Empiricism

I'm a biologist that is dedicated to promoting & aiming to live in an ecologically sustainable civilization. I also read the science of psychology (having studied psychology for a MSc degree)

I'm the admin on the sustainability.masto.host instance. The instance to promote practices that maintain ecological balance & social well-being while meeting present and future needs.

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npub1jre92hhj7rm50th9kthxwkletzl3equnv74cmjp4pqgcvlwz5ufqkq57hk

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empiricism_at_sustainability.masto.host@mostr.pub

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Last Notes

2023-10-08 23:19:47

#UK #HousingCrisis
I live in a popular tourist area where approx 50% of houses are holiday cottages. During winter, many of these houses remain empty for weeks on end
The "landlords" don't typically clean these holiday cottages, holiday cottage cleaners do (& pay a majority of their income to pay the rent on their own homes)
There are many solutions to mitigate the housing crisis, #capitalism isn't one of them
The Housing Crisis is Even Worse Than You Think https://youtu.be/1wkfe402j9k?si=hfLeoBfRprX8LX5M
#economy

2023-09-27 20:03:06

You may have noticed that taking action, or even talking about, declining wildlife populations isn't part of many people's to-do lists.
So,
1. Spread the word.
2. Take action.
3. Ignore the idiots that say being alarmed about declining #insects is "alarmist".
The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens: Nick Haddad: "Insects - A Silent #Extinction”
Episode webpage: https://thegreatsimplification.libsyn.com/nick-haddad-insects-a-silent-extinction
Media file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thegreatsimplification/TGS90_NickHaddad.mp3?dest-id=3235040
#wildlife #insect apocalypse

2023-09-22 09:40:29

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@npub1pu6…u9fd
So many social & environmental outcomes would be better if it weren't for these social media parasites

2023-09-13 14:35:31

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@npub1hpc…hjn3
I didn't have the characters to be more detailed.
First, this isn't a criticism. It's science.
The incorrect premise was "pretty much the only kind of intelligence I have is verbal"
If we considered intelligence more broadly, verbal intelligence is a small fraction of general intelligence.
However, you did write "Yet I absolutely hate the postmodern idea that everything is a text"
So, the science backs up your dislike of this postmodernist ideology.

2023-09-13 14:23:42

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@npub1hpc…hjn3
The premise is not correct (though this is the knowledge of the #science of psychology... so)
Humans also have implicit intelligence. What is termed non-declarative memory (e.g., learning that we can't express verbally)
In folk psychology ("everyday" language) non-declarative memory is part of the area of intelligence people call "muscle memory". Though muscle cells are not part of the non-declarative
I just though people might be interested in knowing, why they know things.

2023-09-10 17:03:11

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@npub1r47…wytr
#ClimateHeating is the driver of #ClimateChange (most folk where l live don't general discuss the subject in any detail)
"heating" & "change" are averages.
So, it's accurate to say that climate heating IS the cause ("responsible") of more hot & hotter days (an increase in frequency & intensity)
It's about evidence & probability.
Would have this year's total amount of heat records, flash floods, wildfires, etc, occurred if humans activities had not emmited greenhouse gases?

2023-09-06 21:18:54

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@npub1v83…y0jx @npub1wpj…7m4z
There certainly are folk who can't handle the facts about #ClimateChange. I'm not referring to either honest, but incorrect deniers, or the dishonest charlatans called industry bosses, I'm referring to those folk who know climate change is a "problem", but, due to their rather wish-based way of believing, they trust the wrong people.
For example, the Rishi Sunaks & collaborators that give smiley speeches on British TV. Folk want to trust in those greenwashing clowns.

2023-08-31 13:37:04

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@npub139m…6cf9 @npub109x…90xs
The lying Tories do put environmental charities in a difficult socioeconomic & sociopolitical situation.
On the one hand, the Tories use fake "promises" to infer that they're motivated to sustain what's left of Britain's wildlife habitats (the greenwash), but their primary business policies keep resulting in actions that further harm wildlife
The #RSPB was basing their "lairs" accusation on the evidence. But, it's a political "minefield" because the Tories are liars

2023-08-31 12:43:13

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@npub139m…6cf9 @npub109x…90xs
They're complete charlatans (AKA complete investment bankers) that generally only support industries, that "play" political "games" that are costing wildlife & people their lives.
Did the gaslighting crooks threaten the #RSPB's charity status?
https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/our-mission/

2023-08-24 15:48:12

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@npub1lzz…jhl3
Cults are never a good sign! From the "outside", some aspects of USA politics, business & celebrity do look like cults.
However, the USA is no exception in "playing" at 'follow thy cult leader'.
That is the price of belief (a mistaken trust).
In the UK, we have the cults of follow thy king, rich politicians, greenwashing industries, etc.
I say "best wishers", but, how is that way of (common) thinking working out?

