further into the climate crisis.

Ecological Collapse: Soil Degradation and Erosion

Beyond its role in carbon sequestration, the Amazon provides essential biosphere ecosystem services (BES), including soil stabilization, nutrient cycling, and water regulation. However, after clear-cutting, the Amazon's nutrient-rich topsoil quickly becomes degraded. The thin layer of fertile soil—only capable of supporting lush vegetation because of the complex interactions within the rainforest ecosystem—cannot sustain agricultural or industrial activities for long.

Once the forest is removed, heavy rains cause severe erosion, washing away what little topsoil remains into the rivers. This erosion destroys the Amazon’s capacity to regenerate and leads to sedimentation in waterways. As this soil reaches major rivers like the Amazon River, it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, where it disrupts aquatic ecosystems, destroys fish stocks, and contributes to oceanic pollution .

This loss is not just environmental but economic. The nutrient depletion of soils after deforestation results in barren landscapes that fail to support sustainable farming, leading to the abandonment of deforested land after only a few years. The economic burden of reviving such land—if revival is even possible—becomes immense, further driving migration, unemployment, and conflict over remaining fertile areas.

The Death of Indigenous Cultures and People

The destruction of the Amazon is also leading to the systematic annihilation of indigenous cultures. The Amazon is home to over 400 indigenous groups, each with a unique understanding of the forest’s ecological balance. Their displacement due to illegal logging, fires, and mining operations represents not just the loss of human life but the erasure of irreplaceable knowledge systems that have sustained the forest for millennia.

These communities are often at the front lines, defending the forest from illegal activities. Their struggle is one of survival, as their lands are stolen, and their resources destroyed. Without the Amazon, indigenous people face an existential crisis—their food systems, cultures, and very lives are inextricably linked to the health of the forest.

The Economic Cost of Losing Amazon's Ecosystem Services

The Amazon generates rainfall patterns not only within South America but far beyond its borders, influencing global weather systems. The rainforest pumps immense quantities of water vapor into the atmosphere, stabilizing temperatures and contributing to rainfall. The destruction of this system will lead to worsening droughts across the region, affecting agricultural productivity, energy generation (especially hydroelectric power), and urban water supplies in countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

The loss of the Amazon’s BES services, which include water purification, climate regulation, and biodiversity support, would cost billions annually. The food, water, and materials that come from this ecosystem, along with the untapped potential of its biodiversity (such as future medical treatments), will be lost forever. Without the Amazon, we lose essential tools in the fight against climate change and a vast economic engine that sustains entire regions.

A recent World Bank report estimated that deforestation costs Brazil and its neighbors billions of dollars annually in lost productivity, from agriculture to fisheries . The collapse of this system could lead to cascading failures in the food supply chain, infrastructure damage from extreme weather, and an unmitigated refugee crisis as people flee drought-stricken regions.

Can We Revive the Clear-Cut Amazon?

Reviving a clear-cut Amazon is an almost insurmountable task. The process of reforestation is slow and labor-intensive. Newly planted trees struggle to survive without the interconnected biodiversity that makes the Amazon function. The soils, degraded by erosion and nutrient loss, are incapable of supporting the rapid regrowth of a healthy rainforest ecosystem. The complex symbiosis between trees, animals, insects, and microorganisms has been irreparably damaged in many places.

While small-scale restoration efforts exist, such as agroforestry and rewilding, these projects are often limited in scope and cannot match the scale of destruction being wrought upon the forest daily. Even the best-case scenario would take centuries to bring the Amazon back to anything resembling its former glory.

Human and Planetary Costs

The destruction of the Amazon directly threatens human health. The massive amounts of smoke from the fires have already caused respiratory problems for thousands of people in Brazil and neighboring countries. Pollution in rivers, driven by sedimentation and runoff from deforested areas, poisons water supplies and leads to the collapse of fishing industries, further compounding economic losses.

As Carlos Nobre, one of Brazil’s leading climatologists, warned, "If deforestation continues at the current pace, we are on the path to turning the Amazon into a savannah within decades." This would mean the end of one of Earth's most biodiverse ecosystems .

