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From: demillo@uwmacc.UUCP (Rob DeMillo)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Silent Running and loss of oxygen
Message-ID: <924@uwmacc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 18-Apr-85 23:17:46 EST
Article-I.D.: uwmacc.924
Posted: Thu Apr 18 23:17:46 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 21-Apr-85 02:46:53 EST
References: <topaz.1164> <12@unc.UUCP>
Organization: UWisconsin-Madison Academic Comp Center
Lines: 54

> 
> > Removing forests  will cause us to lose a lot of topsoil immediately and
> > knock great gaping holes in the ecosystem in  other ways I'm sure  -- is
> > there an ecologist out there who can elaborate for us?
> 
> Loss of the world's tropical forests would have several unfortunate 
> consequences:
> As I recall, loss of the world's temperate forests would have some
> impact but nothing like the dire consequences of the rain forests'
> destruction. Of course, a large amount of the system's nutrients and
> organic matter is tied up in the temperate forest's soil, so erosion
> renders the land useless for agriculture. It's been a number of years
> since I studied environmental sciences, so I hope others can add to
> this or patch the holes in my discussion.
> 
>                                           -- Bill Ingogly

Oh, thank you Bill Ingogly and the other gentle-person (whose name
I unfortunately don't have...sorry, 'bout that...) for a little
sanity. I have been reading SF-LOVERS for a long time, and have
become REALLY dismayed by the numerous statements about Silent Running.
Now, whether you like the movie or not is a matter of opinion, and that's
have the fun of reading book and movie reviews...BUT....

...good grief, I  could not believe the number of people who thought (or
seemed to think, correct me if I'm wrong...) that eliminating the
world's forests is no big shakes! Yeesh!

Certainly, the oxygen supply would continue (for a while, anyway) from
algae, but that isn't the end of the story. Plants wuz here furst, and
animals depend on them...period. It would eliminate a chunk of the
food chain, increase surface erosion, send a lotta dust into the
atmosphere, disturb the nitrogen cycle, and a trillion other things
that we as mere mortals could only guess at...

Sorry if it sounds like a flame without a warning, but  seemingly flagerant
disregard for ecology flares up a strong "Watt" signal in my brain....

...there, I had my little say, now back to our regularly scheduled programme..


-- 
                           --- Rob DeMillo 
                               Madison Academic Computer Center
                               ...seismo!uwvax!uwmacc!demillo

 
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"...I don't know what this thing does, but it's pointing in your direction."