I see the world like a long, carefully knitted coat, closed with many buttons.
While we try to keep the garment fastened, even making sure almost every button is securely in place, we fail to see that our coat is actually slowly unravelling at the hemline. And unless we stop worrying about keeping it closed and concentrate on keeping the hem in better shape, we will end up losing our coat – our world – while we worry too much about the buttons – the economy.
We should be looking at solar energy and wind power and stop having the mindset that fossil fuels and pipelines along with gas are the only elements that will keep the economy strong, even if it means we have to take uncomfortable steps backwards in terms of creature comforts. We need public transportation, shared cars, simpler foods that are in season, no big-box stores, fewer new items and more fixing and reusing.
We will have to hurt before we can get better. We do it so often with illness. “This will hurt, dear, but it will help you, and maybe even save your life.”
I cannot understand how intelligent human beings can say things like, “Pipelines are safer than rail.” It is the rail track or the freight cars, it is the oil, liquid sludge and bitumen that uses them that is killing the world, along with oil rigs, oilsands, fracking… What is the point of a strong economy and no world to make use of it?
And does no one ever think about the fact that oil and gas are going to run out? What then?
E. Morgan Hellyer
Squamish
