The whale which washed up on Canada’s east coast is on it’s way to the Royal Ontario Museum. Hopefully it’s body will advance our knowledge of them magnificent creatures. May it’s bones be an inspiration to all who see them.
The Whale & The Future
A whale died upon the coast,
It’s death was not in vain.
It’s being moved far from the sea,
The shore it shall not stain.
A far museum has laid claim,
Tis there it’s bones shall rest.
When tens of thousands pass in awe,
None fail to be impressed.
To stand before this titans bones,
To marvel at their girth.
I hope will help us understand,
Our place upon this Earth.
If we’re the cause of it’s passing,
We need to stop and think,
Of all the other’s still out there,
We’ve pushed right to the brink.
So if it’s bones can help us see,
At last to understand.
Then maybe it was meant to be,
It’s fate to come to land.
Someone who looks upon it’s bones,
May then take up the fight.
To end the hunt and save the whales,
Do what they know is right.
So grieve for it if grieve you must,
But celebrate its gift.
It came to us from out the sea,
Our spirits to uplift.
Despite the fondest wishes of so many who opposed it, Greenpeace turned forty this year. I remember as a child back in the early ’70s listening to all the talk about this group of “hippies” that were interfering with nuclear testing. Because of the cold war, it seemed pretty obvious to a child like me that if no one could test nukes, maybe they wouldn’t be able to destroy the world with them. Then I learned a little more.
From my late teens to my mid-twenties, I went through a more conservative phase where I believed they were a menace. They hadn’t stopped nuclear testing to save me, but to save a bunch of wildlife. I like wildlife as much as the next person, but let’s get our priorities straight shall we. Then I learned a little more.
For the past fifteen years or so, I’ve been a dues paying member of Greenpeace. I’ve watched the world stand by and allow the wholesale destruction of the natural world. Only one group that I’ve seen has put out a consistent message backed by non-violent action to try an curb that trend. That group is Greenpeace.
Contrary To Their Commercials, This Is What The Tar Sands REALLY Look Like
Yep, that’s beautiful northern Alberta in Canada. The company’s that run the oil sands projects have been putting out commercials that make it look all clean and friendly. (I was going to put a link to the ad here, but can’t seem to find that commercial anywhere.)
Greenpeace has been fighting for years to get some sort of environmentally responsible action from CAPP (Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers). Activists have occupied sites, caused work stoppages and worked to make the rest of the world aware of this tragic rape of Canada’s wilderness. It’s a slow process, made more so when the government at every level is on the side of those committing the crime.
They wanted to “save the whales” before it became a catchall phrase to describe anyone who cares about the environment. They also worked to keep Antarctica free, to stop overfishing on the high seas, to stop deforestation in South America, stop toxic and nuclear waste from being dumped into high seas, to stop our society from creating toxic nightmares by selling our electronic waste to companies that dump it on impoverished, third world shorelines to be manually broken down, recycled and burned in open fires.
Yeah, I can see now why some people think they’re radicals. Obviously, their opposition to genetically modified crops is just a ploy to cause famine. It couldn’t possibly have to do with Monsanto and co. owning the genetic rights to an ever increasing slice of the worlds seed crops. Nonsense, how could that possibly be a bad thing. It’s not like they can claim the rights to seeds from plants which have been inadvertently been cross pollinated from a neighboring field. Oh wait. Yes they can.
So yes, I give money every month to Greenpeace. I’m not out protesting or organizing or any of that stuff. That’s not me. Not at this time anyway. Who knows what the future will bring. I think it says enough that right now when money’s kind of an issue, I haven’t missed a payment. Now I’ve learned a little more.
I’m still a dues paying member of Greenpeace. Because once you learn some things, they can’t be unlearned.
Brain Bits To Go 