LET'S MAKE AN ENERGY TRANSITION NOW

          Anyone who reads my blog or is a friend on Facebook most likely realizes how I feel about fracking.  To put it in a nutshell; I feel that fracking should be immediately abolished even though I know the hardships that would follow, if such a decision occurred, would be considerably drastic.  But what's the alternative?  The destruction and death of our planet means our own demise and every other creature's as well.  In this time in history like no other time before, not even the terrible and horrendous two World Wars, everyone, and I mean everyone, is tied with their hands behind their backs to a post, a blindfold tied tightly across their eyes and a firing squad is aiming their guns at our hearts, awaiting the command, "Fire!"  I'm not an expertise on fracking, no scientific background of any kind, nor do I know exactly how this method works but I'd have to be a blind man not to see the detrimental downside of extracting fossil fuels in this manner - poisoned earth, air and water, and not on a small scale - means the destruction of civilization, not just to us but the deaths of our children and their children as well.  We all know what's lurking on the horizon and sooner or later, perhaps not the older people, not much time left to live, who have their heads stuck so far up their asses saying, "Well I won't be here when it all comes to an end;" someone has to be and many will be here.  I cannot even imagine how terrible it will be; not to be able to breath the air, drink the water and eat the food; Hitler's Holocaust will seem like mere child's play. 

          Well enough of my ranting; I'd like you to read what my friend Keith had published in the Telegraph Journal, St. John NB, a few days ago.  He gave me permission to include his commentary and I'm not sure how he will feel about mine, but standing on the edge of a jet plane, 30,000 feet in the air without a parachute scares the living shit out of me and that's the position I feel I'm in at the moment, so I'm speaking my mind  He knows more about this problem than I do.  However, if you feel as strongly as me about bringing fracking to an end, please feel free to share this blog - we can't leave the natives alone to stand up to the people who are trying to shove this dastardly policy down everyone's throats.  I don't know about you but there's nothing more important than having good water to drink, pollution free air to breath and naturally grown food to eat - cheers, eh! 

Let’s Make an Energy Transition Now

Keith Helmuth

          In all the media reports about the US becoming the world’s second largest producer of

hydrocarbons thanks to fracking, an inescapable factor is being ignored: No matter how we calculate it,

fossil fuels are a sunset industry. The same thing goes for the Alberta oil sands, which are touted as having

the potential for making Canada a big league hydrocarbon producer.

          The new technologies and the newly accessible hydrocarbon deposits only move the sunset

horizon a little further down the road. The logic of this scenario could not be clearer, but we continue to

act as if it were not the case despite the potentially catastrophic consequences for the habitability of the

planet. If we open up and pump out all the oil and shale gas we can find, the deposits will eventually play

out and we will likely cook the planet in the process.

          The fact that most of us presently alive will not be around for the full effect of the fossil fuel

burnout, places an unprecedented moral responsibility squarely in our laps. We now live on a unique and

temporary subsidy of hydrocarbon energy that has produced a unique and temporary economy of

affluence and convenience.

          Nothing like this has happened before. When it is over, civilization will have moved to a

renewable energy platform. Renewable energy is the only platform that makes sense for the long run and

the faster we move to it the better off our descendants will be. We are in the middle of a momentous

moral decision about energy use and the future of the planet.

          Civic and political leadership, by definition, is morally responsible for the consequences of present

societal action on future human wellbeing. Governments have an “in trust” responsibility to safeguard the

environmental assets on which we all depend, and that means especially Earth’s atmosphere.

          On the one hand, substantial evidence from earth­system science shows that pushing the fossil fuel

economy for all its worth will decrease the planet’s overall habitability and severely compromise the future

wellbeing of human communities.

          On the other hand, business leaders in the fossil fuel industry, along with their political allies, are

pushing back against the science by pointing out that curtailing the exploitation of fossil fuels would result

in a subsidence of the consumer economy. So what are civic and political leaders supposed to do? What

are we supposed to do?

