When I think about who is driving the global shift from enviromental explotation to enviromental stewardship, I think of David Suzuki and tree huggin' hippies. I do not typically think of Lumberjacks and the United States Navy. But recently, I have begin to understand that my un-enviromental stereotypes can be seriously misleading. 

 

For instance, when I think of the United States Navy, and where they fit on the scale of eneregy effiecency, I would jump to the conlcusion that they are terrible for the environment. They are the largest single consumer of fossil fuels in the united states, and it could be argued that they violently defend a western addiction to oil. As such a large consumer and international powerhouse, there actions resonate around our pale blue dot - and it seems their actions are turning shades of green. The US Navy is set to become a global leader in green technology.

This is a calculated strategy to save US lives, reduce costs, and better protect the homeland. It was not the Navy jumping on the Prius electic-powered bandwagon.  But Does it matter that this great reform was motivated by cold calculation rather than an ethical responisbility to our planet?

With the amount of money the US Navy spends on energy, diverting those funds to developing and buying green technology will have serious fallout for upstart industries and their technology - technology that will one day power civilian transportation. 

 

Another example of a green industry paradox is Siliviculture (aka Foresty). Noramally, I would be quick to judge a truck rolling down the highway full of freshly hewn timber as the irrepriable distruction of wild habitat. Yet, the timber industry - with the help of government regulation and cinsumer pressure - has been responsbile for growing the amount of forest on this plant in many parts of the world.

Europe for instance has grown back 30% of the forest that was desroyed in the previous centruy - and done this through sustainable forestry practices. It is mostly in the developing world where forestry companies are not subject to strong government regulation and social pressures to practice responsible harvesting. No doubt this needs to change, but hopefully, with your help, it will.

 

All this is not to say we should stop printing doublesided and start a few more wars - but it is to say that we need to think a bit deeper about what is green and what is not. It is important to realize that everything we humans do needs to be touched by enviromental stewardship. We should not shun any industry that takes up this banner, regardless of what sterotype that industry falls into. 

I am very upset with my country. The Harper Government (previously known as The Government of Canada) has been charged with being in contempt of our federal legislative body. Mr. Speaker has ruled that our current government has shown a complete disrespect for the Canadian Parliament.  How - you may ask - can the government be in contempt of the government?

The Conservitive Party has appropriated illegal funds to run their elections, they have lied about funding cuts to social service groups, and they have knowingly withheld information from the Parliament which they were ordered by law to present.

All this has the opposition parties antsy for an election, and one they will probably get.  Yet, despite the scandal, polls just released (http://www.ekospolitics.com/index.php/2011/03/tories-enjoy-clear-but-modest-lead-as-election-looms-march-10-2011/)  show that Harper's party has a clear lead over the opposition.

What is even more worrisome is that for the past 50 years, Canadian election turnouts has been steadily dropping, and now sits just above 60%. What this means is that the Canadian people are about to go to an election over our leaders disdain for parliamentary democracy - and more than a third of Canadians won't even show up to vote. Perhaps Steven Harper is truly the perfect Representative of the Canadian will.

All this, while millions of people - right now - are rising up against dictators and tyrants in the hope that one day they can have the right to choose their own rulers, and define their own path. Dammit, Canada...

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The Jasmine Revolution is here! Congratulations to all my middle eastern brothers and sisters on this tremendous and historic vicotry. You have proven that peaceful protest can conqour human indignity, and I want to express my deep respect for the brave actions you have taken, the sacrifices you might have made, and the hope you have brought to this world. I hope your example can bring peace through out the middle east.

 http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/02/daily_chart_arab_unrest_index  This is an index The Economist put together, showing where in the middle east "the scent of jasmine" is likely to spread. Interestingly enough, they did not include literacy rates, unemployment, or internet access, which are all pretty important. I think with those things in mind, Yemen would come down and Jordan would go up.

Also of intrest, is where China sits in all of this. As the worlds second largest economy, and most populous nation, how China reacts to this revolution is telling of how much they trust their own population. Having blocked Twitter years ago, the social media in The Peoples Republic is almost void of revolutionary postings. The government has promoted their heroic actions of flying Chinese nationals out of the tumultuous middle eastern region, and has downplayed the actions of the peaceful populations. I think it is obvious Chinese officials see the power of the internet as a tool for social justice and democracy, and are actively denying their population unfettered access.

 

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This blog just reached 1000 views! That is pretty exciting for me, and makes me think I should keep on writing. Thanks for everyone who has glanced at this page, it really means a lot! To keep you all updated, I am now employed with TIG as the Online Community Connector, helping out both the Online Volunteer Community and the Multilingual team. I am really happy here, and feel so privilaged to be ablt to connect with all the amazing volunteers that give there time and energy to TIG. It is such a humbeling experince to see how wide this world is, and how engaged the young people of this planet can be. Here is to the next 1000!

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I enjoy hugging Birch Trees. Not only are they free of all that sticky sap that pines have, but if you hug them tight enough, you can feel them swaying in the breeze!