Category Archives: Economic issues

Civilization ReInvented

© 2015 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee  

Civilization  Reinvented

If anyone happens to ask, I happily and optimistically describe myself as a Christian, a believer in God, a  writer, a published novelist, story-teller, poet,  blogger, reader, creative dreamer,  explorer, outdoors enthusiast, prospector, inventor, gardener, carpenter, builder,  DIY'er, Jack of all trades,  farmer,  family man, father, husband, grandfather, and loyal friend to one's end, however challenging. The list is long, but as long as it may be, it feels inadequate and  incomplete for any human being, much less an aspiring writer full of words and ideals. Wanting to change the world for the better. What then? Perhaps more importantly, I consider myself a dedicated observer of humanity; at times it seems we exist somewhere in the outlying fringes and watch, undaunted,  as an experiment on a blue bubble in space  drags us ever onward out to the unknown. Undaunted? The old adage 'there's nothing new under the sun'  comes in handy, and 'the only thing sure in life is change itself' might be applicable. No matter; in the last few years we can easily suggest there have been changes on earth, in the environment, in weather, in probabilities; There have been disturbing changes in civilization, as usual not necessarily for the better, warfare, racism ugly politics, manipulation, not for 'improvement' of society, but for the benefit of social feel-good manipulators, the profit of power-mongers, self-awarded perks of the self-entitled rich, the development of seemingly uncontrollable, unethical corporate interests, parasitic freaks with over-the-top one-world agendas, and blatant, exponential growth and expressions  of shameless, insatiable greed pursued at any cost to humanity as a whole. In the humble beginning of IncomingBytes.com it was my dream,  a fantasy, absolute madness, delusion, foolishness,or perhaps just a fond wish to somehow do the impossible — with logic, reason, humility, cajoling, satire, good writing, or just good-old-fashioned persuasion—tempt  individuals to actually think for themselves,  one at a time or with circles of  friends, in neigbourhoods,  provinces, states, and even nations. Start dialogues. Discover new paths. Encourage. Initiate. Cultivate open minds. We hypothesized that all of humanity could be persuaded eventually into  entertaining and participating in serious new dialogues on the reinvention of civilization and humanity itself. One miniscule motion toward common sense, one step at a time would eventually complete the longest journey, the pen is mightier than the sword; speak up, wake up, take those essential, first, difficult steps,  and all that. —the astute reader will get the idea. So here in 2015 the need for change is still almost painfully obvious; back in 2012 the necessity for civilization reinvented was obvious; two hundred years ago , even two thousand years ago it was fact—unheeded,  —and it is inevitable the bell already tolls for humanity. Humanity continues to fail itself; civilization is becoming less civilized instead of advancing.  Should we tear our hair out and blacken our faces in repentance? In preparation for doomsday so desired by so-called "leaders"?   Shall we, like sheep, silence ourselves and like the majority, practice apathy in anticipation of the end of humanity itself? There has never been a period in history without greed or warfare. Countries, long recognized in the 'modern' world, are becoming increasingly unstable and self-destructive. The universal model of a 'nation'  is deteriorating and fragmentation is occurring. The  greatest causes of failure on all scales continue to be poverty, disenfranchisement and economic disparity—the result of greed, abuse and corruption of  imperfect, existing models  whether they be social, religious,  political or economic. This same topic was approached in a previous post optimistically called   'Civilization'   (1.0)   which in part suggested little has changed over the duration of 'civilization' as we know it :

"The modern world remains subject to the same economic disparities, with groups of defined peoples  divided into ‘have’ and ‘have-nots’ –relative at all levels, from the personal and individual to the largest universal, international scale. The rich and poor struggle bitterly in established classes, while  ideological and political warfare is shamelessly propagated.  The powerful and political exploit  individual weaknesses. Ambition coupled with  greed, hedonism, and mindless power preys on fear and apathy of the masses to realize and maximize  their own entitlements regardless of lack of compassion or ethics. "    (1.0)

It seems the concept of logic or reason, somehow, is not only individually, but  universally difficult to understand —or is it perceived as treason to become genuinely human, accept, initiate, and practice civility, which is currently trumped by hedonism, corporate culture, brainwashing, corruption, power and greed?   Is there a  silent collective, disheartened acceptance of  destiny doom,and self-destruction? Disenfranchisement of the poor is perpetrated not only upon the poor as individuals, but as complete segments, classes of people, and ethnicities, all conveniently exploited by the powerful. The same indignities are suffered by complete nations of peoples on a global scale; the international  community of nations itself is divided into 'haves and 'have-nots', exacerbated by historical exploitation of the resources of poor countries with little or no social benefit or remuneration, and abandonment when resources are depleted  —a historical plague which continues unabated. Poverty, hate, racism, unrest, uprisings, civil war, ugly, uncivilized expressions of disenfranchisement and ambition surface, fueled by hate. Terrorism, expansionism, and most recently, arbitrary, lunatic 'declarations of imaginary states of perfection based on questionable ideology and misinterpreted religion' ensue-- and are today being forced upon populations with horrific genocide, murder and terror  at a huge cost in innocent lives. [caption id="attachment_1163" align="aligncenter" width="300"]When do we face Reality? When do we face Reality? Right, Alice[/caption] As human beings, we must object strenuously to the essential wrong and foundation of evil of many existing processes;  the pretense of 'advancement of civilization' is blatant hypocrisy.  As previously noted:

" Civilization at times is most uncivilized; and humanity is, at times, the least humane entity observable upon the face of  this earth. It will not change until quantum changes are made in basic thinking. Humanity and civilization itself needs to be reinvented. "  (ibid)

Can civilization be reinvented?

