Comments on: Kangaroo-ifying Cows to Fight Global Warming http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/ Quirky, funny, and surprising science news from the edge of the known universe. Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:08:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Reality Check: Climate Change | Reality Base | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1418 Reality Check: Climate Change | Reality Base | Discover Magazine Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:08:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1418 [...] methane emitters have focused on its biggest source: livestock burps. Luckily, there’s research in the works to, er, rectify the [...] […] methane emitters have focused on its biggest source: livestock burps. Luckily, there’s research in the works to, er, rectify the […]

]]> By: Jennifer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1412 Jennifer Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:44:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1412 We do have too many people and getting to a zero population growth does not mean no one else would be born, but it does mean being responsible about the amount of births. And while I agree w/ the beginning of 'too right's comment' the end has lost a little common sense. You can't blame a person for being born...they had no say in this, now all that person can do is whatever they can to make a positive impact on the world and for the Sri Lankan woman...the 9 children knowingly brought into a starving situation is the problem. We do have too many people and getting to a zero population growth does not mean no one else would be born, but it does mean being responsible about the amount of births. And while I agree w/ the beginning of ‘too right’s comment’ the end has lost a little common sense. You can’t blame a person for being born…they had no say in this, now all that person can do is whatever they can to make a positive impact on the world and for the Sri Lankan woman…the 9 children knowingly brought into a starving situation is the problem.

]]> By: Anonymous User http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1411 Anonymous User Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:14:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1411 I agree ceasing to have babies would be a good plan. If you have any ideas to discourage human reproduction, let me know. Starvation, pollution and lack of drinkable water and diminished quality of life don't seem to be stopping us as a species, so I don't know what would. presumably, you're a person, so you're part of the problem too, just as much as the ninth baby born to a starving Sri Lankan woman. I agree ceasing to have babies would be a good plan. If you have any ideas to discourage human reproduction, let me know. Starvation, pollution and lack of drinkable water and diminished quality of life don’t seem to be stopping us as a species, so I don’t know what would. presumably, you’re a person, so you’re part of the problem too, just as much as the ninth baby born to a starving Sri Lankan woman.

]]> By: Dan Banks http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1410 Dan Banks Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:52:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1410 The real problem is that there are too damn many people. The best solution is to quit having so many babies. It's time for folks to develop some personal responsibility and stop being so egotistical in thinking that their genes should be used to populate the world. The real problem is that there are too damn many people. The best solution is to quit having so many babies. It’s time for folks to develop some personal responsibility and stop being so egotistical in thinking that their genes should be used to populate the world.

]]> By: Jennifer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1407 Jennifer Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:09:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1407 I know we need to do something, but history has shown so many times that bringing in a foreign animal (or plant) to rid ourselves of some indigenous animal (or plant) causes unforeseen problems that can be more devastating than the initial problem. (Look into the plant and animal life of Hawaii for example) This is one of the things I am trying to remind us of and then we have the idea we need to stop...which is our grandiose delusion that we are gods of this planet. Animals deserve to live a life without scientific bombardment when it does not better their life (like fixing a broken leg for example)...and truly we don't know what it might do. What if it wipes out the cows? Then where would we be? I do believe that we are omnivores and evolution designed us this way, but the havoc we cause before we kill an animal to eat it is UN-natural...this is one thing we need to change. I just hope that someday mankind could learn to be a part of nature again instead of always trying to seperate ourselves. I do have hope and I do believe science and self-responsibility are keys. If both are equaled with compassion for the Earth and ALL living things. I know we need to do something, but history has shown so many times that bringing in a foreign animal (or plant) to rid ourselves of some indigenous animal (or plant) causes unforeseen problems that can be more devastating than the initial problem. (Look into the plant and animal life of Hawaii for example) This is one of the things I am trying to remind us of and then we have the idea we need to stop…which is our grandiose delusion that we are gods of this planet. Animals deserve to live a life without scientific bombardment when it does not better their life (like fixing a broken leg for example)…and truly we don’t know what it might do. What if it wipes out the cows? Then where would we be? I do believe that we are omnivores and evolution designed us this way, but the havoc we cause before we kill an animal to eat it is UN-natural…this is one thing we need to change.
I just hope that someday mankind could learn to be a part of nature again instead of always trying to seperate ourselves. I do have hope and I do believe science and self-responsibility are keys. If both are equaled with compassion for the Earth and ALL living things.

]]> By: Mike http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1409 Mike Tue, 25 Dec 2007 09:07:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1409 Wouldn't a simpler solution would be to stop eating beef and start munching on Skippy? Wouldn’t a simpler solution would be to stop eating beef and start munching on Skippy?

]]> By: Dylan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1408 Dylan Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:21:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1408 I wonder how many more cows are in the world because of our meat consumption, rather than if they lived only in the wild. Probably a good amount. I think I can see how we screwed this one up... I wonder how many more cows are in the world because of our meat consumption, rather than if they lived only in the wild. Probably a good amount.
I think I can see how we screwed this one up…

]]> By: Amos http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1406 Amos Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:10:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1406 It's a good point you make, Jennifer. There are a million different steps we could take to decrease our ecological footprint and protect the Earth. But seeing as there isn't the political will (yet!) to make many of these things happen, we're often faced with the questions of whether we should take invervention A to alleviate intervention B. This story does seem a little freaky, I agree—seems like it could easily cause health problems for the cow—but I would at least be curious to see some data if they study this. It’s a good point you make, Jennifer. There are a million different steps we could take to decrease our ecological footprint and protect the Earth. But seeing as there isn’t the political will (yet!) to make many of these things happen, we’re often faced with the questions of whether we should take invervention A to alleviate intervention B.

This story does seem a little freaky, I agree—seems like it could easily cause health problems for the cow—but I would at least be curious to see some data if they study this.

]]> By: Jennifer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1405 Jennifer Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:55:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2007/12/19/kangaroo-ifying-cows-to-fight-global-warming/#comment-1405 I am all about science saving us from ourselves, but that is the key word...ourselves. We need to stop messing w/ the natural processes that evolution has put into place. If a cow was suppossed to have the bacteria that a kangaroo has then it probably would. Instead if this idea the one that would be best would be to stop putting antibiotics in the cow (and other animals) feed. Just read the side-effects from your antibiotics...upset stomach is the most common. They kill off the natural fauna in our digestive tracts and have caused some people to get food intolerences after they take them. Once again if we would just focus on what we are doing wrong and not try to change nature to suit us this planet would be better off...and so would we! I am all about science saving us from ourselves, but that is the key word…ourselves. We need to stop messing w/ the natural processes that evolution has put into place. If a cow was suppossed to have the bacteria that a kangaroo has then it probably would. Instead if this idea the one that would be best would be to stop putting antibiotics in the cow (and other animals) feed. Just read the side-effects from your antibiotics…upset stomach is the most common. They kill off the natural fauna in our digestive tracts and have caused some people to get food intolerences after they take them. Once again if we would just focus on what we are doing wrong and not try to change nature to suit us this planet would be better off…and so would we!

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