TO BE OR NOT TO BE ? - THE NORTHERN GATEWAY PIPELINE

POST # 126


Going from the big picture view of the world down to the more local level this week, I couldn't help but notice an article printed in the Calgary Herald Newspaper, from my old hometown of Calgary. Without getting into the details, the article was talking about the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal which is meant to carry tarsands from Alberta, west to Kitimat BC and then from there, to be loaded onto tankers and sent further west to China. This issue has been on the table for quite some time, however this past week, the folks in Ottawa gave their go ahead. No big surprise there, what with an Albertan as Prime Minister. Naturally, there are plenty of people opposed to the pipeline, and from here on out, things are probably going to get nasty from time to time. Whether it ever gets built or not, at this point is probably irrelevant, but I'll get to the reason why in a moment. The thing that motivated me to write about this today was because of an online comment from a Calgarian with regards to the Herald article. His comment was as follows:



"The only reason this planet was put here was for people to use to make money. If you're not taking advantage of our God-given natural resources at the lowest possible cost then you're not much of a business man. Future generations? Let them fight their own battles when they get here. It's tough enough making money from fools who are alive today. Don't tell me I can't get richer because I owe something to people who haven't even been born yet."

Ian

The writer actually put their last name to the quote and attached a photo as well, but I have left them out. Of course, I understand that this could be a fictitious name and photo. I get that. But whether it is or it isn't, I imagine there are some Calgarians who feel exactly this way about the issue. The author of the quote seems to sum up in a single sentence how we've managed to get the planet into such a state as it is today with the line, "Don't tell me I can't get richer because I owe something to people who haven't been born yet." To that I would probably add, and all the other species on the planet as well that have yet to be born, but my guess is that the writer wouldn't really give a damn about other species. After all, these are our "God-given natural resources" don't you know.

Here is what "God-given" natural resources look like BEFORE the Ians of the world get their hands on them:

Canadian Boreal Forest


And this is what "God-given" natural resources look like AFTER:

Tar Sands Mining in Alberta, Canada

The second photo illustrates just how far we'll go to scratch out the fossil fuels that are left now, after the 150 years or so of building an industrial civilization on cheap and easy to extract energy. Dig, drill and frack the last rays of ancient sunlight in order to "achieve energy independence and create more jobs and growth." But, infinite growth on a finite planet is impossible.

The ads for the Northern Gateway pipeline always show photos similar to the first one pictured in this blog, with lots of trees, and green, and water and blue sky. To call them deceptive ads, would be a gross understatement. But that's what the people see, and maybe that's what they want to believe, that we can continue to have a pristine environment with no adverse consequences from our continued dependence on fossil fuels. But that's a myth.

Now, as for whether or not the pipeline ever gets built being relevant, my reason for making that statement is that from the information that I have studied now for the past nine years in regards to climate change, we've already set in motion 38 self reinforcing feedback loops that appear to have us on track to extinction in the not too distant future. So whether we get to extinction plus Northern Gateway, or extinction without Northern Gateway is a moot point. But even if we're toast as far as a species goes, perhaps it's not too late to think about other species and for that reason alone, a planet without the Northern Gateway would be a good thing.

But instead of the above species, we may just end up with Tardigrades

and\or Thermophiles

I'm just sayin'.

Happy Trails,

Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer

AUSSIE INVASION

POST # 125

Well it wasn't really an invasion, but it was most certainly Aussie. Earlier this week, my friends Brian and Jo arrived in Vancouver en route to Brian's son's wedding in Toronto in a few days. They departed Melbourne in late May, and prior to arriving in Vancouver, they had stops along the way in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, to visit other relatives.

The last time we saw each other was slightly more than 5 years ago, when I was in Melbourne, so it was wonderful to have an opportunity to spend time together again, even though it was only for a couple of days. Naturally, there was much to talk about and the conversation flowed freely. Of course there is always a tendency to reminisce in a situation where you haven't seen someone for an extended length of time, and we were no different. The memories we talked about certainly produced a significant amount of laughter. There was even an opportunity to bring up the subjects of energy, and climate change and other associated topics, and for the first time in a very long time, it seemed to go quite well. Brian and Jo were very thoughtful about these things. Perhaps my delivery is getting slightly better, or maybe it's because Brian has a son in LA who is very familiar with these topics. Whatever the reason, it was rewarding to have the discussion.

