Protecting Pollution In The Name Of Counterterrorism

Pollution Problems

On September 15, 2009, Greenpeace began a campaign against Canada’s (and the world’s) largest energy project, the major disaster known as tar sands.  Regarding greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, Shell is the proud parent to this baby, leading the oil sands companies to compete, no doubt, with clean coal for a greener pasture.    

But wait, there’s the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA).  They’re coming to the rescue for tar sands production.  Based in Houston, Texas, this pro-tar sands lobby group is busy making all the right moves.  However, it’s not as if they’re giving us life inspiring quotes.  

“Our economy is completely dependent on fossil fuels,” states Michael Whatley of the CEA. Truer words were never spoken.  Continuing with his stunning revelations while entering the realm of genius, he states that “If you start taking oil based products off the table before alternatives are ready for prime time, then you are going to have catastrophic impacts for the economy.”   He gave no indication as to which economy was currently feeling “catastrophic impacts.”  

Environmental Plan

While Canada’s tax dollars help fund shipment of tar sands oil across the globe, the reality is that they don’t have to ship very far.  The greediest of all the energy consuming pigs on the planet is their closest neighbor.  Yep, still the world’s largest energy consumer, the U.S., slobbers and slathers all over itself for any energy it can get, from any carbon-based source.  Militarily speaking, at any expense.  Forget the sun.  Forget the wind.  

The Canadian government, with a limp wrist treatment to the oil industry, claims that environmental activists are using terrorist tactics against the industry and furthermore state that “We’re coddling people who are breaking the law,” a brilliant quote by Premier Ed Stelmach of Alberta.  The referenced coddled people were those attempting to protect the environment, not the oil people.  

Environmental Activists

In their mad dash to line up for padded pockets of cash, government officials fail to realize one simple thing. Throwing claims of terrorism at people whose wish is to stop environmental disaster will only encourage that which they claim.  It makes little sense for someone accused of terrorism to stand and watch as a government institutes a “counterterrorism” program.  

Blocking heavy oil conveyor belts, reached by canoe does not constitute an act of terrorism.  Blocking access to refinement equipment does not constitute terrorism.  Chaining oneself to three-story high dump trucks is not terrorism.  Most of the terrorism we should be discussing is actually happening at much higher levels, and at the opposite end of the playing field.  

Accusations of acts of terrorism should be allowed where ever the acts are occurring.  One of the first places to start would be with the link of carbon and coal based energy monsters with any government entity that allows its citizens to become dependent on the product, at great cost to the environment.  

As for Mr. Whatley, he might want to consider spending less time in his office and a bit more time out in the wind and sun. Our civilizations, along with our home, will never reach “prime time” until we become dependent on wind and solar. 

To Shoot The Moon

Moon Landscape

Reports indicate that up until October 8, 2009, there have been 18 crashes into the moon’s surface, thanks to mankind’s ability to spend money, and desire to waste energy.  Furthermore, an additional eight attempts were made that somehow missed their mark.

Now we can add two more crashes into the moon landscape.  This time, to prove that, once and for all, there is water on the moon.  This gives hope that, once we’ve destroyed the Earth, we can all take up residence on the moon, giving new meaning to the term “illegal immigration.”

At a speed in the neighborhood of 6,000 mph, the crash has been labelled, by certain news reports, as  “a magnificent job.”  Indeed, magnificent.  To the tune of $79 million.  Imagine how much has been invested in space research over the years.  Now imagine, for a moment, the rate of return on the investment.

Great Quotes

Some of the great quotes in life warrant no discussion, simply for their profound and enlightening message.  Other times, their greatness lies in their sense of profound disbelief.  For instance, because space rocks crash into the moon, on average, four times per month, we’re justified in crashing a 2.2 ton empty rocket stage into the moon. As Peter Schultz, of NASA’s Ames Research Center said, “There’s a reason you drop pumpkins off a 30-story building.”  Then, lest we forget, he informs us that “Geez, I’ve got the neatest job in the world.”  This is a government-funded organization, people.  In other words, 79 million of our tax dollars just vanished.  Poof.  Gone.   