          It depends on whether you think the primary moral responsibility is to keep the consumer

economy going as long as we can, even if it shortens the future; or whether you think a higher moral

responsibility is to change course in order to give our descendants a better chance of having an

environment in which they can live in a secure and reasonably prosperous way. This divide in moral vision

is at the heart of the shale gas and land use battle now erupting in NB.

          The current federal government is squarely in the first camp, and is determined to make Canada a

hydrocarbon cornucopia. The current NB government sees things the same way. But it is clear from the

opposition to shale gas mining in NB that a large number of citizens do not support this approach to thefuture. And much to the consternation of shale gas proponents, an increasing number of jurisdictions are

putting the brakes on the rush to shale gas fracking.

          If we change course, and muster up the moral leadership to deliberately and systematically gear

down the fossil fuel economy, leaving most remaining oil, gas, and coal in the ground, we have a different

kind of problem ­ the consumer economy will go into subsidence, and we all know that means recession

or even depression.

          What terrible options. It makes you think of Woody Allen’s quip; “More than any other time in

history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total

extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.” Humour has a way of putting things in a

nutshell.

          But there is a clear middle ground for a way out: As the fossil fuel industry is systematically geared

down, all forms of renewable energy can be ramped up as rapidly as possible. Will there be an “energy

gap?” Probably. The transition may well require a controlled subsidence of the consumer economy, but

that hardship can be managed.

          What likely cannot be managed will be the severe ecological repercussions, climate chaos, and

economic breakdown that can be foreseen as the consequence of pushing the hydrocarbon economy for

all its worth for as long as we can.

          We have everything we need to make the transition to a conserver economy based on renewable

energy. We already know from the evidence that investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy

creates far more jobs than investment in fossil fuels. It may take 30 years to make the transition, but the

growth of renewable energy can help create a sustainable and prosperous conserver economy. Moral

leadership invested in this transition will pay long­term dividends.

          Keith Helmuth is a member of the Woodstock Sustainable Energy Group

          Published in the Telegraph Journal, St. John NB, November 26, 2013

WINTER'S WALKING, WAGGING AND WOE

         As I watch the snow flakes quietly drifting by my studio window, it looks as if winter is here to stay.  I've built a lot of snow forts, snow men and had many snowball fights during my younger years but now, since I've become almost as old as winter, I enjoy being inside listening to a crackling fire and having time to do some of the things that during the other seasons I'm too busy to indulge in, like painting and writing.  

          I went for a walk this morning with our fool dog Duncan, I say fool because his attention span is very short - I start out on the walk with him running ahead but we seldom arrive home at the same time because he has lingered too long at the base of a tree watching a squirrel, which is well out of reach, scolding him for being such a nuisance or the scent of a passing coyote has tickled his nose and caught his fancy.  He's a happy dog; his tail is always wagging and if I didn't know better, it looks as if he smiles, and then again, perhaps he does.  As per usual, we started out together on this morning's walk but he was soon distracted by something in the forest and I didn't see him until I returned home about an hour later.  I don't mind that he gets lost in his own little world because it seems, I'm not much different in that respect.  My mind generally wanders on these walks and often, I lose track of time.

          Time is something I no longer have too much of; at age 72, it's a real crap shoot - so far I've been rolling sevens and elevens, doubling my bets and cashing in - sooner or later though, snake-eyes are going to turn up, stare me in the eyes and tell me that the game's over; I lose.  As I look back over the years at my life, I'd be a fool to say I don't have any regrets; that would be like saying I've never made any mistakes; I've led a perfect life.  No, I've made mistakes, plenty of them and unfortunately, some of them I've repeated over and over again throughout the years.  I've made several really big error judgments and one of them that still really bothers me, although at the time because the word "success" had been preached at me from day one, I thought I was doing the right thing.  Even now, if I had continued the way I once was, I would be considered a "success" by most people's standards.  It didn't take me till I was an old man to realize that I had gone down the wrong path; the search for wealth and the easy life is a pathway leading to hell on Earth.  And that's what I find so disturbing now.  So many people throughout the ages have jumped at the chance to pursue riches beyond their dreams and expectations and because of this, I believe the whole world, like my life, is at the very edge of its endurance, perilously at its end.  The Bible tells us that "the meek shall inherit the Earth" and people are awaiting the "second coming of Christ" but hell, if He doesn't show up very soon, there will be no Earth to inherit and there won't be a person still living to greet Him.

