And also, the implication that the human race could have any lasting effect on the Earth's overall well being is extremely conceited in my opinion. The Earth has been here for over four billion years. That number is very hard to grasp for a human mind. That's about 51,948,052 average lifetimes. We, as a society, have been here for about 5,000 years. That's the blink of an eye to the earth...not even that, actually. To think that we could 'destroy' the Earth, as we so often put it, is ridiculous.

Sure, we can wipe ourselves out, but no lasting damage will be done. The Earth will replenish and revitalize itself, just as it always has.

</George Carlin>

Sorry for the double post, and the rant... :-)