In stark terms, the loss of the Amazon would not just be a tragedy for Brazil or South America—it would be a death sentence for the planet. Without its forests, the Earth will become hotter, more arid, and more prone to climate extremes. The impacts will be felt globally—from agricultural losses in Europe and North America to mass migrations caused by drought and hunger in the Global South.

The Point of No Return

The Amazon is approaching the "point of no return"—a state where the forest can no longer sustain itself due to a loss of biodiversity, altered water cycles, and ongoing destruction. The collapse of the Amazon would represent the beginning of a planetary unraveling.

If the world does not act now, this will be our legacy: a scorched, barren planet, deprived of the life-giving resources that have sustained humanity for millennia. The fires we are witnessing today are not just a local issue—they are a warning that our entire way of life is under threat. We are running out of time.

In the words of José Baldoíno, a firefighter fighting to save what remains of the Amazon: "It says in the Bible that the world will end in fire—and what we’re witnessing today isn’t far off the scriptures."


References for Report on Amazon Destruction and Global Impacts

  1. Global Carbon Sink to Carbon Emitter:

    • Gatti, L. V., Basso, L. S., Miller, J. B., et al. (2021). "Amazonia as a carbon source linked to deforestation and climate change." Nature, 595, 388–393. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03629-6.
      • This study explains how parts of the Amazon are now emitting more CO₂ than they absorb due to deforestation and forest degradation.

  2. Soil Degradation, Erosion, and River Pollution:

    • Brando, P. M., Balch, J. K., Nepstad, D. C., et al. (2014). "Abrupt increases in Amazonian tree mortality due to drought-fire interactions." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(17), 6347–6352. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1305499111.
      • Discusses how deforestation and fire damage affect soil quality and ecosystem recovery in the Amazon.
    • Fearnside, P. M. (2005). "Deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia: History, Rates, and Consequences." Conservation Biology, 19(3), 680-688. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2005.00697.x.
      • Explains how deforestation leads to soil degradation and waterway pollution, contributing to broader environmental damage.

  3. Economic Cost of Loss of BES Services:

    • World Bank. (2020). "The Economic Case for Nature: A Global Earth-Economy Model to Assess Development Policy Pathways." World Bank Group. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/35882.
      • This report assesses the global economic costs of losing ecosystem services provided by natural environments like the Amazon.
    • Costanza, R., de Groot, R., Braat, L., et al. (2014). "Changes in the global value of ecosystem services." Global Environmental Change, 26, 152-158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.04.002.
      • Examines the economic value of ecosystem services, including climate regulation, water purification, and biodiversity.

  4. Indigenous Displacement and Loss of Knowledge:

    • Nepstad, D., Schwartzman, S., Bamberger, B., et al. (2006). "Inhibition of Amazon Deforestation and Fire by Parks and Indigenous Lands." Conservation Biology, 20(1), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00351.x.
      • Highlights the role indigenous territories play in forest preservation and how deforestation directly threatens their survival.
    • Walker, W., Baccini, A., Schwartzman, S., et al. (2014). "Forest carbon in Amazonia: The unrecognized contribution of indigenous territories and protected natural areas." Carbon Management, 5(5-6), 479-485. https://doi.org/10.1080/17583004.2014.990680.
      • Discusses how deforestation is displacing indigenous peoples and destroying their cultural and ecological knowledge.

  5. Can the Amazon Be Revived?:

    • Barlow, J., Berenguer, E., Carmenta, R., & França, F. (2020). "Clarifying Amazonia's burning crisis." Global Change Biology, 26(2), 319-321. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14872.
      • Explores the challenges of restoring clear-cut areas in the Amazon and how difficult it is to regenerate complex ecosystems.
    • Chazdon, R. L. (2008). "Beyond Deforestation: Restoring Forests and Ecosystem Services on Degraded Lands." Science, 320(5882), 1458-1460. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1155365.
      • Discusses the potential for forest recovery in degraded areas and the conditions necessary for successful reforestation efforts.