          As I wandered down to the lake this morning, everything looked very normal but then when I looked more closely at my surroundings, I realized the trees in the forest looked like mere toothpicks in comparison to the way a forest is supposed to be and what I find unbelievable about their appearance is that the forests are still being logged; when will it stop?  When there isn't a twig left standing; that's when.

          The snow has stopped falling but a slight breeze is still blowing; a tree's outstretched limbs tickling the belly of an overhead cloud can be seen just outside my window.  It's not as quiet as it should be at the base of Green Mountain in Fosterville because I can hear the drone of a chain saw in the not too far distance; a harbinger of more to come and I feel a sadness overcoming me as winter demands its attention - cheers, eh!        

CAT TALES

Finnegan

          A week has passed since I last saw my friend Finnegan the cat.  Like our dog Duncan, he followed me around and even came on long walks with me.  Sometimes I would pick him up and carry him for awhile, not because he was tired out, he just felt good in my arms.  Since we had a wee snowfall a little while ago, I've noticed a lot of coyote tracks, I guess they're hoping to get their chops on our chickens but so far, thanks to the dog I expect, they haven't come near the chicken coop.  Although Finnegan was a great hunter, mice and squirrels being part of his diet, since he was an outdoor cat and bedded down in the garage or barn, I expect the hunter became the hunted; Finnegan most likely ending up as some other predator's dinner in the forest.  I would sometimes meow to him and we would have these great conversations in cat language; it's odd, he certainly seemed to understand a few English words but I never new one cat word, at least what it meant.  I've never been a great cat-lover, especially the domesticated, pampered type cat-lover; I've always preferred the outdoor variety.  There was nothing particularly different about Finnegan as far as cats go and as much as he could be a voracious killer of small animals and birds, he was always friendly and looked forward to being petted and cuddled.  

          Over the years, cats have often been a part of my life, whether I wanted one or not.  One of the most unusual cats I had lived in my sign shop to keep the mouse population under control.  He was a mottled grey colour and reminded me of smoke, so I named him Smokey.  I'm not sure how, but I suspect one of the people I had working for me at the time, dropped a 4'x8' sheet of plywood on his tail because one day, I noticed that his tail had an unusual bend and as time went by, the end of his tail broke off, so he only had a short stub.  I don't know how it began but we began playing hide and seek with one another.  We would take turns hiding and looking for each other and I have to admit, we were pretty comical.  I remember one afternoon, I decided to play a bit of a prank on Smokey and hid under a sheet of plywood that was leaning on the wall just around the corner of the shop.  I can still see old Smoke as he warily crept along looking to his left and his right as he came towards me.  And then, when he already reached where I was hiding, I jumped out and yelled boo as loud as I could.  I never saw a cat leap so high into the air and run so fast, but what was truly amazing, Smokey left a trail of yellow piss the length of the shop and out the window.  We were good pals until one day, a boy came into the shop and told me a cat was lying dead by the side of the street up at the corner.  When I asked how he knew it was my cat, he told me about his stubby tail and sure enough, it was old Smoke; he'd been hit by a car and killed.

          I don't know if Finnegan has used up his nine lives but in case he has, all I can say is, R.I.P. Finnegan - cheers, eh!

FIRST SNOWFALL - HERE COME'S WINTER

          Although winter hasn't officially arrived, and I don't think summer ever did, the first snowfall, a harbinger of freezing weather, is now occurring.  Small snowflakes, like miniature paratroopers are dropping out of the sky; countless numbers invading the earth and changing the brownish colours of autumn to white.  Six cords of firewood are neatly stacked in the woodshed; warmth already delightfully radiating from the wood stove in my studio caresses my arthritic joints, and, although not quite ready for the cold months ahead, I am still looking forward to winter.  