Civilization reinvented —essential for survival of the human species, —to be sustainable —will require a planned, thoughtfully-executed and somewhat brave quantum leap from the status quo. There remains little doubt a major overhaul is essential with  current environmental, economic and socio-political models clearly unsustainable. Why?

Think and consider:

  • Interference by powerful nations in the political affairs of third-world nations and the Middle East have long-reaching and unintended results including the establishment of undesirable, ugly regimes. Can this policy be continued?
  • There are enough nuclear bombs in modern nuclear arsenals to destroy the globe several times over;
  • Can the world continue to consume resources at the existing rate? No.
  • Is it logical to waste millions of lives and limited resources on warfare that could be used for the betterment of humanity?
  • Is it logical or feasible to burn non-replaceable fossil fuels with atmospheric carbon dioxide levels already at the highest levels in 800 years—when clean technology and superior materials are readily available?
  • Should  the population of the earth continue to grow, uncontrolled, without adequate resources, without food and clean water, —when many world nations are already suffering starvation,  poverty, overpopulation and inadequate  water?
  • Some 50% of known species of all wildlife have gone extinct in the last 50 years
  • Deserts and dry lands are expanding
  •  Underground aquifers are dropping as ocean levels are rising
  • Underground aquifers are being polluted with gas and oil fracking processes with toxic contaminated fracking fluids being disposed of underground
  • Thousands of spills of crude oil and other petroleum products occur every year;
  • Polar ice caps are melting and glaciers are retreating at an unprecedented rate
  • Large 'dead zones'  already exist in the oceans; traditional ocean fisheries stocks are depleted or contaminated with chemicals
  • The oceans have been used as dumps for raw sewage and garbage; huge 'gyres' of floating garbage including plastic endangering sea life and birds are known to exist
  • Choking and deadly smog already blankets major Asian cities a result of uncontrolled industrial pollution. Industrial pollution is ignored.
  • ____________________________  (the reader is encouraged to fill in the blank)
....and the list goes on, and on...with "leaders" worldwide  and corporate interests  in a state of denial. The broken clock is ticking. Right, Alice. Fantasyland. The sad fact is, there IS no "Plan B" for the human race. There is no magic solution, no place to run to.  Loyal readers of Incoming Bytes are encouraged to think for themselves and take those first tiny, difficult steps..wherever possible. What do YOU think?

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Is that Incoming I hear? 1.0     Civilization:    https://incomingbytes.com/civilization/ 
Posted in Civilization, Economic issues, Ethics, Life, Major Issues, Politics, The Human Mind | 9 Comments

Strip-Mining The Oil Sands

©2014  by Raymond Alexander Kukkee [caption id="attachment_2764" align="aligncenter" width="768"]A huge pit, strip-mining with gigantic minint truck andequipment Strip-mining Oil Sands  in  Alberta                      photo by Mark Ralston[/caption]  

"Strip-mining:  The removal of  economically less-valuable cover, vegetation or other natural layers from the  environment to expose and enable the profitable exploitation and extraction of large, highly profitable deposits of coal without digging a shaft."  

  Strip-mining.  Let's face it.  It's an ugly combination of words, because it is an UGLY process.    It begins with stripping, the systematic, complete, and violent removal of  protective layers, whether it be in the act of rape or  exploiting  nature. Strip-mining is the most destructive resource extraction process in the world. Strip-mining was ugly in the historical destruction of  Appalachia. Condemned as a symbol of greed and ugliness that remains visible in those areas, strip-mining has returned to North America with a vengeance under  the  euphemism "development"   of the Athabaska oil Sands.

No Excuses Allowed

Let's take the gloves off  and allow  no excuses.    It is somehow now deemed "acceptable"  to allow the uncontrolled denuding and strip-mining  of thousands of square kilometers of Canada's oil sands for profit, leaving barren, oil-soaked lands and poisoned water. The oil  is not for the beneficial use by Canadians.  Strip-mining the oil sands is not for Canadians by any stretch of the imagination, nor is the pipeline structure for the benefit of Canadians. It does not lower outrageous gasoline prices for Canadians. It sadly fails all  international expectations of management of the environment climate control and the reduction of the use of fossil fuels.  The potential for irreversible, horrendous environmental spills,  pipeline breaks  and catastrophes is so high it is almost sublime.  The oil sands already inflicts the largest carbon footprint in history at a time when Carbon dioxide levels in the environment are already the highest they have been in over  800 years.  Imagine that.  Scientific data falls upon stubborn, deaf ears, closed minds blinded by indifference, ego and huge profits for international petroleum giants derived at any cost. International oil companies including  Shell and  China's CNOOC, a communist  state-owned oil giant that was enabled by the outrageous approval of the sale of NEXXEN--(conveniently including a significant percentage of the total  oil sands resource )are laughing already.  They are now  "developing" the oil sands as they choose to do, under relaxed environmental laws courtesy of the Harper government.