  6. Climate Change and Forest Fires:

    • Aragão, L. E. O. C., Anderson, L. O., Fonseca, M. G., et al. (2018). "21st Century Drought-Related Fires Counteract the Decline of Amazon Deforestation Carbon Emissions." Nature Communications, 9(1), 536. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02771-y.
      • This article details how droughts, exacerbated by climate change, are increasing fire frequency and reducing the Amazon’s ability to function as a carbon sink.

  7. Amazon Rainforest's Tipping Point:

    • Lovejoy, T. E., & Nobre, C. (2019). "Amazon Tipping Point: Last Chance for Action." Science Advances, 5(12), eaba2949. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aba2949.
      • This paper emphasizes how deforestation and climate change are pushing the Amazon toward a tipping point, beyond which it may transform into a savannah-like ecosystem.

These references support the urgent argument that the Amazon’s collapse would not only devastate the region's biodiversity but also have dire global consequences, both environmentally and economically.

The Amazon in Crisis: Forest Loss Threatens the Region and the Planet
worldwildlife.org
stories

The Imminent Collapse: The Terrifying Consequences of the Amazon’s Destruction

The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," is rapidly transforming from a global carbon sink to a significant emitter of CO₂—a shift with catastrophic implications for the entire planet. This forest, which has acted as a regulator of the world’s climate for millions of years, is on the brink of collapse. The destruction of its trees, the degradation of its ecosystems, and the displacement of indigenous peoples are pushing us toward an environmental tipping point, beyond which recovery may be impossible.

The Global Carbon Sink: From Savior to Polluter

The Amazon has historically absorbed around 5% of global carbon dioxide emissions. However, due to relentless deforestation, degradation, and fires, significant portions of the Amazon now emit more CO₂ than they absorb (

BBC
). This transformation threatens to accelerate global warming, as the forest releases vast amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere.

Ecological Collapse: Soil Degradation and Erosion

Beyond its role in carbon sequestration, the Amazon provides essential ecosystem services, including soil stabilization, nutrient cycling, and water regulation. Deforestation leads to soil erosion, diminishing land fertility and causing sedimentation in waterways (

ArcGIS StoryMaps
). This degradation not only hampers the forest's regenerative capacity but also disrupts aquatic ecosystems as eroded soils enter rivers and, eventually, the ocean.

The Death of Indigenous Cultures and People

The Amazon is home to over 400 indigenous groups, each with a unique understanding of the forest’s ecological balance. Deforestation and environmental degradation have displaced many indigenous communities, threatening their traditional ways of life and the invaluable knowledge they possess (

OHCHR
).

The Economic Cost of Losing Amazon's Ecosystem Services

The Amazon's ecosystem services, such as water regulation and carbon sequestration, are vital to the global economy. Deforestation disrupts these services, leading to potential losses in agricultural productivity, energy generation, and water availability. A World Bank report estimated that deforestation could cost Brazil up to $317 billion per year in losses (

Mongabay
).

Can We Revive the Clear-Cut Amazon?

Reviving a clear-cut Amazon is an arduous task. While secondary forests can regenerate over time, the process is slow, and the resulting ecosystems may not fully replicate the complexity and biodiversity of primary forests (

Mongabay
).

Human and Planetary Costs

The destruction of the Amazon directly threatens human health through increased respiratory problems from smoke and pollution. Additionally, the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services has far-reaching implications for global food security, water resources, and climate stability.

The Point of No Return

The Amazon is approaching a tipping point, beyond which it may not be able to recover. Scientists warn that continued deforestation and degradation could lead to a large-scale forest dieback, resulting in dramatic losses of ecosystem services and benefits (

VoxDev
).

In stark terms, the loss of the Amazon would not just be a tragedy for Brazil or South America—it would be a death sentence for the planet. Without its forests, the Earth will become hotter, more arid, and more prone to climate extremes. The impacts will be felt globally—from agricultural losses in Europe and North America to mass migrations caused by drought and hunger in the Global South.

If the world does not act now, this will be our legacy: a scorched, barren planet, deprived of the life-giving resources that have sustained humanity for millennia. The fires we are witnessing today are not just a local issue—they are a warning that our entire way of life is under threat. We are running out of time.


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