I predict that in 50 years or so, the way we use plastics today—from clothing to cosmetics to packaging—will be viewed the same way we now think of DDT or freon
@ehashman i think asbestos would be a more accurate comparison
@ehashman
i hope so
(alternative some kinda dystopia: enclaves of rich, massive toxic slums for others)
@ehashman Oh, you nutty optimists, believing there will be a habitable planet in 50 years!
@ajdunevent it's been through worse
@ajdunevent furthermore: https://twitter.com/sammymarie/status/1412085891321896964
We have a responsibility to heal this place. Climate fatalism will only drive us towards inaction
@ehashman Point taken! I'll rethink jokes like that in the future.
@ehashman Um, that wasn't supposed to sound so defensive. I genuinely agree and hadn't considered the consequences of that sort of dismissive humor.
@ajdunevent no worries :)
@ehashman if this would be a bet, what are the odds you're willing to take?
@dpwiz I think the odds are good, but it will take work. https://toot.cat/@ehashman/106598281859101349
@ehashman BTW, what do you mean by "the way"?
Personally, I don't think plastic is on the same shelf as DDT. It is versatile, cheap and durable. And lifted quite a few people out of outright abysmal living conditions. It's the single-use/disposable consumerist mentality that's putting shit tons of plastic waste out in the world.
My main hangup on oil divestment used to be that plastics were so ubiquitous and no one had an actual plan to stop using *those,* so clearly the anti-oil advocates weren't actually committed or serious
But plastics are just as harmful to the planet as burning fossil fuels.