Let us all poop in the bushes instead of in the water. The sea, our primary food source, will thank

That seems like it would be especially problematic in densely populated areas?

 

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Pooping in the bushes is not a good nor realistic idea. That is where the Plague came from. What the OP was trying to do was explain that pumping sewage into the oceans is not a good idea.

While we do not do much of this in the US - The rest of the world does and it is causing problems in the ocean.

What is also causing problems (dead zones) is fertilizer that makes its way into the oceans through drainage.

Pollution of the Oceans is an under reported issue. CO2 is fourth on my list in relation to environmental issues.

Pollution of Oceans is #1. Increasing population and industrialization of those populations is 2/3.

 

Human waste is only one of our water system issues - and possibly one of the most solved.

Flint and other cities feeding their kids lead aren't suffering from pollution due to waste water.

Plus there is agricultural runoff from chemicals added to fields, outflow of hog farms, etc.

Oklahoma can't pump water from its own aquifer, because of industrial waste pollution including heavy metals.

 

And one of the great strengths of capitalism is innovation which occurs when there is a need. And yes, that innovation is often driven by a desire to make money.

 

It is but it's not beyond the scope of technology. Composting toilets which need emptying just 2 or 3 times a year are already available and an industry could spring up to service them and safely compost the contents. For me it's more about improving soil quality than reducing water pollution but both are valid outcomes to pursue.
No farmer wastes a single bit of his animal's muck and the only real difference is that human waste needs to compost for longer.

 

I'm with you. Seriously, I do. Not in the bush craping part but I've always thought craping in clear drinkable water is very wrong.

 

Sure. But, the argument isn't that capitalism is "bad".

The argument is that capitalism concerns relatively short term personal gain - not sustainable policy.

And, we DO have important policy objectives that are NOT addressed by individuals striving for short term personal monetary gain.

That doesn't mean we trash capitalism. But, it DOES mean that there are sound reasons for other methods - regulation, tort, tax breaks, public spending, and even solving problems through direct involvement of public entities.

 

Agricultural runoff, including animal waste, remains a serious problem.

 

That's why there are strict regulations about how far away from streams and ditches you can build your muck heaps. In the UK you also have to move it every year and cover it to keep the rain from leaching out the ammonia etc. These are not insurmountable problems and are cheaper and easier than solving the problems of soil erosion and poor water quality.
The run off from chemical fertilizers and pesticides etc is far worse than muck heaps.

 

Only if we continue to be stupid and contaminate our nests.

Even birds know to poop on the fly instead of their nests.

It is possible though that we are too stupid to learn from our mistakes.

Regards
DL

 

I agree.

The in the bush thing was what I call a hook. It seems to have worked a bit.

I am familiar with the type of toilet you are promoting but do not think it is well suited to our city construction and I would rather keep promoting the dumping or pumping of our waste to where soil is being depleted or swept away.

Regards
DL

 

As I pointed out.

And, here in the US, agricultural runoff IS still a serious problem.

 

The problem is that along with the poop people dump tons of chemicals in the sewer, which then get dumped in the soil.
Not very clean, imho.

 

Out here is it the spear grass and the spinifex that will get you



Not to mention the snakes

 

I read somewhere the Chinese have or had places like gas stations where they could ring their "night soil" to be processed into more usable form. I think they even were compensated for it.

 

More Than you would EVER want to know about sewerage treatments courtesy of the government that brought you maps of where to find every public toilet in the country (I kid you not). But Hey when WE say our government is full of it - we really mean it

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/p...nt-l-ch2~ohp-enhealth-manual-atsi-cnt-l-ch2.8

 

Makes methane - which can be burnt for fuel. Actually putting in public toilets is a big international push to try and cut down on diseases in third world countries

 

Yes that's true but there are alternatives to using precious water to flush it away to treatment plants or out to sea. Far better to extract the energy and fertilisers contained in waste than to just ''waste'' it. (pun intended)

 

I hear you, and it is a concern, but we can process or neutralize those chemicals on land a lot easier than after we dump it into the sea.

The sea is man's primary food source and we are putting it into jeopardy.

Regards
DL

 

Indeed. There agriculture industry knows a good fertilizer when they see it.

Regards
DL

 

All water on earth is recycled pee or poop.

 

You are the one suggesting we contaminate our nests--we don't live in the water.

 

The sea is not our primary food source--grains (that live on land) are our primary food source.

 

I am suggesting we clean up and protect our primary food source, the oceans, and make arable land of the waste we pollute the oceans with.

Some countries even pay for poop so as to fertilize yet we dump it mostly into our water systems.

Not too bright that.

Regards
DL

 

I took a quick look but could not confirm what you wrote.

Can you give a reference.

Further, consider that in total carbon pollution, the world will likely have to get away from beef quite a bit in the future because beef production already exceeds mans carbon footprint even if you roll in all we produce from cars, heating and air conditioning by a huge factor.



Regards
DL