2023-08-21 19:29:59

Lab "rats"?
Isn't it odd how industries place "Hazardous to the Environment" labels on products, yet sell them anyway?
The fossil fuel industries do place "Hazardous to the Environment" pictograms on their Tank Trucks.
But, for some odd (greenwash) reason, the fossil fuel & car industries have "forgotten" to place the "Hazardous to Humans & the Environment" pictograms on their diesel, petrol ("gas") pumps & next to combustion-engined vehicles exhaust pipes.
#AirPollution #industry #climate
https://cdn.masto.host/sustainabilitymastohost/media_attachments/files/110/929/074/056/416/183/original/38e7bc94878729a6.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/sustainabilitymastohost/media_attachments/files/110/929/091/287/399/206/original/d2c29436612ddf36.jpg

2023-08-21 17:48:14

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@npub1y98…gke7
That's the dilemma. In an ideal democracy, the ecologically, technologically & caring informed majority would vote for a government that helped the society develop sustainably (climate-friendly solutions)
But, generally, we have institutions (e.g., governments, businesses) that are financially supporting one another & are generally promoting the ideas that support their lifestyles (ruled by the *rich for the rich. AKA a #plutocracy)
*high resource-demanding lifestyles
#climate

2023-08-21 10:54:08

#ClimateDiary #EVs facts
I own an electric (2014) Nissan Leaf
Using the local diesel buses for work would be far more time-consuming (Although, l do bicycle if practical)
Sourcing raw materials (mining) & manufacturing the Car caused ecological degradation & emitted CO2 & CH 4
But, at least the car doesn't have a friggin exhaust pipe
I typically charge the car on a home "renewable" energy tariff
But, using my car requires the use of eco-unsustainable roads
I don't want a car!
#climate

2023-08-20 08:38:27

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@npub1xak…udwf @npub1ecj…fchy
By "these peoples" l assume that's a reference to meat industry lobbyists? Or simply folk that have the premise of "l like eating meat", that simply choose to believe in any narrative that confirms their own bias (AKA a confirmation bias)
The nuanced, evidence-based theory is that in rich industrialised countries could end the meat & dairy industry (today), as there are many plant & fungi (healthy) protein products available
& all countries eventually

2023-08-20 00:14:38

Evidently, you do "care" about something or you would not have replied. So, do you care about children? Or perhaps your mother or father? Or God?

2023-08-17 11:15:48

The phrase "It's complicated" is used by industry lobbyists to intentionally try & disinform people. To complicate matters further, "it's complicated" can also mean that the system that scientists are studying is, well, complex.
But, it's not that complicated to understand that locally grown vegetables & fruits, especially when those veggies & fruits are grown using the methods of #agroecology, are a #sustainable way to produce #food. But, #flying avocados half way around the planet isn't.

2023-08-17 04:37:17

#ClimateAction
Reducing meat consumption is nearly always better, to reduce your #carbon footprint (therefore, no meat is even better)
Most of our #food emissions come from processes on the farm, or from land use change. https://ourworldindata.org/less-meat-or-sustainable-meat
One of the best choices an individual can make to mitigate #ClimateChange is to not buy animal part products #EndTheMeatIndustry
Buying #meat is funding one of the most ecologically degrading, polluting, cruel & #greenwashing industries on the planet
https://cdn.masto.host/sustainabilitymastohost/media_attachments/files/110/907/827/419/390/043/original/df0315e082675cdc.png

2023-08-15 03:19:45

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@npub1zyl…t54n
As Greta Thunburg has shown, in the context of the future, it would be better to listen to the younger generations voice - because they have more to lose if adults keep screwing their future up.
The youngsters are the future. Not the crusty billionaires.

2023-08-15 03:08:43

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@npub1rc6…g7hx
"The real estate market is not immune to the impacts of climate change"
That will prove to be the understatement of the century (but I get your informal tone)
"more than half of US homeowners are now hesitant to move to areas prone to extreme weather events associated with climate change"
I've heard that some billionaires have constructed climate bunkers. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/sep/04/super-rich-prepper-bunkers-apocalypse-survival-richest-rushkoff
Now, if that's not evidence of compete disregard (selfish) for your fellow human I don't know what is.

2023-08-15 02:08:14

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@npub1rc6…g7hx
However, that data doesn't represent how, for example, the UK imports lots of products from China. Therefore, essentially, the UK has exported its coal burning to other countries that use the electricity from coal-fired power stations to manufacture products that are then shipped (using diesel fuel) to the UK, etc.
FYI, the UK government wants to open a new coal mine in England, Whitehaven.