Reality Check

It’s not enough that we have an earth full of waste and debris and garbage and pollution.  It’s not enough that the effects of global warming are accelerating humanity into an unknown and  most likely unforgiving arena.  It’s not enough that the planet’s glaciers are all in retreat.  It’s not enough that we’re running out of carbon- based energy with little effort being put into plan B.  

While bigots insist on not allowing school children to watch and listen to a world leader discuss the importance of education, across the United States people drooled and peed in their pants over the thought of a man-controlled object crashing into the lunar surface.  

Disaster Report

Statistics Disaster

Statistics Disaster
The daily environmental reports continue to alarm. While the International Energy Agency statistics show peak oil occurring after 2030, a new report out from the Energy Research Council (UKERC) predicts oil supplies will diminish before 2030. Even more alarming, the report states that there is a “significant risk” we will reach peak oil before 2020.  

That’s ten years, folks.  We wonder why Canada is frantic in its efforts to extract tar sands, destroying its landscape, air, and water supplies in the process?  Oil prices from 2008 were a primer for the world’s populations that depend on black crude.  To date, the world’s economies are still reeling from that act of generosity, compliments of the well-oiled Bush administration. 

It would be so unnatural to begin a full-fledged environmental association with a similar amount of funding given as is being provided to fight the global war on terror.  What to fight about after the oil is gone?  Don’t tell me, for I already know. 

Energy Conservation Program

To be clear, the Energy Research Council is UK government funded, independent of the U.S. oil-influenced government.  With 80 mph speed limits in certain U.S. states, it’s obvious that our energy conservation program is firmly in place, with little need to validate this latest report on a global disaster. 

Less than ten years.  Relative to the history of the planet, that’s seconds from disaster. Will the oil industry acknowledge this issue?  Not for a while.  There are still major profits to be made;  there’s really no reason to alarm the public.  Hell, they might start their own energy conservation plan, without being told.  Can’t let that happen.  Corporate pigs are still stuffing themselves of our hard-earned dollars, disaster or no disaster. 

What a joyous day it would be to have an environmental industry more powerful than the carbon-based energy industry.  

American Waste

Disposable Packaging

It’s amazing to think that in todays’ society, with instant communication and with instant digital imaging, we still fail to see the big picture.  Thanks to America’s insatiable appetite for consumption of all thing wrapped in plastic, we are now one of the world’s top producers of garbage.  

Latest reports indicate that America now creates 254 million tons of waste each year.  Less than a third of this amount is recycled.  Thanks to the financial meltdown of 2008, the recycling industry has become virtually nonexistent, so the numbers become even more skewed.  Connecting dots is not a game to be taken lightly, as it will lead the participant into troubled waters, far from anything resembling a comfort zone.  This national appetite for waste creation has obviously turned into a global environmental catastrophe, floating upon the high seas, far from home, eventually landing on distant shores, among other places.

Waste News

In the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Hawaii, lies the Central Pacific Gyre.  Natural currents and weak winds combine to help create something quite unnatural.  This is the place where yet one more irresponsible act of mankind gives an all-star performance on the center stage of environmental damage.  Plastic waste congregates within the gyre, covering an area, by most estimates, twice the size of Texas, with new immigrants arriving by the day, so to speak.  Within this area, plastic fragment pollution, as it’s known, outweighs naturally occurring plankton by a ration of 6:1.    

Plastic disposable containers, foam containers and disposable garbage beyond comprehension floats on the ocean’s surface, waiting for the sun’s rays to break it down into smaller and smaller pieces.  Eventually, these pieces become an attraction for marine wildlife, where entry into the food chain begins.  

With studies being  conducted to determine the effect of hormonal interruptions at these lower stages of the food chain, along with the ultimate effect on humanity, disturbing news is beginning to come forth.   Tests continue to show that most major health issues in the U.S. over the last 30 years have a relationship of sorts with plastics residing in the food chain.  

Higher Education Business

Somewhere along the way, man’s quest for higher eduction has taken a wrong turn.  It’s becoming increasingly clear that this wrong turn has placed us on a path of no return.