Journal Entries
Selling the future
Posted Jul 30, 2001
President Bush and his supporters apparently know something that countless qualified experts on greenhouse gases and their contribution to global warming do not. Such mysterious knowledge is the justification offered for the refusal of the United States to commit itself to a genuine solution to the problem (which it, incidentally, is by far the largest contributor to).
The recent developments in such international environmental initiatives as the Kyoto Treaty have served one purpose rather well: to illustrate exactly what is wrong with the capitalist philosophies which so pervasively drive our societies. Only by such a mindset can we accept such excuses as maintaining an edge in energy deals with our southern neighbours for our stubborn refusal to take responsible action against the eventual destruction of our environment.
Such measures may cost us money! This realization sinks in only upon the culmination of the efforts of the same politicians to confront environmental issues, which were expended at times when they did not present so immediate a threat to the profits afforded by the very sources of pollution that gave rise to the issues to begin with. We will have to make some sacrifices in order to accommodate a healthy and pleasant existence for ourselves in the future; none of the real advocates for environmental measures has pretended otherwise.
The refusal of the Bush administration, as the elected arm of the people of the United States, to accept such sacrifices when the necessity finally arrives, is a sad reminder that, as a society, we will not always be progressing. If we cannot relinquish some of that annual income figure that serves as the capitalist model of our quality of life, in order to assure a possibility of quality for ourselves in the future, what hope can we really have for any future whatsoever?
Does it even matter?
The same pretexts are used today that were used two decades ago, for shirking this responsibility: that the science is fuzzy, that the costs of global warming are neither so extreme nor so immediate as to require the costs incurred by strict emissions controls. The difference is that science has progressed far beyond the point it was at two decades ago, whereas President Bush and his public (or at least 49.9% of it) apparently have not . Today the experts, despite the dubious politicians, are quite sure that neither excuse is valid, and we will and indeed already are beginning to see the effects of our negligence.
What is really baffling about the whole issue is: why not just sign the agreement? The US can simply toss it aside, whenever it becomes disagreeable, just as Bush is scrapping the once formidable Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to serve his interests. It’s uncertain, in light of the policies of the last seven months, how much trust can we place in that signature anyways.
To witness such questionable deeds (and non-deeds) in this day and age begs the question: what’s so extraordinary about this day and age?
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Latest reply: Jul 30, 2001
Sudbury
Posted Jun 4, 2001
Having the opportunity to stay in this fine city for a matter of something in the range of four months, I have to decided to immerse myself in its culture and perhaps share a few of my observations/ first-hand-experiences (for a true anthropologist, and even a hack one, should always get his feet wet, or so goes my firm belief on the subject) with the unsuspecting and presumably innocent faction of society that does not have the ability to truly say, "I've been to Sudbury, Ontario, Canada!"
Thus far my research has been limited to "getting my feet wet", as the aformentioned expression goes; however, experiences have been presenting themselves left and right, and with almost no provocation whatsoever. Perhaps I will mention them in this and subsequent journals, based entirely upon a single aspect at a time, topics such as "Night Clubs", and "Industry", "History", and "Local and Regional Geological Stratigraphy", the latter of which I am in a rather good position to comment upon.
For the moment, however, I must acknowledge that my lunchbreak has ended, and there is "real work" (by which I refer to paid employment)to be done.
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Latest reply: Jun 4, 2001
May 31 and beyond
Posted May 31, 2001
I've been in this town (Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Earth, Sector G5-56700, etc.) for three weeks now, and still no telephone! (Well, due most likely to the same incompetence that Bell Canada has demonstrated thus far in any and all relations I have had the unfortunate obligation to have had with said company, my phone line [I]does[/I] work -- it is somehow crossed with that of a nearby flower shop; since they use it during the day and I in the evenings, a conflict has not yet erupted from the situation, but it's only a matter of time, and needless to say I put little confidence in Bell Canada to have alleviated the situation prior to such an eruption.
That is what I'm looking forward to. Beyond that my perceptual cataracts don't allow much prophecy. Will I be a Neuroscientist? Will I be a journalist. Will I simply (not to insinuate simplicity here) become a H2G2 Researcher?? I can think of worse fates...
Anyone into trance ambient house jungle trip-hop? Anyone into dancing? The further, deeper, more hard-core realms of the electronic revolution? I want some advice, and some links, and some names of music, dj's, clubs, from anyplace in the galaxy. I.e., check out Zaphod's in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada... I haven't been there in three years, but I'm certain it's still Hitchhikertastic!
Also I am delighted by crazy book suggestions by far-out authors who are more probably escaped sociopaths posing as authors, for all their honesty. If anybody has the odd experience of stumbling across these words, for whatever reasons or non-reasons, drop me a few lines that you feel might help me advance my happiness quotient somewhat.
I am at a loss as to practical incentive for the effort of being nice to internet strangers. That indescribaly wonderful aura of pride and warmth at having done a completely selfless act of altruism, perhaps? Does such a thing exist, in the absence of sexual selection? Is sexual selection so awfully pervasive that even the internet cannot escape its merciless grasp? Of course it is.
I love each of you. That, of itself, is the honest truth.
Accept no alternatives.
Love A.
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Latest reply: May 31, 2001
Smeagol
Researcher U178006
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