u/flynneoin

A failing ocean engine could freeze Europe and unmake the world it built

The North Atlantic, particularly around Europe, has been reliably temperate for aeons; a meteorological Goldilocks zone. It was just right for developing powerful empires.

The “Western” world, such as it is, has been defined by European Imperialism. But European empires were only possible because of advantages granted to western Europe by a global system of currents called the MOC. Without it, France, Britain, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and the homelands of any other European imperial terrors would be very different places.

Collapse of the Atlantic portion of the MOC would certainly collapse the Gulf Stream and deep freeze Western Europe. That would fundamentally change fishing, farming, transportation, energy demands, water infrastructure, and almost every aspect of life for people in Ireland, France, Britain, Holland, Belgium and many other areas. Enormous knock-on effects would result not just throughout Europe but, globally.

The fashion industry is responsible for some well known environmental and sustainability catastrophes.

Carbon emissions, dye pollution, detergent pollution, arable land use, etc.

But, less talked about is the issue of microplastics, and almost unknown are the issues of POPs and heavy metals. The fashion industry is one of the worst offenders.

These are arguably the next biggest global issue after the climate crisis.

Read this article for more info. Read the full series to understand the broader problems.

Agent Orange, DDT, Teflon.

These chemical scourges are not just historical curiosities. They are real and present dangers.

Read more at the link. Links to the full series there too.

Not selling anything, not promoting anything. Just a scientist trying to spread the word on society's problems and using the lense of history to help.