As we continue to witness the Gulf disaster unfold, and it begins to dawn on us that this is something we may not be able to fix, it might be a good idea to realize that it is but a stone on the dark side of the scale that has been tipping toward the declining health and bounty of our oceans. The following is a link to a lecture, presented by TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) whose mission is to share “Ideas worth spreading.” I believe that knowledge is the best way to find hope in what, at first blush, may appear to be a hopeless situation. View TED Lecture.
It is heart wrenching to watch the oil soaked pelicans and their babies struggling for life and it makes us feel good to see them flying free after being cleaned and relocated. Please do not be lulled by the show. Cry for the microbial life of the ocean that has been in decline for years; picture the bodies of dolphins and fish that have perished under the surface because dispersants were used to hide the oil from the cameras; and when the price of the holiday party shrimp (foreign) impacts the Christmas appetizer table, stop and have more than a passing thought, maybe a moment of prayer, for the Gulf residents and their way of live that died with their shrimp.
It will not be easy to asses the cost of the oil spill until people fully recognize the value of what has been lost, either in the priceless, human and non-human, Gulf region life, or the vast interconnected ecosystems.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Gone Means No Do Over
This was a comment posted on a website, as part of a week of chatter, regarding the possibility that BP/Halliburton/Transocean and the government may never be able to stop and/or clean up the Gulf oil spill. This anonymous person, known only as gristswat, said it all.
“Hmmmm....well this is interesting. Normally, mindless consumers funnel their money to some big corporation so they can rape the Earth of its (finite) natural resources on their behalf. Then, KABOOM!.... and suddenly the consumers want the money funneled the opposite way, to try and clean up a violated environment. Here are three enormous problems with this formula: 1) It is generally based on the assumption that the Earth's natural resources are infinite, and they are not. 2) It assumes that with enough money we can fix anything, and that is also not true, and 3) Too many people on this planet flat out do not understand, or care about, what it means to lose something INTANGEABLE: there are things/conditions which, once gone, are fone forever and can not be replaced.
Newsflash!...Breaking Story!....This Just In!......World War III has begun! It is not going to be waged with nuclear weapons, like everyone thought. Also, the combatants are a surprise: They are Mother Nature and Father Time in one corner, and Stupid Humans on the other side. The weapons: Ma & Pa have control of the life support systems. Humans have money. Strategy for Ma &Pa; give the Stupid Humans plenty of rope, then just sit back and watch and wait while they hang themselves.
This is a profound turning point in our very existence. We are faced with two extremely difficult options: Either we adapt to living SUBSTAINABLY, or we are going EXTINCT.”
This person’s message will be lost on those who believe dispersants applied to the oil on the ocean’s surface actually make it disappear; those who do not see pesticides on cheap food but trust somebody has made sure it is safe to eat; and those unable to relate the overwhelming amount of plastic in our lives, to the oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico.
While under the surface, World War III, as this person so eloquently describes, is fully engaged, as we close our eyes, hearts and minds, and pass the true cost of our folly on to future generations.
“Hmmmm....well this is interesting. Normally, mindless consumers funnel their money to some big corporation so they can rape the Earth of its (finite) natural resources on their behalf. Then, KABOOM!.... and suddenly the consumers want the money funneled the opposite way, to try and clean up a violated environment. Here are three enormous problems with this formula: 1) It is generally based on the assumption that the Earth's natural resources are infinite, and they are not. 2) It assumes that with enough money we can fix anything, and that is also not true, and 3) Too many people on this planet flat out do not understand, or care about, what it means to lose something INTANGEABLE: there are things/conditions which, once gone, are fone forever and can not be replaced.
Newsflash!...Breaking Story!....This Just In!......World War III has begun! It is not going to be waged with nuclear weapons, like everyone thought. Also, the combatants are a surprise: They are Mother Nature and Father Time in one corner, and Stupid Humans on the other side. The weapons: Ma & Pa have control of the life support systems. Humans have money. Strategy for Ma &Pa; give the Stupid Humans plenty of rope, then just sit back and watch and wait while they hang themselves.
This is a profound turning point in our very existence. We are faced with two extremely difficult options: Either we adapt to living SUBSTAINABLY, or we are going EXTINCT.”
This person’s message will be lost on those who believe dispersants applied to the oil on the ocean’s surface actually make it disappear; those who do not see pesticides on cheap food but trust somebody has made sure it is safe to eat; and those unable to relate the overwhelming amount of plastic in our lives, to the oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico.
While under the surface, World War III, as this person so eloquently describes, is fully engaged, as we close our eyes, hearts and minds, and pass the true cost of our folly on to future generations.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Earth Day - 40th Anniversary
Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. In those forty years, environmentalists have pressed for change. There are now more organically grown vegetables available and resurgence in farmer’s markets around the nation. Many farmers realize that they can make more money and keep their farms by rejecting pesticide/herbicide farming. Farmers are beginning to understand that factory farming sterilizes the soil and contaminates the water, causing municipalities to commit billions of tax dollars to provide clean drinking water. Often the process is ineffective, as is the case for Atrazine. Studies are revealing that the despoiled water also negatively affects the farmer’s own livestock. Change, however, comes slowly.
