The vanishing wild | 60 Minutes Archives

Last year, 60 Minutes reported that scientists were sounding an alarm that we were living in the midst of the sixth mass extinction. Biologist Paul Ehrlich told Scott Pelley that humans would need "five more Earths" to maintain our current way of life.
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[@savage.4.24]

Only when the last fish has died and all the water has been poisoned will man realize he cannot eat money.

[@FirstLast-dy4gt]

Correct!

[@getonlygotonly]

the planet will survive, humans, probably not

[@GardenOfEdenYT]

Na man we got this. We part of the planet too. Plus there’s still all those uncontacted tribe.

[@huu7hbbjko]

^^^^^ Nah, humans are f**king this place up too.....just like we did on mars.

[@GardenOfEdenYT]

@@huu7hbbjko you being serious an mars part?

[@damien4747]

Humans will survive, but not the masses. The future will no doubt be reserved for those in power.

[@donniecarpenter2662]

@@GardenOfEdenYTno there isn’t lol not anymore

[@Me-sq9ol]

Humanity is extremely short sighted. It’s our fatal flaw.

[@adamtash2891]

our social systems reward selfishness and shortsightedness.....lack of morality is the problem

[@IndigoMason1l1l]

When every human is gone, the earth will renew itself. History has proven this. I hope the next inhabitants of earth are smarter than we were.

[@fredfolson5355]

I second this comment.

[@BuschLatte]

Humans are viruses?

[@johnnyt8286]

dam dude give us some credit, civilization, art, music , love, family , exploration, yea there's still war and green in man but it hasn't been a failure

[@IndigoMason1l1l]

@johnnyt8286 No offense, John, but I don't think you're seeing the bigger picture.

[@fredfolson5355]

@@johnnyt8286 No offense Johnny but most of what you listed are all fine things that we [mankind] have done, but I'd argue that the majority of which have been to the detriment of the natural world. Our civilization, our exploration and conquer of every natural biome is having major consequences on all of Earth's flora and fauna. We have been nothing more than a cancerous virus on every other species of the planet. Things are terribly out of balance now, and that balance will be restored one day - and we're not going to like it.

[@Ray-qb7tk]

A similar situation about the salmon, happened to the codfish in the Atlantic. Canadians lost 30,000 jobs on the Eastern Seaboard of Canada. Fishery sources disappeared and fish processing plants were forced to shut down. In the 80's, scientists had warned about the dangers of overfishing. Politicians kept quiet about the dire situation until the inevitable happened.

[@jimpawa5793]

Look at what is unfolding RIGHT NOW in the Bering Sea with the Snow Crab fishery. I remember back in the mid 1970s with Alaskan King Crab, it’s declining rapidly.

[@pearlyung]

As long as money and GDP is important its too late. Its time human species dissappear to protect earth and all other species.

[@carlsaganlives6086]

Unfortunately, we're not running out of places to drill for oil, or build subdivisions.

[@HabitualJoker]

Nearly all of the forests and wooded areas in my city have been plowed over and have had subdivisions erected in their place. It’s awful.

[@richardthiele8363]

Incredibly sad what our ignorance and selfishness has done to the earth 😢.

[@lindablake8799]

🔴Greed, WILLFUL ignorance, apathy toward wildlife, hatred toward “The peaceniks…” ‘who only care about saving the lives of humans & wildlife, & want to control everybody.’, various types of payoffs to politicians to prevent conservation laws from being written or passed, & the proverbial, “Nothing to see here, folks! Keep moving… Keep moving!’, got us to this terrible point we are at today. It’s all very dysfunctional & sickening. Just a little bit of rethinking ways to do things, a little bit of cooperation, a little bit of respect & compassion, a little bit of discipline, & a little bit of work, & our future of a mutually enriching cohabitation with wildlife on planet earth would look a whole lot brighter at the moment. Instead, that kind of future is going away or essentially gone, & that is heartbreaking.

