Forever Earthbound
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Tribes

6/20/2016

0 Comments

 

            Have you ever wondered about the castle-like structure on Interstate 90 as you approach the outskirts of Chicago?  Medieval Times is the venue for a dinner theatre/jousting performance complete with kings, queens, knights in shining armor and even a damsel in distress - quite a show!  As you take your seat, one of the half dozen or so knights, be it the Red Knight or the Blue Knight etc., is selected as your “champion”. From that moment on he’s your guy, and the rivalry between your knight and those of your friends is ON!
 
            After the show as we relived the highlights, many of us remarked how quickly we had developed loyalty to our “champion” who is just some actor dressed up as a knight.  We were quick to attribute virtuous qualities to him while suspecting devious motives of the others. 
 
           Funny about us humans and our fierce allegiance to our own “tribe” and its members. It can be so intense that it clouds our objectivity. For example, folks on the left side of the political spectrum may squirm when reminded that it was Richard Nixon who created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and he signed into law the Endangered Species and Marine Mammal Protection Acts – impressive!  And how about that George W. Bush warning, “America is addicted to oil” in his 2006 State of the Union Address.  Conversely, folks on the right may disregard anything Al Gore says about global warming despite the fact that the non-partisan, international Nobel committee did indeed award him the Peace Prize.
 
          Ahh…humans.  We find it easy to assign negative qualities to those outside our tribe while we unquestionably support those within our group.  Thankfully, those tribal inclinations are not airtight.  For example, the House of Representative’s Gibson Resolution urges House members to find ways to balance human activities that are changing the climate.  Every single signer is a Republican.  Not what you expected?
 
          We’d see environmental champions (without the shining armor) all around us, if only we’d pull aside those tribal blinders. The Climate Solutions Caucus does just that.  Any Representative who wants to join this caucus is required to bring along a member of the opposing political party, equal Dems and Repubs.  It’s a great example of breaching tribal walls and working together for a healthy planet.  After all, our only home is right here.  We’re forever…Earthbound.
0 Comments

Beyond Petroleum

6/4/2016

0 Comments

 
            About a thousand of us from across the Midwest spent a recent weekend traveling to Whiting, Indiana to participate in the nationwide “Break Free from Fossil Fuels” rally and march.  Why Whiting?  Perched on the southern end of Lake Michigan Whiting is home to the largest oil refinery in the Midwest – British Petroleum’s American command center.  What better location to ponder society’s addiction to fossil fuels?
            The media found us, but there was a noted absence of curious on-lookers from near-by neighborhoods.  Clues as to why became apparent as the day progressed.  Local park maintenance trucks advertise the city’s motto, “Refining the Heart of Community”.  The HS football field banner welcomes Oiler fans and depicts the dripping oil can mascot.  We later learned that the principal’s message board on the HS website is entitled (we hope with tongue firmly planted in cheek)  “Oiler Spills”.
            These Hoosiers have embraced this 1,400-acre oil-refining colossus. And why wouldn’t they?  It provides a lucrative tax base and opportunities for steady employment.  One can surely learn to ignore the gaseous aroma in the air.  A poster one local family displayed from their porch nailed it for me. “We Support BP - Who Are You Anyway?”  It made strikingly clear the locals’ regard for the refinery.  So who are we outsiders who show up on a sunny Sunday afternoon to question their source of economic stability? 
           We are…folks who share the air with all of Earth’s inhabitants.  We are your neighbors who trust the overwhelming preponderance of science that burning of fossil fuels dramatically alters our atmosphere and oceans.  We are patriotic citizens who reject the notion that the Earth can continually exceed “hottest month” records (now at 12 consecutive) without detrimental effects to our economy and environment.  We are believers in the promise of clean energy sources for a vibrant future.  And WE – all of us, are the parents, aunts. uncles, brothers and sisters who must break free from fossil fuel’s grip on our economy to preserve a healthy world for our children’s children.
            Several years ago British Petroleum announced their intention to move “Beyond Petroleum”.  The Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the continuing operation of this refinery confirm that that was nothing more than a disingenuous ad campaign.  But a genuine move beyond petroleum is really our only option because we’re here forever…Earthbound.”
0 Comments

    Author

    I'm interested in the topics of sustainability and climate change especially in regards to our local area in southwest Wisconsin.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

    Categories

    All
    Carbon Fee And Dividend
    Carbon Sequestration
    Climate Change
    Extreme Weather
    Health
    Local Food
    Lymes Disease
    Mercury Pollution
    Renewable Energy

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.