Reflections, Observations, and Analyses Pertaining to the Canadian Political Scene
Thursday, June 23, 2016
I've Seen Fire, And I've Seen Rain
I readily admit that I am transfixed, awed and horrified by these now-regular reports of unfolding climatic disaster. Yet our hubristic selfishness continues unabated. Why? Is this humanity's fatal flaw?
My city is getting another high-tech plant that promises to raze bushes and trees on a popular trail so everyone can see their impressive building. We think we need to have a computer that can be wired to communicate with everything else in the vicinity, but we really need people able to talk to other people. We need trees more than wireless technology innovations. But the city councillors are so excited about a brand new project to attract people to our world-class city. And it's getting so over-developed that experts think we'll likely suffer serious groundwater issues pretty soon. Tra-la-la....
The razing of trees is something that especially bothers me, Marie, given their effectiveness as, to use the current argot, 'carbon-sequestration devices.' Our folly seems to have no limits, does it?
Re Spaceship Earth - and our perspectives or evaluations as passengers.. I often think about the term 'canary in a coal mine' .. re warnings about the 'breathable environment'.. but as anyone who has been to the bottom of the Kidd Creek Mine might tell you.. the slightest groan in the rock ceiling at minus 5000 feet can snap your head around towards the lift and the long long climb to daylight. Now drilling loading and packing explosive charges at those depths requires a certain confidence.. or sang froid
My point is.. we are at the point where we are gambling.. and the stakes are high. The canaries fell over dead long ago.. the rocks are groaning.. but we must expand the economy y'know.. Frack th hell out of th planet, harvest the Amazon trees, create a vast toxic moonscape in Alberta to feed the Asian economy, displace any and all indigenous who thrive atop copper or gold reserves, and lets be sure we take out the keychain species of fish, damn the whales - they in the way of supertankers.. and mebbe the great Colonial Wet Dream of the Northwest Passage will 'open up' some tidewater so Stephen Harper can plunk more of his n hers 'Portfolio' or his mom's.. and can double or triple his 'return' .. be 'made whole' so to speak
As we argue about the threat of ISIS .. The Donald .. Abortion .. LGBT bathrooms.. fer cryin out loud.. Planet Earth's eyebrows lift, her eyes blaze & she emits sharp harsh words.. that 99.999 fail to hear, much less heed. We are passengers on a Utopian soap bubble hutling through galactic space. We are gnats.. No. We are lovely little canaries, full of song.. trusting in our keepers.. and we are deep in the mine.
Very effectively expressed, Salamander. Your portrayal of our species' headlong and heedless decent into the abyss is heartbreaking in its accuracy and its sense that there is likely nothing that will lead us to alter course at this late date.
My city is getting another high-tech plant that promises to raze bushes and trees on a popular trail so everyone can see their impressive building. We think we need to have a computer that can be wired to communicate with everything else in the vicinity, but we really need people able to talk to other people. We need trees more than wireless technology innovations. But the city councillors are so excited about a brand new project to attract people to our world-class city. And it's getting so over-developed that experts think we'll likely suffer serious groundwater issues pretty soon. Tra-la-la....
ReplyDeleteThe razing of trees is something that especially bothers me, Marie, given their effectiveness as, to use the current argot, 'carbon-sequestration devices.' Our folly seems to have no limits, does it?
Delete.. excellent, thanks !
ReplyDeleteRe Spaceship Earth - and our perspectives or evaluations as passengers.. I often think about the term 'canary in a coal mine' .. re warnings about the 'breathable environment'.. but as anyone who has been to the bottom of the Kidd Creek Mine might tell you.. the slightest groan in the rock ceiling at minus 5000 feet can snap your head around towards the lift and the long long climb to daylight. Now drilling loading and packing explosive charges at those depths requires a certain confidence.. or sang froid
My point is.. we are at the point where we are gambling.. and the stakes are high. The canaries fell over dead long ago.. the rocks are groaning.. but we must expand the economy y'know.. Frack th hell out of th planet, harvest the Amazon trees, create a vast toxic moonscape in Alberta to feed the Asian economy, displace any and all indigenous who thrive atop copper or gold reserves, and lets be sure we take out the keychain species of fish, damn the whales - they in the way of supertankers.. and mebbe the great Colonial Wet Dream of the Northwest Passage will 'open up' some tidewater so Stephen Harper can plunk more of his n hers 'Portfolio' or his mom's.. and can double or triple his 'return' .. be 'made whole' so to speak
As we argue about the threat of ISIS .. The Donald .. Abortion .. LGBT bathrooms.. fer cryin out loud.. Planet Earth's eyebrows lift, her eyes blaze & she emits sharp harsh words.. that 99.999 fail to hear, much less heed. We are passengers on a Utopian soap bubble hutling through galactic space. We are gnats.. No. We are lovely little canaries, full of song.. trusting in our keepers.. and we are deep in the mine.
Very effectively expressed, Salamander. Your portrayal of our species' headlong and heedless decent into the abyss is heartbreaking in its accuracy and its sense that there is likely nothing that will lead us to alter course at this late date.
Delete