2023-08-14 12:14:14

If we had the political & public will, we could easily end the meat industries in rich industrialised countries! Ending the #meat & dairy industries would end the ecological degradation caused by grazing farm animals. Ending the meat industry would massively reduce methane & carbon dioxide emissions (plus improve water quality)
There are multitudes of similarly priced plant & fungi based alternatives to meat & leather. The only thing preventing us from dealing with #ClimateChange is #politics

2023-08-13 11:45:14

#PolyCrisis #EcologicalCrisis
#ClimateCrisis
Map of Soil Degradation in the World
An estimated 75% of the Earth’s land surface has been degraded through human activities, negatively impacting the well-being of at least 3.2 billion people, pushing the planet towards a sixth mass species #extinction event
There are known solutions (that work) to mitigate soil degradation
https://www.soilassociation.org/news/
But, evidently, many cultures, their business leaders & political parties, are causing the crisis
https://cdn.masto.host/sustainabilitymastohost/media_attachments/files/110/882/135/298/467/067/original/333882d6e7bca3f4.webp

2023-08-12 08:59:25

The #science of what action has to happen to solve #ClimateChange
Quickly reducing anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GGE)
Urgently:
1. End the burning of carbon based fuels (wood, coal, gas, crude oil derivatives such as kerosene, diesel & petrol) as burning carbon emits harmful (AKA toxic) air pollution.
2. A global ecological restoration project (#rewilding ) will sequester historic, present & future GGE & massively reduce the methane emissions caused by grazing farm animals.

2023-08-08 17:22:19

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@npub1qzc…yetl
On the subject of vast amounts of water, the ocean can be thought of as a massive planetary radiator. Historically, the ocean has taken in much of the atmospheric heat caused by global heating (a heat sink), however, once that condition "flips" (heat emitter), boom, let's say bye bye to "normal" (& new "normals"). The same is correct regarding the ocean absorbing CO2 (sink to emitter).
That's an overly simplified version. So atmospheric scientists can confirm, or not.

2023-08-06 01:10:06

#ClimateCrisis
Have we finally broken our favorite planet?
The #FossilFuel lobbyist governments are here to help (themselves), not by phasing out oil, gas & coal, no, that would make too much sense, but by planning on a #COP31 #climate charade where most of the world leaders talk BS & moral grandstand (AKA gaslighting), say inspirational rhetoric, then do just about f__k all to fix the problem. https://youtu.be/YBjyxA-wYS4
Welcome to the post-truth era of corrupt & or half-witted world leaders

2023-08-05 22:31:03

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@npub1hvq…jfwx @npub15an…thlk
It's gaslighting (opposite of the truth) to suggest that the climate scientists were or are the problem. #Climate scientists clearly explained & predicted the climate crisis.
However, even if they'd use layperson language & said, for example, "stop filling up your vehicles with fossil fuels or very bad things will happen", the fossil fuel lobbyists would have still gaslighted the scientifically illiterate public.
The public trust the wrong people.

2023-08-02 07:05:56

Risha Sunak is mistaken about oil.
Even if we give Mr Sunak the benefit of the doubt, that would mean he's only a misinformed business person who mistakenly believes, to quote "it's the right thing do do", to lock in decades more greenhouse gas emissions.
We need to consider that Mr Sunak may only be a rich successful business person, who thinks he's right (success gone to his head). And that the Fossil Fuel Industries are using him because he is a easy "mark" #money
#climate #politics
https://cdn.masto.host/sustainabilitymastohost/media_attachments/files/110/818/751/642/148/268/original/02d246b4111156b6.webp

2023-07-27 18:29:14

#intro
I think about how to communicate concerning environmental scientific evidence, such as #pollution , #ClimateChange & biodiversity loss to laypeople that often don't want to think about their ecodegrading activities.
l study human #psychology considering how natural selection developed environmental adaptations, some of which in our technologically driven societies, are now maladaptive due to causing negative effects on the individual & biosphere.
I also reflect on #consciousness & #music

2023-07-16 21:31:26

What is Conservation Biology? https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15231739
Conserving biology, or more broadly biodiversity is the aim of taking measures that conservation biologists hope will sustain #nature So, since nature is important, so are the scientific disciplines that aim to conserve &, where necessary, restore an area to a more biologically diverse area of land (AKA a wildlife habitat)
Why it matters to sustain wildlife habitats? because they are full of life! 🦋 🌳 🐿️ without them, we won't matter

2023-07-16 15:49:14

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@npub1yln…e2vv @npub1d02…emgm
Let's say a business owner decides to value the company & then sell the shares (equally) only to the employees of that company. With the aim that eventually the means of production are owned by the workers (AKA self-employed).
Now, everyone in the company, no matter their employment role, has a vote on how the company is structured (an in-house democracy).
Regardless of how people will vote, that company is now a democratic organization.
Is that capitalism?