[@567xd]

Instead of catching fish and hunting for animals and cutting trees down. Plant new trees. Help replenish the animal species. Don't just hunt for them. Think ahead.

[@sciencefaction2646]

why think ahead when we can scream GOT MINE! like apes

[@brightmooninthenight2111]

Its not that simple. Planting tree is good, I'm growing some now, but to exist we have to consume resources. Hunting and fishing is more sustainable than industrial agriculture or industrial animal agriculture but still it's not so simple because without industrial agriculture people would starve and if everyone hunted for themselves that couldn't be sustainable either. Even the technology we are using to watch this video and comment is the product of deforestation and honestly if one is not living an off grid lifestyle then we are complicit. It probably can be boiled down to just too many people I guess. Or civilization would have to fundamentally change to a communal gardening lifestyle but this won't happen on the scale of industrialism. I'm kind of a fatalist these days. Because you acknowledge the inertia of history and global movement will pursue its own course regardless. That being said population is expected to reach its peak very soon, as fertility rates are drastically dropping (which is a disturbing thing in of itself) and younger generations aren't as interested in having children as the older ones. Its like we can't treat the symptoms. The cause is the very industrial structure and aim of civilization in of itself. This has caused me to feel very profoundly confused and aimless, as I would like to live in a traditional agricultural community but the only places like that are communes. I just have to find the right one I guess

[@karlwheatley1244]

@@brightmooninthenight2111 Here's someone who understands what the real problem is.

[@whizbang7130]

There are plenty of trees. No one talks about population growth. This Texan has watched as fields, farms, meadows, and land given to development. Our wildlife has lost so much habitat.😢

[@567xd]

​@karlwheatley1244 The real problem? 92 billion pounds of food is wasted every year in the US. 38% That means the population can grow by that much and still survive. Just do some simple math instead of talking so much.

[@ralphee7487]

I live on the west coast and I don't feel sorry for the fisherman at all. Let's talk truth for a minute. Overfishing was done decade after decade. The fishermen fought back every time when fishing reduction legislation (from California to Alaska) was proposed to save our fisheries for future generations. The fishermen won most of those battles but from this piece it's obvious that they just lost the war. Scientists told them they were overfishing and the fisheries will collapse if they don't stop but that didn't stop them. If we as a society are going to have a chance, start listening to the scientists and taking ACTION.

[@ninehundreddollarluxuryyac5958]

The fishermen who reduced their catch to save the fishery were run out of business by those who did not. Legislation could have stopped it, but companies making money can bribe politicians in ways the fish can not.

[@scottwalker9766]

Growing up in southeast Alaska, this hurts me the most.

[@scottwalker9766]

Half of me is still out there.

[@scottwalker9766]

The better half.

[@poke_hoard422]

Almost every issue can be correlated to big companies

[@oneshothunter9877]

No customers, No big companies. We are all part of it.

[@deathlarsen7502]

+ politicians

[@ThePapawhisky]

Every time I go to the grocery store, I see people sitting in the cars in the parking lot, with the motors running. They are looking at their phone. Maybe waiting for someone. Sometimes I see several on the same day, but i see it every time. This is how much people know and care about the planet. I do not think people will care until they CAN’T sit in their parked car with the motor running. And what do they buy at the grocery store? Unsustainable food-fish, meat, dairy. I don’t know how you fix this at the level of people in wealthy countries.

[@appnzllr]

overfishing of fish will result in overfishing of crab and everything else

[@squibbelsmcjohnson]

And the Domino's shall fall

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

Not curbing fishing.... just moving to overfish another species

[@dewservices]

And no one can stop it.

[@edbrown6985]

No they can't.

[@DonMarzzoni]

We could we just wont

[@JamesPilkenton-se5cx]

Don't worry about it,man. Everything will work out fine As long as I get mine

[@leerollins7555]

this is journalism. this is the free press. and this is why those things matter.

[@thexfile.]

What's the solution? Nobody wants to talk about it.

[@nedisahonkey]

Voluntary extinction of the human species?

[@thexfile.]

@@nedisahonkey Nothing that dramatic. Probably something along the lines of sterilization knowing or unknowing.

[@michaeltrower741]

​@@nedisahonkeyyaaay!!! I'm in!!!!

[@DylannDayZero]

@@thexfile.well we gotta start with a age limit

[@nedisahonkey]

@thexfile I hope we can minimize future degradation of our planet, but the selfishness and will full ignorance that often typifies our species makes me pessimistic

[@everittslivemusicsocialenv6733]

I'm still trying too and Happy Earth Day!

[@paulam.foreman4413]

This is the saddest thing

[@bradgrier4228]

That fella and myself are experiencing kinda the same emotions, SO MANY COOL THINGS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE, the younger generations have NO IDEA how cool things were. It's not a put down? Anything but a put down! IT irritates us that young folks won't get to have the experience

[@APrettyGoodChannel]

The majority of farming land use is just for livestock or the food to feed livestock. Only something like 16% is for the plants humans eat. If you cut down on meat & dairy consumption, it makes the biggest possible impact each individual can have. The alternatives are much better these days.

[@aliaswrong9004]

We need to fix this

[@vipahman]

It's capitalism that is at the heart of this consumption. When a native Indian has 5 fishing boats, you can only guess how many boats the commercial white fisherman has!

[@mywhorled]

Yet you say nothing about the Japanese, Chinese, Indian, etc. Just white people

[@davidhamilton5689]

We are supposed to be caretakers of this garden earth but for some reason (our reptilian brain?) we thought we were rulers. We have proven we can care, we just have to overcome our human nature to save nature.

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

Hopefully I'll be in heaven by then

[@nedisahonkey]

Let's hope so, the idea of any afterlife (except reincarnation) seems unlikely to me. And I think sometimes religion can lead to more destruction of our planet because people think "God will handle it" or "what's the point when Jesus will rise again". That said I know of plenty of religious people who care about leaving the planet better than they found it. Kind of rambling but my point is I wish more people thought beyond themselves.

[@pearlyung]

Its already happening

[@dthomas9230]

@@nedisahonkeyReligion kills

[@rdallas81]

Not with out being reborn through faith in Jesus

[@rdallas81]

​@@dthomas9230you're right. But faith saves.The Bible will always hold up. You, your mom, dad, kids, cars, house, money will NOT hold up. For all will pass away- one at a time and you will witness some of it. That's why there is NO promise of tomorrow today and today just might be the day your son, or brother or YOU perish which is WHY oh WHY you should seek the Lord, and be repentant and faithful in the finished work of and in and at the CROSS ✝️ and be BAPTIZED in His Holy spirit- that is the REBIRTH a life changing soul awakening event no money can buy and no government or religion can fly because only FAITH in God provides to FEW EVER- God is my Dad and Father and no man get to Father but by Jesus as He is the way that's the TRUTH and He is my LIFE. God bless you friend.

[@deedeewinfrey3181]

Now I'm 😢really depressed

[@jockogle5250]

The only certain thing in life is change. Time changes everything, sooner or later.

[@angelmujahid2233]

The political will needs to be called what it actually is, “Economic/corporate will” until corporations see it as a problem nothing will change. Corporations and politicians are one and the same.

[@dotbotha5898]

It is so sad

[@nathanaelboubion6378]

Yes sir

[@ryanstewart1521]

Imagine earth without humans, it would be so beautiful and pristine. It would only take a thousand years and there would be ancient forests again and streams filled with fish.

[@HabitualJoker]

This would be great.

[@Forcefed777]

We will be our own demise unless we find solutions and make sacrifices. The challenges ahead for the next generations will be immense from the cause of our selfish ways now in which we all are guilty.

[@stevenotero2627]

Make Nature great again. 😎🎭✌️

[@user-rx9lq9mn3y]

Mankind is his own worse enemy

[@Roller_ae86]

And absolutely no talk of the MAGNETIC POLE SHIFT that's happening right now.

[@karlwheatley1244]

"And absolutely no talk of the MAGNETIC POLE SHIFT that's happening right now." They didn't mention that because that has no significant influence on either climate or ecosystem health or biodiversity.

[@duchampsrook]

They didn’t mention an asteroid hitting the earth either! Or a giant tsunami! Huge solar flare? What does magnetic pole shift have to do with this video article???

[@SCRB1GR3D98]

Basic rundown of the video. The message is clear. 60% of yall GOTTA GO.

[@johnishikawa2200]

Who would dare to leave children in the world behind them ?

[@jonahbitman7576]

Unbelievable journalism

[@VirgilCumming-iz3ro]

Too many humans consuming too many resources.

[@e.gadd.1]

Its hard to get around the fact that there are just too many humans and limited space. We can't maintain the lifestyle we want with 8 billion... 10 billon, 12 billion people and rising and that doesn't even take into consideration global pollution. And those who preach a 'population collapse' myth and want even more births.... these are economic fears that a smaller labor pool might force higher wages. Even if higher wages happen, this will result in couples deciding they now have money to have more children. And as CBS points out there aren't enough resources on the Earth to even bring China and India up to first level standard of living with their populations now, there are far too many people already.

[@garlandstyle5797]

Finally. Something worth watching from the rag mag 60 Minutes.

[@nickdual]

I subscribed

[@martincomer3593]

War never changes

[@samuelboers4488]

We’re all gonna die……..haaaaaaaaaaaa

[@joycejackson9315]

They dont buy salmon anymore. Says it all. And rare and fleeting permits are allowed, says it even louder . Missouri has a great department of natural resources. We are able to hunt, fish, etc.. We are an Agricultural State. They aren't. They are following the new "science ."

[@derrickray5464]

I'm from Missouri. Now in Florida. Here, the "Preserves" are being sold off a section at a time for condominiums. I can't hunt there, because that land is "preserved" for future condominiums! In the end, it works just like a screen door on a submarine!

[@nedisahonkey]

The vast majority of states are agricultural to some extent, including Washington. The difference is there is still wilderness in Washington while there is next to none in Missouri. Preservation and Hunting aren't mutually exclusive. Any environmentalist who isn't an idiot recognizes that things like deer hunts are neccasary for healthy environment considering we have killed off all the large predators. You shouldn't try and look at every issue in the US as "us vs them", we're all Americans and the only people who benefit from division among the common people are the ruling elites.

[@duchampsrook]

Missouri, the “Don’t Show Me because I have my own opinions” state. You’re not listening. We are at the edge of worldwide catastrophe. It’s like saying “there’s no climate change, it snows in the winter and right now it’s raining outside”. New science? I suppose the old science is what is preferred?

[@smilingfox8978]

Born in 1961, by the time I was of child bearing age, I knew that we were on a course to have too many people on this planet, and that we had to strive for zero population growth. I chose to only have 2 children. One to replace me, one to replace my husband. My current husband has no children nor do any of his 3 siblings. I have 2 grandchildren , and I am doubtful that they will have children. Only one of my children has children. Too many people think it is OK to have large families that they don't even have money to raise.

[@bradgrier4228]

WHAT A BARGAIN 1.5 MILLION A YEAR TO KEEP A PIECE OF PARADISE 😮 MAN CAN REALLY MESS THINGS UP

[@susanlyman7376]

Has nothing to do with the 1% poisoning the water. Fish can’t live in poisoned water

[@boostlee5236]

Maybe the Chinese was right about the 1 child law

[@joshspry1]

Good thing there’s a birth rate crisis

[@MetalTeamster]

Funny, the guy keeps fishing even though they are going extinct

[@JonreLix]

Humans have been very successful. We are not bad. We just don’t have anymore land to spread out to.

[@burtstineman449]

Humans will be the end of the earth.

