Devastation left by oil extaction in Nigeria
(which never seems to make the headlines - can you guess why?!)
What in the world is going on?
You are probably aware of the damage being done to the environment, or of global problems such as famine, war and widespread injustice. You are probably able to identify all three of the following pictures:
But if you have ever felt the consequences of our global greed for ever-better living standards to be far off, whether in time or place, then you should read this recent article:
What are we doing to our world? Does it matter?
Does it matter that (apparently) cancer is feeding itself on our modern way of life?
Does it matter that fish stocks have sunk dangerously low?
Does it matter that our ecosystems are being damaged daily by accidental and intentional pollution, of which the Chernobyl nuclear explosion, the Gulf War or the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill are simply the most memorable examples?
Does it matter that fish stocks have sunk dangerously low?
Does it matter that our ecosystems are being damaged daily by accidental and intentional pollution, of which the Chernobyl nuclear explosion, the Gulf War or the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill are simply the most memorable examples?
Maybe not. Maybe we have no time to think about it. Maybe there's nothing we can do. Maybe we don't care.
Maybe.
Maybe.
There is one obvious thing we can say nowadays without any doubt at all. Our way of life is unsustainable, we live in a way that isn't going to be possible to afford in a short future.
ReplyDeleteOur progress is very dangerous for this world, no body seems to realise about the fact that we are literary killing our planet. Because we live in a capitalist society, all companies that are related to oil don't want to invest in the development of new sustainable energies. And this is really stupid because it's an evidence that oil is going to finish, and the money companies donate could be used to prepare new companies that are going to be crucial when petrol finishes. In other words, it's a way of investing, with long term benefits.
However, progress is good, and some goverments insist on renewable energies (denmark with eolic energy, for instance) and in non hazardous development. I personally think that we live in an epoque that true evolution is the capacity of improving our way of life in a sustainable and no dangerous way.
I am totally against this discrimination that some cultures have to women and people of other nationalities. Nowadays this should be a closed chapter in our past, humanity needs to fight against injustice. It doesn't matter the culture of the country, discrimination is discrimination in any part of the world. International authorities should finish this, as soon as posible. But, it is also true that it is normal that poor countries are less stable, because the vast majority of the society lives in extremely poor conditions, and this leads to famine and other variant. Therefore developed countries should also help the emerging or developing states, in order to guarantee its amelioration.
Juan Ventosa
It doesn't matter if you post this "article" in the blog. It doesn't matter if we think about it everyday, when we look at our highways full of cars.It doesn't matter even if they say something about it everyday on the news.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we don't change, the planet will follow this fast path to death.
You can study the behaviour of every animal on Earth. There are some which are calm, others are social, active, etc. But... guess what? The one who shares most percentage of DNA, the chimpanzee, is a very aggressive and unpleasant ape. Mmmhh... Don't you arrive at a conclusion? I do, and I think the human being cannot live in peace, it's in our genes!
However, I have some hope. I think there's still a chance of saving the world: finding a new energy source, as an alternative to oil, to stop pollution. In the future, we would still kill ourselves, but at least we'd have a planet to live in.
Please tell me if you do not agree with my biological argument!
If I can comment on style a moment:- as you mention in your first paragraph 'our highways full of cars', I would personally have used 'the fast lane to death' in the second paragraph as this would be a way to extend the metaphor.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I've always thought as you do about humans being a particularly aggressive lifeform. Personally, I've often considered our 'civilisation' to be very much like a virus.
jack roberts,
ReplyDeletepersonally I believe that the questions that this article supposedly poses are redundant as of course it matters, it is completely irrational and even absurd to suggest in any way that the fact we are destroying our earth doesn't matter. If cancer is creeping into our life, if fish stocks are disappearing, if ecosystems are being damaged it is all our problem as the world is our home and should be treated as such. I would like to ask every one of you if you would be as passive and careless if it was your flat or house that was being destroyed? I think not and I think this is the key to the problem as nobody has a sense of belonging to the world as a whole and therefore are reluctant to go the extra mile to help protect and save the world from being destroyed.
Regarding the previous comments I would like to express my disagreement with a few of the points, I don't think that humans are a particularly aggresive lifeform as I think that all animals are equally as aggresive just that humans agression is more visible and clear. Also I think civilisation epitomises order and culture and has no resemblance to a virus. However I respect your opinions and as Miguel hope that an alternative enrgy source can be found as soon as possible as we are in dire need of a breakthrough.