          I'd like to think that during the cold winter months, I could just paint and write like the doodler-dabbler that I am, but renovating the upstairs bathroom is going to take up a good portion of my time.  Not that I'm complaining, because building things, since we arrived at Golden Unicorn Farm, has opened up a whole new canvas for me; instead of using a brush and paint, I've been using a hammer and nails.  I'm not just looking forward to turning a tiny, rotting away bathroom into a much larger and luxurious one, the large claw-foot tub I purchased to pamper my arthritic aches and pains makes the project more worthwhile.  I'm hoping the tub will be medicinal and aid me when I expand Sarah's coffee shop in the spring because the way my body feels at the moment, I'm not positive that I can take on such a physical project; putting 2"x8" rafters and floor boards in place is going to be difficult, not to mention applying the metal roof; I'm no longer a young man. 

          The accomplishments I achieved during the summer weren't as many as I had hoped; being laid up with severe back pains and aching knees off and on, took its toll; rendered me somewhat useless.  What I'm hoping for next year is to get the enlarged coffee shop mostly finished by May long-weekend so it can open and when it is completed, I'm going to hang up my carpenter's pouch and use it only for repairs; my building days coming to an end.  Then look out blank canvases and paper; I'm going to have fun!  

          We have a couple of friends, Mike and Judy Saunders living on the edge of a nearby lake during the summer.  They invited us down for a few drinks the other night, before they leave for Victoria, BC; a more pleasant environment during the winter.  We had a great time, and me, not much of a wine connoisseur or imbiber, preferring to drink beer, knocked back way more wine than I should have.  I felt great; my whole body warm and saturated with wine, that is until I stood up to go home; wouldn't you know it, I toppled over and at this age, falling down could be seriously dangerous, many people breaking their hips.  Sarah thought I'd hurt myself but I didn't feel anything; most likely numbed by my alcohol intake.  And to make things even worse, when I stepped out of the car upon arriving home, I fell down again.  I still never felt any pain even though I have a slight lump on the back of my head.  No, no pain; not until the next morning.  Fortunately I don't get hangovers but my body, not being as supple as it used to be, doesn't bounce anymore, the old joints sure played hell with me.  I feel pretty good today and was planning to clean out the chicken coop but not just because it's Sunday, I think I'll have a sort of take the day off, give myself a little more time to heal.  I mean what's the rush; I left a booming city to attain a more casual lifestyle; tomorrow's another day; I'll clean out the chicken coop then - cheers, eh! 

          If you would like to read a very short, 500 word story about my mom that I wrote for Canada Writes on the CBC, check out this link  http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/2013/11/call-for-submissions-bloodlines.html#mid=13782269&offset=5&page=&s=         

A VERY SHORT STORY ABOUT MY MOM ON "CBC WRITES"

          The CBC is having a writing contest, which is titled "Bloodlines" and anyone can enter.  Since both my wife and I enjoy writing, we each entered a short story, which can't be over 500 words and if you are fast reader like me, the stories are not ones you would read while sitting on the toilet, not unless you were suffering from diarrhea - then the story and your business would most likely be concluded at the same time.  Personally, I prefer a lengthy novel while dropping a steaming 16-coiler, because then if I haven't finished the story, I can at least bend the corner of a page to mark my place, or if what I've read is utterly boring, I can use the pages I've read to tidy up my behind.     

"Mom"

          I chose to write about my mother, especially since we have the same blood, very red blood I might add.    The photograph of my mom was taken when she married my dad and as you can see, she was a very pretty woman.  Although the story does mention my father; it's more about my mother, so that's why I removed him from the photo, besides he didn't look too happy that day; perhaps he had a premonition of what was to come. or perhaps, since he was a professional gambling man, he was wondering how to cut the honeymoon a little short so he could get into a good game of poker.   Anyway, if you would care to read about my mother, just a snippet that is, I'd be grateful and especially grateful if you left a comment.  Here's the link to Bloodlines http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/2013/11/call-for-submissions-bloodlines.html#mid=13782269&offset=0&page=&s= and if for some reason it doesn't open, just go to CBC Writes and look for my mom's photo or the title Transformation.  Hope you enjoy the read - cheers, eh!