Thinking Like a Child

Thomas Friedman

While it feels slightly uncomfortable to draw attention to Thomas Friedman, the NYT's columnist, because I often find his views incompatible with my own, I am quite happy to bestow accolades to his excellent article which deals with the Gulf oil spill and Obama's opportunity to steer environmental policy toward renewable energy. In it he demonstrates optimism and compelling argument for common sense that we don't often find covered in mainstream media. If the children understand then why can't we? While it seems crass to capitalise on this tragedy I think one has to be resigned to mess, after all, disasters are ramifications of living in this universe. Whether they be natural or human-made, it makes sense to reduce the damage and learn how to survive future events that are surely bound to occur. Click on the link below to access the full text that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, June 1, 2010. Here are a few bites of text which I heartily endorse.

".... the most important thing Obama can do is react to this spill as a child would - because it is precisely that simple gut reaction, repeated over and over, speech after speech, that could change our national conversation on energy...

I am glad the President passed healthcare for the nation. But healthy to do what? To go where? To grasp what dream? Answering those questions is the President's great opportunity here, but he has to think like a kid.

Kids get it. They ask: Why would we want to stay dependent on an energy source that could destroy so many birds, fish, beaches and ecosystems before the next generation has a chance to enjoy them? Why aren't we doing more to create clean power and energy efficiency when so many others, even China, are doing so?
And, Daddy, why can't you even mention the words "carbon tax", when the carbon we spill into the atmosphere every day is just as dangerous to our future as the crude oil that has been spilling into the Gulf?

That is what a child would want to know if he or she could vote. That is the well of aspiration for a game-change on energy that Obama can tap into. And he could even rip off BP for his moon shot motto: Let's get America "Beyond Petroleum". As you would say, Mr President, this is your time, this is your moment. Seize it. A disaster is an inexcusable thing to waste."

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/obamas-chance-to-salvage-some-good-from-the-oil-spill-20100601-wrod.html

Worst US Oil Spill Since Exxon Valdez

Here we go again. Another oil spill. another coast line, more dead species and the cost - not only to our planet, but to our economies. What gives?

Last year in the sea between Timor and Australia a similar offshore oil rig disaster spewed slick into the sea. The devastation covered measured at least 85 kilometres.

A month ago a Chinese freighter crew tried to save some time by straying off course through the Great Barrier Reef. From its ripped open hull on the coral floor, two tonnes of Texas tea poured into the world heritage treasure. The year before Queensland endured a 230 tonne mishap.

This latest fiasco off Louisiana has some way to go before it reaches the 35,000 tonnes loosed in the Exxon Valdez incident. Still, eighty miles of greasy, life killing sludge isn't easy to dismiss. Sooner or later it will wash ashore and the people will be wondering if it is really worth it to take that kind of risk.

At the end of April it is expected to arrive on prime coastal wetlands landing wave after wave of petroleum tribute. Out of sight, out of mind. In a measure to minimise damage authorities have burned off some surface oil. Polluting the air, apparently, is not good. I suppose there will be plenty of accusations to throw around and some political anxiety to expect when the people actually start shampooing sea animals and counting the dead when they wash up on the beaches.

Surely, there will be other future environmental-economic disasters to cope with. Some probably much worse in terms of negative impact. Just how many more catastrophes can we absorb before it gets too unmanageable? When will we say enough of this "drill, baby drill" oil roulette mentality and really change to earth friendlier energy infrastructures?

I still find it unfathomable why Obama gave his blessing to increased offshore drilling when the answer is to put our labour into making renewables a reality as quickly as possible.

Without being too optimistic it is quite possible that the answer my friend it is literally and metaphorically blowing in the wind. There are a number of available local sources of potential energy to tap into, waiting for us to work out how to make it work. Self-sufficiency means we do not have to invade other countries to ensure sufficient supply of energy.

Is it me... I just don't understand, do I?

Things I just don't get

Just when you think Obama does 'the principled' thing...

Tell me, what possible justification makes endangering our environment the right course of action when the responsible way forward is bleeding obvious? We must turn away from the independence of fossil fuels as quickly as possible before it is too late. Of course I know our world runs on it. But I just have to believe we can find a suitable solution that doesn't rely on putting crucial ecosystems at risk. There has to be respect, a way to live more harmoniously with our environment and each other.

Considering the repercussions that could eventuate from a significant environmental disaster, planning to drill off the US coast is a desperate act. All the money or power in the world isn't worth jeopardising our planet for. Last time I checked there was nowhere else to migrate to. Mission to Mars is still a fantasy. There are no other options. We either ruin where we live and destroy our future or change in order to survive. To me it is that simple. Terminate the source of what gives us life and the writing is clear; it's Jonestown and kool-aid again, only on a global scale.

I just can't get why so few people understand this.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-drilling31-2010mar31,0,4617559.story

About the Massachusetts GOP victory

There is no doubt this event is tragic for the world. It portends of more aftershocks on the way.

The first thing the Americans can do is kiss universal health care goodbye and caress the stained hands of those corporations which have enslaved them forever. The rest of the world can expect more of the same from the warmongers and idiots when it comes to fixing global issues. It's time to put all the dreams on hold and go back to gardening. Yes, I can!

The great hope that rested on Obama is moot. And this definitely hurts on so many levels, I have to say. To be honest I had high hopes he was the person to take us forward. But instead I feel like I have been betrayed by his actions. I don't want to make excuses for him but he certainly didn't get any help from his party. Those feeble representatives bring new meaning to the notion that we ourselves are often our worst enemy. If Democrats are patent at one thing it is losing the un-losable victory.

On the other hand one has to admire the other side for knocking the wind out of YES WE CAN!

Of course tomorrow will show up and give us another day to get back into it. Definitely what happened sucks, and giving up would be so easy given the state of my cynicism. But, what else is there to do? Hi Ho, Hi Ho.