During our first day together, we did an extended walk from Gastown, where they were staying, all along the waterfront of Burrard Inlet, then over to English Bay, and eventually to Granville Island. This was perhaps the longest walk I have taken on since my accident, and unfortunately I am paying the price at the moment, with a pronounced limp again.

Brian was fascinated with the float plane traffic on the harbour as he had never seen a float plane take off or land before. Day two saw us heading across Burrard Inlet on the seabus in order to visit the Q market and later on in the afternoon we spent time at another market which was adjacent to where we had been at the Q.

The time went by way too fast, and by yesterday afternoon I was returning to Harrison Hot Springs, arriving here in the early evening. My brain wasn't in the mood to write last night, hence the one day delay. As I write these words, I am certainly feeling a bit flat, due to our goodbye yesterday. Still, I count myself fortunate to have had the opportunity just the same. As I may have mentioned before on this blog, I really don't expect that it will be too much longer before the age of jetting around the world will become a thing of the past. I continue to be amazed at the fact that things appear to be "normal" on this front in the year 2014.

Time now to settle back in to the countryside and enjoy the peace and quiet, after being in the noisy city. As an added bonus, I get to say hi to my four legged friends down the road from here.

Happy Trails,

Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer

A SLIGHT DELAY

Today's blog will be posted tomorrow.

Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer

MY DAILY RIDE

POST # 124


Since arriving here, I have tried to be consistent with a daily bike ride. I can always use the exercise and I get to enjoy the scenery along the way. For anyone interested in my route on google maps, it goes like this:

Leave 421 Miami River Drive, then,
McCombs Drive,
McPherson Road,
Hwy 9,
Hardy Rd-Golf Rd,
McCallum Road,
Birch Rd,
Else Rd,
Ashton Rd,
Pioneer Ave,
Fir Rd,
Mountain View Rd,
Tuyttens Rd,
Whelpton Rd,
Hwy 9 back to Agassiz,
then,
Hwy 9 back to McCallum Rd, and a return to home via the out bound route.

The distance is around 25km or perhaps a bit more, and for the most part the route doesn't have much traffic, which is why I have chosen it in the first place.

I had planned to add a few photos to this blog, but for some reason the computer is not co-operating, or maybe it's just me, falling back into my luddite-like computer skills. In any event, I seem to be lacking inspiration this morning, so I think I'll leave this as it is for now. Perhaps after I return from today's bike ride, I will be ready to add some more words and or photos.

So I am back from my ride and here are a few photos.



Cows in paddock along Birch Rd.

...and of course, my goat and sheep buddies on Hardy Rd.

Plus some flowers, to brighten up the place.

Happy Trails,

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

URBAN VRS RURAL

POST # 123


I made a journey into Chilliwack yesterday as there were some things that I needed to get done. I went from this:

to this:

Or, another way to look at it, is that I went from this:

to this:

Being in Chilliwack made me think of this short video: http://www.jibjab.com/originals/big_box_mart


I'll let the reader decide which is more pleasing to the eye. As this was my first journey into Chilliwack since arriving here in Harrison Hot Springs on May 16th, it was a brutal assault on my senses, and I couldn't wait for the bus to arrive, to take me back to Harrison. However while I was waiting, I saw a man, a young man, African looking, with no feet. He had what appeared to be two fibreglass stumps at the bottom of his legs, and he hobbled past me from a distance. It was heart breaking to watch his struggle. I could only wonder what his story was. I counted my blessings.

Eventually the bus came and before long, I was back home, in time to head down to the lake and spend some time with the geese.

Happy Trails

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer

And a PS. Just heard that Bezoar the cat is no longer alive. This makes me sad. She was a wonderful furball. :(

Bezoar is another word for hairball, an appropriate name for a furball.