Now, back to a more general discussion of fossil fuels and their pervasive influence in our lives and politics.
Here are two more links on the Canadian sponsored Keystone XL Pipeline, one on the increasing lobbying pressure being exerted, the other on Right-Of-Way changes being granted in response to the State of Nebraska' concerns.
Keep in mind that Canada is our No.1 source for imported oil, and that the US represents 97% of Canada's market for oil exports.
No wonder this is such a high profile issue!
Other than complaining about fossil fuels and the trains, ships and pipelines that carry them, what are you doing about reducing your dependence on them?
If that sounds like a unusually difficult question, it is; but it is one every one of us needs to answer.
Without those answers, why bother complaining?
My wife & I have been attending a WSU Extension course called 'Carbon Masters', in which we have been pleased, yet concerned to learn much about the pervasive role of carbon in our lives, and the accelerated rate of greenhouse gases being released into our atmosphere, especially since about 1850 when the Industrial Revolution began to dramatically change our lives, in more ways than one.
Being trained as an engineer with knowledge of thermodynamics, I probably ought to have a better grasp of these things, and maybe I do at times. But, that's the problem, I'm only thinking about it at times instead of always trying to walk my talk.
Think about it, then figure out what can be done better all the time.
A carbon tax to remind us might help, but then there are still those who choose to disbelieve that too much carbon can harm us. [Check out this article by Naomi Klein for her take on that situation]
And, how would we get around, and heat our homes?
Or, earn a living, or go on vacation, or have all that stuff, or unlimited choices of food?
These kinds of questions are important to even recognize the nature of the problem, much less begin to resolve it.
And, that assumes the problem even has a solution.
Maybe we're just talking about a shorter -or a longer- version of life as we know it?
Or, think we know.
You know, this could be the type of problem that just makes your head hurt!
But, we've got to start somewhere....don't we?
Don't we?
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