[@jamessmith3978]

You can talk about reducing the need for reducing our dependency on resources, but the only way that will happen is to into a drastic negative population growth. That would not happen as long as antiabortion efforts stay in effect, plus educating 3rd world countries and religious run states to go that way and not have as many children as possible. Hard to swallow, but reduction in population (to sustainable levels) is the only viable way to reduce the need for resources. Even if we, somehow, figure a way to keep humanity going, we will soon run out of anywhere to stand.

[@BryceLovesTech]

Soylent Green is the best choice

[@shaf60]

Then humans will disappear.

[@MetalTeamster]

Eagles are abundant in Alaska

[@kitkat5596]

Greed is the death to all.

[@richardc9321]

This guy with the 5 boats 😂😂😂😂. You was the problem.

[@jockogle5250]

Part of the Problem.

[@ralphee7487]

@@jockogle5250 A BIG part of the Problem. Overfishing wasn't mentioned once in this piece. Major contributor to the reduction of marine life.

[@marryellenmonahan5585]

In the US auto companies keep marketing mega trucks...

[@RNSOutdoors]

Because of cafe standards. The bigger the truck the less fuel efficient it has to be to pass the cafe limits.

[@link2442]

How much food waste after the catch

[@therationalist234]

It’s time the ICS and IUGS accepts the Anthropocene as our current epoch. Start it at 1800 with the Industrial Revolution - the first step to solving a problem is acknowledging it

[@everittslivemusicsocialenv6733]

Money can't save us and we have to evolve.

[@rolandcox5162]

Those people talking about California, you already lost me 60

[@prophecyrat2965]

No mention of machines, all blame on humans. Lethal Autonomous Weapons are the master race.

[@shawnsanders2182]

Fishing came too efficient.

[@oneshothunter9877]

Everything.

[@wildlyunrulyadventures3942]

The future is bleak. There's a sense of hopelessness. We are too late.

[@SpookyRedz]

Come to south Louisiana all of our marshes are part of the Gulf of Mexico and I’m talking about 100 miles times 40 miles is Gone and it’s probably more than that , no more marsh it’s part of the Gulf of Mexico now

[@rockerchick4368]

Keep The West Wild. 🐎 🐴 🐎 🐴 🐎

[@xxHonkxx]

Innovation is the key and Paul has been colossally wrong because of it. We already grow more food on less acreage in the U.S. Once we unlock enhanced nitrogen absorption in plants that will dramatically accelerate along with biological replacement of pesticide. Bioreactor made tuna is already superior to wild and with no mercury. Coupled with demographic trends there are reasons for hope

[@blamthekaboom]

but MONEY, VACATIONS, IPHONES, SELFIES, NEW CAR EVERY YEAR, PARTIES. remember the butterfly effect. people need to learn to live with less and simpler.

[@henrythegreatamerican8136]

I've been cooped up in my house so long sitting in front of a computer, the wild outdoors has pretty much vanished from my life.

[@SpookyRedz]

Over commercial fishing and getting government to act is too slow

[@DylannDayZero]

AGE LIMIT

[@Andre_XX]

Baby limit?

[@DylannDayZero]

@@Andre_XX if you’re forty+ bye

[@Andre_XX]

@@DylannDayZero OK then. See you soon!

[@ferula96]

Today while walking my dog on Los Angeles coastal cliff trails, found two different bird nest on the ground. About a mile apart. The winds were not rougher than usual. Two homes destroyed.

[@mbaktari8194]

WE, AMERICANS, just keep OPENING NEW LANDS while inner city left empty. We should build UP WARD even though we have PLENTY of lands !! We have to give animals n native plants place to grow !!!!! And also, NO MORE CHEAP WATER by drilling out our underground water !!!! If THE AUSTRONOUTs can live in ISS for years by RECYCLING THEIR WATER, we better do the same thing !!!

[@beaka63]

I'm pretty sure Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt could fork over enough money to save the planet. What are these people spending their money on? I make 60K a year, and I donate assiduously. But I can't make a dent.

