According to their own cited definition, a mass extinction event has not occurred, but may occur in a century or so in the future. Given that, I question Elizabeth Kolbert's assertion that we are experiencing a mass extinction event that is "caused entirely by humans".
While a claim can be made that human activities have done little to help the environment and the planet's species, it is hubris to think that humans and only humans could cause a mass extinction event without the wide spread of nuclear weapons.
The earth and the species on this earth will be here long after humans are a forgotten extinct species. The earth will not be the same and neither will the surviving species. That's evolution.
According to some sources, about 95% of all the species that have lived on the Earth are already extinct.
"Extinction is the norm, survival the exception" -- Dr. Carl Sagan.
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abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.
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