2023-07-16 11:56:02

#ClimateChange
To quote #GretaThunberg "Eventually the public pressure was too much, you had the world’s eyes on you. So you started to act. Not acting as in taking #climate action. But acting as in roleplaying. Playing politics, playing with words, playing with our future" https://gretathunberg.medium.com/the-show-is-over-66e03dd38efa
#psychology #politics #economics #business #money #disinformation #corruption #plutocracy #news

2023-07-12 19:15:45

#ClimateChanging #psychology
When was the last time you heard any adult say "l am a liar!".
? who the frig is spreading all the #greenwash then? (Rhetorical) A % of people that say they're not liars, are habituated sociopathological liars.
Some people only value "honesty" when they perceive that the truth aligns with their personal agendas. That means they regularly lie when the truth, or evidence, doesn't align with their personal agenda.
They don't have personal integrity #temperament

2023-07-10 15:59:31

Having access to green spaces is a basic human right, even if rich land owners don't want the public to access their large estates - land that years of crony capitalism has privatised for the privileged rich minority.
Minister ‘gave Parliament false answer’ about landowner lobbying
Exclusive: Defra minister Richard Benyon lies.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/lord-richard-benyon-false-answer-parliament-landowner-lobbying-rights-of-way/
#CronyCapitalism #elitism #corruption
#CommonGood #land #health #RightToRoam #UK #footpath #walking #nature #wildlife

2023-07-09 17:35:52

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@npub1hpc…hjn3
Organisations are populations of people. If the collective desires of a specific & relatively influential organisation, such as the fossil fuel industries et al., are opposing ecologically sustainable development due to their monetary agendas, the desires of a minority, that are, for example, not greenwashed, don't translate into sustainable policies.
Corrupt private organisations (AKA industries) have been spreading climate disinformation for decades.

2023-07-09 16:15:26

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@npub1hpc…hjn3
However, within the context of mitigating human caused #climateChange (ecological degradation), many people may say they "want it", as that sounds virtuous. And yet, many people, for example, in industries or politics want to continue propping up ecologically degrading activities (& use greenwash)
Sure, people want to mitigate climate change if the perceived change is convenient, for example, buying an electric car. But, that's just more ecological degradation.
@npub1hpc…hjn3

2023-07-03 01:46:54

The #Sustainability Mastodon server is for people that are interested in reversing the trend of Human activities that are heating up the Planet's atmosphere & causing a 6th mass #extinction event. https://sustainability.masto.host/
The image visually represents the data on human-caused global warming & #UK biodiversity loss between 1970 to 2018.
Data: LPI 2022. Living Planet Index database; DEFRA UK & UK Biodiversity Indicators https://biodiversitystripes.info/global
#climate
#ShowYourStripes #BiodiversityStripes
https://cdn.masto.host/sustainabilitymastohost/media_attachments/files/110/647/521/769/451/204/original/6c9e81e903aeeccc.png

2023-06-29 23:22:23

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@npub1c9e…zhes
7. Requiring more resources & power - the opposite direction to mitigate climate change.

2023-06-26 12:47:28

Searching to follow scientists that have studied one or more of these subjects.
#agroecology
#climatology
#conservationBiology
#materials
#MarineEcology
Also, people that have developed a relatively low ecological impact lifestyle (e.g., obviously not flying on Jets or eating red meat)
Plus engineers that have experience in renewable energy #technology
Please "favorite" this toot if your Mastodon profile generally fits one or more of these descriptions or boosts for a wider reach.
ThX

2023-06-26 11:58:20

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like.
Imagine if all mining stopped so as to save #nature.
There are billions of bicycles already in circulation.
We can have a 100% repairing, sharing, trading & recycling bicycle economy. AKA a #circularEconomy
A circular & sharing bicycle #economy would virtually end the practice of mining & if billions of people switched to public transport & cycling, reduce a vast amount of carbon emissions. https://dutchcycling.nl/
#climate

2023-06-24 10:22:26

#introduction #sustainability #science #fediverse #mastodon #Instance
https://sustainability.masto.host/
A Mastodon Instance for people that are dedicated to ecological sustainability.
The Sustainability Instance may be of interest to people that are knowledgeable about one or more scientific subjects and are also dedicated to ecological sustainability. Plus people in general that would like to learn more about living a sustainable lifestyle in a sustainable civilisation.
#ClimateAction
https://cdn.masto.host/sustainabilitymastohost/media_attachments/files/110/596/748/690/644/773/original/b448d669cdbbb02d.png

2023-06-21 13:34:09

#sustainability #climate #science #ecology #psychology
New instance
sustainability.masto.host https://mastodonservers.net/server/1759
A #Mastodon instance for people that are dedicated to sustainability. The instance to promote practices that maintain ecological balance & social well-being while meeting present and future needs.
#futuregen #AgroEcology