[@MitchellMakesVids]

I give humans maybe another few hundred years. In another 300 years let’s see where things are. Well not me personally I won’t be here but you get it. Lol damn.

[@hollamonE]

I am stoked I don't have kids, EVERYDAY...

[@ryanstewart1521]

Me too, unfortunately as much as I would love to have a family.

[@Adam-ix2sn]

thanks to the boomers speaking in this segment.

[@rodneysteen3646]

You think these things but you know not

[@TheINFJChannel]

Guess they were right when they said nice guys finish last. Sorry nature 😢

[@sabihatanveer8494]

Da💣💥 ticks 😮

[@jamessmith3978]

should have proof read that a little.

[@FUL0H8]

Everything is for sale….and everyone wants money. When all the food is gone, you cannot eat your money.

[@ericsmith3765]

I’m really getting tired of this. You people make a living talking about this. 60 min and it’s parent companies…. It’s so arrogant thinking you can “Save humanity” most people are so useless they can’t even get out of their own way or tie their shoes. Survival lol Most people should start by just being nice to one another….

[@thephantomarcana]

well said brother.

[@nedisahonkey]

It's hilarious that you dismiss most of humanity as "useless" and then say people need to be nicer to each other. Ever heard about stones and glass houses?

[@Fedgery007]

Amen.

[@elijahlees8655]

Why we need a dictatorship. People need to be forced to do things for the greater food.

[@LevantonPuntoCom]

resources: all we need to to everyboy work the land... and not all this BS...

[@JDinky652]

Open borders contributes to the problem by relieving the pressure (negative feedback) of overpopulation in backward areas of the World.

[@nra4life752]

You talk about the salmon, but you don’t say a damn word about the damn lol

[@escuelaviejafarms]

Say it with me.... "Sha hay less".

[@Fedgery007]

Stay afraid everyone! Be afraid! Be very afraid!

[@DontfOurminds-dm4pt]

If you work normally if you are normally then you can make yourself a house or a place to live and if you can do that then it's not our populated and if you think that you're going to have to buy from someone else you can instead just build a lot cheaper don't be a waffle because if everybody will be buying then the price obviously will increase of the property but if someone will create out of nothing then that will be a no overpopulation we talking about it it's impossible to be overpopulated absolutely ever. Why because if you look at the oceans we can even build Islands on the oceans artificial ones who are floating or something like that structures whatever you name it it just put more intellect and the problem will be solved

[@costidisa]

Wow

[@imds123]

Birth control and a limited child policy is needed.

[@lindasapiecha2515]

😊

[@EarthDragonSuperSaiyanGoku]

this is old

[@dreadfuldonkey]

I’m sorry you can’t accept that all good things must come to an end. I Ain’t worried and i’m not going to lose any sleep over it.

[@DylannDayZero]

Im sorry you feel like you’re too old or good to change.

[@dreadfuldonkey]

@@DylannDayZero No i just don’t give a F, and your great grand parents didn’t either

[@nedisahonkey]

That's a fallacious argument, appeal to tradition. My great great grandparents probably didn't care about civil rights for miniorites or even germ theory. You're saying that just because they were ignorant of a problem that we should be as well.

[@dreadfuldonkey]

@@nedisahonkey whatever

[@joelarson3528]

Duh

[@DarwinSecrist-wy3pi]

Less humans are in America and Russia Canada mexico about 800 million so where the rest

[@DonMarzzoni]

That's not the point

[@MrRedoaks]

If this is all true why is American government against abortion

[@vsznry]

religious people: the problem isn't real. religious people now: humanity cant solve it. LOL. yes we can. if we stop defunding the EPA & leaving things to an imaginary being.

[@mywhorled]

So bigotry is your solution. Got it

[@markaurelius3119]

The Earth is sustainable for many more people. It's just - most of them want to have it All. More for themselves, less for everybody else (c)