There is a surge of restaurants serving small plates and a Chef, Jamie Oliver, who has begun a “Food Revolution,” using the media to bring America’s unhealthy school lunch system, directed by the USDA, to the front of the public’s consciousness. American food portions have increased three fold and the use of processed foods, high in corn syrup and chemicals, has quadrupled. Obesity, food induced illnesses and allergies have spread, threatening the American segment of the world’s population. Change will come, however slowly.
There is hope, however. Europe and Asia are withstanding the pressure from America’s monolithic agri-businesses intent to export of their destructive farming methodologies and genetically modified foods. Government’s leaders are beginning to question why Americans suffers so much food contamination and it is getting harder for the producers to hide their tainted production processes. Slowly, the American eater is awakening. Slowly, change is coming.
Gluttonous use of fossil fuels has been identified as a possible human cause for ‘unusual’ warming trends on the planet, which are adversely affecting species from insects to whales, globally. Yet, there are some, fearing their wealth will be diminished if action is taken to stop the trend, who rail against the science. These same individuals, it should be noted, support action against countries that demonstrate a less than one percent chance of having nuclear weapon capabilities. They protect themselves against a less than five percent statistical chance their house will burn. They insure themselves for the less than twenty percent chance they may get sick. The question is what if the global warming skeptics are wrong and the scientists are right? If there were even a less than one percent statistical chance that humans might not survive the damage done by global warming, why would we not choose to take action? After all, currently, there is no other spaceship but Earth in this galaxy. There is no option to be transported to Pandora for safe refuge. If nothing is done, change could come too late.
While we celebrate this fortieth anniversary of Earth Day, America’s leadership is flirting with micro-sized solutions. Some are meandering toward thinking about, while others are researching, America’s contribution to the global problem. While Earth Day participants have learned to celebrate baby steps, over these forty years, baby steps may not be enough this time.
Our choices, action or lack of action, will be our gift or curse for future generations. Earth Day calls us to commit to the three R’s, “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.” For some it will mean they purchase locally grown vegetables, grass feed beef, or buffalo burgers instead of factory farm provided ‘value meals.’ For other, they will eat smaller portions or try to save 4 gallons of water a day by turning the water off while brushing their teeth. Many will pressure their legislators to take legislative action. Small changes, made by a multitude of people, will accelerate the change needed to insure Earth and her future inhabitants. Happy Earth Day!
There is a surge of restaurants serving small plates and a Chef, Jamie Oliver, who has begun a “Food Revolution,” using the media to bring America’s unhealthy school lunch system, directed by the USDA, to the front of the public’s consciousness. American food portions have increased three fold and the use of processed foods, high in corn syrup and chemicals, has quadrupled. Obesity, food induced illnesses and allergies have spread, threatening the American segment of the world’s population. Change will come, however slowly.
There is hope, however. Europe and Asia are withstanding the pressure from America’s monolithic agri-businesses intent to export of their destructive farming methodologies and genetically modified foods. Government’s leaders are beginning to question why Americans suffers so much food contamination and it is getting harder for the producers to hide their tainted production processes. Slowly, the American eater is awakening. Slowly, change is coming.
Gluttonous use of fossil fuels has been identified as a possible human cause for ‘unusual’ warming trends on the planet, which are adversely affecting species from insects to whales, globally. Yet, there are some, fearing their wealth will be diminished if action is taken to stop the trend, who rail against the science. These same individuals, it should be noted, support action against countries that demonstrate a less than one percent chance of having nuclear weapon capabilities. They protect themselves against a less than five percent statistical chance their house will burn. They insure themselves for the less than twenty percent chance they may get sick. The question is what if the global warming skeptics are wrong and the scientists are right? If there were even a less than one percent statistical chance that humans might not survive the damage done by global warming, why would we not choose to take action? After all, currently, there is no other spaceship but Earth in this galaxy. There is no option to be transported to Pandora for safe refuge. If nothing is done, change could come too late.
While we celebrate this fortieth anniversary of Earth Day, America’s leadership is flirting with micro-sized solutions. Some are meandering toward thinking about, while others are researching, America’s contribution to the global problem. While Earth Day participants have learned to celebrate baby steps, over these forty years, baby steps may not be enough this time.
Our choices, action or lack of action, will be our gift or curse for future generations. Earth Day calls us to commit to the three R’s, “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.” For some it will mean they purchase locally grown vegetables, grass feed beef, or buffalo burgers instead of factory farm provided ‘value meals.’ For other, they will eat smaller portions or try to save 4 gallons of water a day by turning the water off while brushing their teeth. Many will pressure their legislators to take legislative action. Small changes, made by a multitude of people, will accelerate the change needed to insure Earth and her future inhabitants. Happy Earth Day!
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