Beings In Circumstance & Fools

Are we fools in front of the threat that is facing us?

Lets ponder on the fact, that, we live on a planet, often referenced as the Blue Planet, for 70.9% of its surface is water.


Then, recognize that you & I have somewhere between 78% and 45% water in our body, depending on whether we are newborns (78%) or obese (45%).


Today, I watched Gasland. I hope you do too one of these days. Why? Because we should all know about how contaminated water can shatter our lives... and it's already starting... right here in Our Beautiful Province. "Should"... yes, I do think we are responsible... up to which extend? well it depends how long each of us wants to stay stuck with our heads in the sand. But guess what? Ostriches don't do such stupid things (yes, it's pretty stupid). They either run for their life, or try camouflage, but no-, they don't think "if I don't see Danger, Danger won't see me!"


(yes, i just called me, and by projection, us, stupid)


Indeed, I am a fool in front of the treath that is facing all of us. I am quite clear about it. I have examined the possibility of being stuck in circumstance... I can hear my inner Cartman "But, Mo-o-o-ommmm!", claiming the right to some poetic allegory of Cheesy Poofs for my life, right now, and always. (Yes, I am a single kid)

The undeclared war - there are many unpublizied corporate wars, implicating our governments, very well funded, so the message doesn't get too easily accessed by the "average" (also just implied that I/us might be "average") person - over water is pernicious.


And indeed, I'm angry. I told you, I just saw Gasland.


In Non-Violent Communication workshops, I have found helpful to consider my feelings as indicators that a need was either being met, or not. My need for Security is not met. (War against terror accentuates my anger and need for more security.) To some philosopher, this need of security could be considered "my" problem. I'd have to agree to an extent, since indeed, I have the power to adjust the volume on the radio, but I haven't harnest the power to change the song to some unsigned labed artist. In this sense, my Being in Circumstance is accepting the cards Destiny has given me/us, and I want to play with them... I would like to play with you too... not against... "better for all" seems more "sustainable" to my logic.

This water we value as "free" in our capitalist market society (yes, we are living under the capitalist dogma, it is a dogma, not reality), is unmistakably underevaluated... but been here done that (see the last blog entry).


We are living the undeclared war over water quality and quantity. This Blue Gold is actually a common ressource. In Canada, we use 9% of our water for agriculture, 1% for mining (2005 data) and the government argues we (Canadians) should learn how to "value" more water by paying higher fees for water related services. Hummmm... But, companies, can continue using the tapwater we pay for with our tax dollars, and re-sale it to us under some River marketing image, all made under million dollars budgets. Such companies are Thames Water, Vivendi, Suez and RWE. They are the Water Barons and made 62.9 billion US dollars in 2005. I'd bet ya they'd like to keep that up... and they do, water bottle sales have gone up almost 30% since 1999 (check out Inside the Bottle or/and Flow).


With the St-Lawrence watershed being at risk with Hydraulic fracturing, we will shortly face buying (and transporting = GHG) this water we could take the time to save.

But who as the time right? (still angry :)

We live in a country where the Boreal Forest takes a major part of our pristine territory. A report made by PEW gives the Boreal Forest the prestigious claim to be the home of the world's largest source of water. It also had this to say about the boreal forest:

• contains 25 percent of the planet’s wetlands, millions of pristine lakes, and thousands of free-flowing rivers, totaling more than 197 million acres of surface freshwater;
• provides an estimated $700 billion value annually as a buffer against climate change and food and water shortages;
• offers the last refuges for many of the world’s sea-run migratory fish, including half of the remaining populations of North American Atlantic salmon.
• maintains freshwater flows critical to forming Arctic sea ice, which cools the atmosphere and supports marine life, from sea algae to polar bears; and,
• stores more than 400 trillion pounds of carbon in lakes and river delta sediment, peatlands and wetlands—more than any other terrestrial source in the world.

Water isn't simply a good for an offer & demand illustration. It is imbeded in life on Earth. On this Turtle`s back is there place for NAFTA?
I couldn't help to wonder if a business minded person had read the title of the PEW review, and thought "wow! what a great exploitation potential! I could make millions!"

?


Lets come back to our planet's Water Cycle, and the fact that the planet has a finite water supply, which is only a small percentage of the total amount of water on earth... that is about 1%...

*Another reason my presentation on the 26th of April is 1$

So, when we look at the way "our" Québec minister of Natural Ressources, Nathalie Normandeau, has handled the Shale Gas industry, we can recognized that she has done her job by making Quebec's Natural Ressources easily available to the industry (yes, that is the mandate of the Ministry of Natural Ressources).

This is their priority:

1. Create the necessary conditions for the development of Québec’s oil and gas resources.
2. Diversify natural gas supply sources.
3. For refined petroleum products, give priority to secure supplies at competitive prices.

Ya, protection of our Health, Environment and Rural Communities, is NOT their agreed priority.


Government for the people?
No wonder more and more people don't even want to vote for they don't see how a change could Really happen even if they did. But don't be fooled! Although Voting is not the solution on it's own, it sure is part of the solution that we have access to. Only 35% of youth, between 18 and 25 years of age voted last election. What would government look like if everybody would vote, even the "angry" people?

:)


But, true enough, voting isn't enough. Education is another component of the solution.


What is your water footprint?
Canada and the USA (and Mexico) are bound in this ridiculous agreement called NAFTA. Under NAFTA, critics say we are not protected against corporate interests on water. Canada has a very similar amount of water supply as the USA, but is about 10 times less populated, and uses about 10 times less water. Where is USA going to turn to when they feel the Peak Water? Well that's it, they already felt it, no wonder we have included "water" in NAFTA.


The Royal Bank
Is the BlueWater Project one of these well marketed campains to beautify the image, of a perhaps not so ethical, bank? Well involved in the tar sands development, the RoyalBank of Canada has, according to Rainforest Action Network sources, financed the tar sand activities at 17 million$. In december 2010, they revised their new public environment and social standards to inform investors whether the Indigenous Communities have agreed to the projects they finance... Ok.


That leaves me still hungry for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.


I don't seem to hope The World Bank will solve anything after watching Flow (the movie).


Is it through gatherings, such as Jesus Christ Superstore, that we can destabilize people into a loving brotherhood of open minds?


Or should we go a known route by making even better ads then the corporations? A new twist to capitalism would make Common, (ads worth spreading) a success story.


I guess I'm one of many who tends to look at History and feel a bit bitter at how corruption is rampant in politics around the globe, especially when it comes to corporate interrests versus environment... Remember the Gulf oil spill? Indeed, they did not want to clean up. Is this a young teenager's activity, who's mother is too busy to educate him? The allegory doesn't do justice to the teens, but it does say how much I don't think manhood has anything to do with leaving such a DISASTER un-delt with.
 Not to mention, prevention.


So, at last, the MOON.


I was attending a gathering around the Mohawk traditions. The topic was the moon and the women. There were many aspects touched upon in the 2 hours talk that touched me deeply about their tradition, but one fact I had to check out...

Indeed, the NASA bombed Grandmother Moon on october 2009.


?


So to REMEMBER (its the Qc licence plate message) the Gulf oil spill, students at McGill are calling the 20th of April the Day of Action Against Extraction. Meet them at Noon, corner of McGill College & Sherbrooke. "Bring a friend and a flair for the dramatic" says the pamphlet.