'Development' of the Oil Sands

  Let's call it what it IS.  STRIP-MINING of Canada's oil sands. A dirty, ugly environmental disaster already in process, and clearly the most horrific environmental disaster willfully perpetrated on the globe today. Further expansion of  oil sands projects in Alberta will be further exacerbated and enabled by the highly-controversial construction of the potentially disastrous  Northern Gateway Pipeline through First Nations lands and  pristine British Columbia to a 'marine terminal' at Kitimat  --to load and ship crude oil by heavy tanker traffic  through ecologically-sensitive coastal and  inland waters.

Remember the  Exxon Valdez. How clever. The Exxon Valdez disaster which dumped many millions of gallons of crude oil on the west coast  was never  cleaned up. Why? It is impossible to clean up a disaster of that scale. Much crude oil sinks to the bottom and cannot be recovered. It remains there today, over 20 years later, contaminating pristine coastal waters. They played in the surf,   "mopped up " a few beaches for the media, and washed a few seabirds off with dish soap.  Isn't that encouraging?

 

The Harper Legacy and the Sell-Out of Canada

Why was the Northern Gateway pipeline approved?  To  hurry up  the export of that precious Canadian resource  to China and  Asia. To accelerate Canada into "world oil producer" status   Should Canadians swell with pride?   No. Why?

Let's grow up and face facts. It is a foregone conclusion the pipeline had to be approved to make China happy and can be "justified " because the CNOOC-Nexxen deal was already made in spite of the fact that the majority of thinking Canadians opposed that sale,  oppose  further expansion of the tar sands, and oppose  the potentially  disastrous Northern Gateway  pipeline  project itself. The sad fact is, the expansion of strip mining of the oil sands  and pipeline projects have been expressly approved  by Stephen Harper and his Conservative government  as a matter of legacy for Mr. Harper  and his coiffed ego. To save face for the sell-out of Canada. To make his rich friends happy.  Should Canadians collectively be outraged?  You can bet on it. Let's tell Stephen.   

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

Strip-mining Canada's oil sands was always an outrageously bad idea and an environmental disaster.   Approving the sale of Nexxen to CNOOC was your worst idea yet. Fact is, you sold out Canada.   When the resource is depleted, China and it's puppet petroleum giants will walk away laughing at you, Sir, and Canadians will be left with your legacy--millions of square kilometers of worthless, barren, oil-soaked land, poisoned, toxic water, mutant fish and wildlife,— and very sick people.

Your response, Sir, can  also not begin to address the  problems your obsession with fossil fuels is causing, the  issue of climate change and flooding which is already happening. Further to that, Mr. Prime Minister,  STRIP-MINING of the tar sands land mass is irresponsible and no less criminal than strip-mining of mountains for coal in the Appalachian mountains. --For profit, for export, for greedy foreign profiteers, —and certainly not for Canadians. It is a crime against humanity.

The thoughtless expansion and destruction of  unique oil sands habitat is systematically destroying a huge organic mat,  a natural sponge that WAS capable of soaking up and holding hundreds of trillions of gallons of water.  Try it yourself at 24 Sussex Drive. A simple kitchen sponge will hold a half liter of water and allow it to evaporate slowly. Do you not understand how much water WAS, but is no longer being controlled by the destroyed oil sands areas?

How much longer should Canadians be tolerating this foolishness, considering alternative clean energy is available?

Your legacy at this point  is a bad joke, --with all due respect, Mr. Prime Minister. What will you tell your grandchildren when millions of gallons of crude oil  end up in B.C rivers?  Which excuse will you use when the Douglas Channel is irreversibly coated with crude oil?   Will you throw up your hands, whining, and say  "WE made a mistake?" Perhaps you'll use  "I  did not understand what strip-mining was" as an excuse,  or  ' I  needed a legacy to feel important?"    Which will it be? Some "Harper legacy," Sir—again, with all due respect.   Mr. Prime Minister, please try again.  Canadians expect and deserve better. 

Do what is right for Canadians.  On July 1st on Canada Day,  you suggested you care for Canada and Canadians. Prove it.  ##

 

Is that Incoming I hear?

+ Photo credit:  Oil sands mine  by  Mark Ralston

Tags: #strip-mining,  #oil sands, # Stephen Harper,  #environment  #major issues, #HarperLegacy  #tar sands,

   
Posted in Business, Economic issues, Environment, Ethics, Major Issues, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments