99% of the planet could produce zero pollution for the rest of our lives and it wouldn't even make a dent in the amount of pollution created by the billionaire class.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 21 points 8 months ago (1 children)

This is just not true, unless you're counting manufacturing as part of the pollution from the billionaires. We consume the products produced in those factories, so we're not free from that blame.

[–] TheDarksteel94@sopuli.xyz 3 points 8 months ago

That's true, manufacturing is a huge part. I just wish there were more regulations and enforcement of those. Maybe even some standardized labels on products for certified carbon neutral manufacturers. Otherwise it's next to impossible for most people to avoid certain products.

[–] Vegoon@feddit.de 15 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Take a look at the Cargill family, 14 billionaires. From the wiki about the current CEO:

In 2019, former U.S. Congressman Henry A. Waxman, in a report by Mighty Earth, called Cargill "the worst company in the world" and noted that it drives "the most important problems facing our world" (deforestation, pollution, climate change, exploitation) "at a scale that dwarfs their closest competitors."

Do you think that is because they use every cent to burn coal and oil in their backyard, or

do you think it is because they produce and sell products to consumers which can not be produced without harm to the environment?

99% of the planet could produce zero pollution for the rest of our lives and it wouldn’t even make a dent in the amount of pollution created by the billionaire class.

How do you think they would create that damage to the environment if nobody would buy their products?

[–] Venator@lemmy.nz -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

How do you think they would create that damage to the environment if nobody would buy their products?

Selling to other billionaires and governments...

[–] Vegoon@feddit.de 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

They would sell $165 billion worth of meat, 22% of all meat products consumed in the US to a handful of billionaires and the US government? Ignoring the international business.

Billionaires would never touch that meat. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/10/zuckerberg-cattle-hawaii-beef-environment

[–] Venator@lemmy.nz -3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

China or Russia would probably buy it. Or the US military.

[–] pedalmore@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

How can you possibly think the US military, or any sovereign country, will magically spend an extra $165B a year on meat a year if all of the current consumers magically go vegetarian? Who exactly is going to eat a bunch of extra meat? There will just be fewer meat sales, period, ignoring a short term price drop if everyone magically goes vegetarian on the same day.

[–] Vegoon@feddit.de 3 points 8 months ago

You think that after 99% of the US population decided to stop supporting climate change by not buying meat from billionaires, those 99% would still allow them to continue? Not for their own taste and convenience but for some billionaires profits?

[–] DarthFrodo@lemmy.world 14 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I'd be very interested in the source for this...

America’s richest 10% are responsible for 40% of its planet-heating pollution

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/17/business/rich-americans-climate-footprint-emissions/index.html

The emissions of the middle class are also a huge problem and will have to drop to 0 as well.

[–] VinnyDaCat@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

The general public has sadly been guilted into the idea that dealing with the vast majority of pollution is their problem. Don't get me wrong, there is some personal responsibility, but much of it is out of our hands.