The Election

So, My blog has been dead lately....really really dead. But I've started school again and it's hard to keep up with a political blog when your having trouble keeping up with yourself.

Anyway, so I would like to introduce to the world President Elect Barack Obama. Well, I guess I'm a little late for that boat, but I'd at least like to say a few words about our new president. I think he was the right choice, I don't think the country could have withstood another Republican term. But that does not mean that I feel easy about the future. I hope he is as great has he has promised. As a youngster of only 20, I've had very little experience with presidential promises. President Bush has been my example for the past 8 years (most of my politically aware life), and because I am not exactly a fan, any promises he made were usually contrary to anything I actually wanted to happen. But now, I have a president, that could potentially be exactly what I'd like (for the most part), and I feel as if I'm going to be let down. I don't know if it is an inherent cynicism about our political system and the politicians who make it up, or if I just don' t know if any man is capable of living up to what Obama has promised for the country.

Either way, I know our country is in economic turmoil, we are fighting an endless money pit of a war, the world itself is beginning to fall apart, and that Mr. Obama had a very very difficult job before him. I don't know if this is usual for presidential transitions, but I do feel as if there is a sense of something very important happening. It's really more of an ominous feeling though, as opposed to a hopeful one. I feel that if we aren't able to do something positive, if Obama isn't able to do something positive, then we as a country, will finally just fall apart. President Bush has begun to tear down our nation, and it is up to President Obama to rebuild it. If he doesn't, then well, I hope the rest of the world is kind, because we will be at their mercy.

“Oh What are Men Compared to Rocks and Mountains” –Jane Austen

In our modern day “take whatever we want from the land” society, man has managed to cross the line yet again. This time it’s not about endangering species, cutting down forests, or polluting our water; it’s about destroying some of the few things that we were all certain would stand tall and out last us; mountains. We are blasting off mountain tops and pushing the debris into the valley below, covering up rivers, streams, and natural habitats; while pulverizing the land into a
flat characterless pile of rocks, all in the name of finding more coal. What a noble occupation.

Mountain top removal (MTR) is literally taking the mountain off of the coal. You blast the top of the mountain off, extract the coal seams and then push the excess debris into a valley below. This is a cheaper, faster, and more efficient way of extracting the coal. It also pollutes water, destroys ecosystem and depletes the local economy. That’s right, MTR is not just bad for the cute fury little animals, but for the people around the mountain as well. Coal mining no longer means stable jobs. Jobs that would usually be reserved for local minors are now being taken by machines and dynamite. Even beyond the economy, the removal of mountain tops disrupts water patterns and makes way for possible flooding of communities and homes.

The sad part is (well, other than the general dissipation and destruction MTR causes) no one really knows that it’s happening. Aside from the well informed environmental and/or political community, the coal companies, and the towns that fall victim; most people have no clue we are pulverizing mountains. Why is this not made more of a big deal? We know all about the drilling off the Florida Coast and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), which is good, but why is it that the general media doesn’t seem concerned about blowing up our age-long symbols of strength and resilience? Why, Because it doesn’t effect the consumers pocket book, so it’s not a story.

People are riding their bikes because they can’t afford to fill their tanks, energy companies are looking into renewable resources because everything else is growing too expensive, trucks and SUV’s are being replaced by hybrids and economy cars because of miles per gallon, but when you start talking about blowing up a mountain; the up roar becomes a dual moan. The moan of the few people that actually care if their children don’t get to experience the breath taking site of those towering wonders. It’s sad to think that maybe in a few 100 years the tallest things on earth will be man-made. But even sadder is that we’re going to destroy all of these mountains, and still run out of coal. Is that really something we want to be a part of our legacy? The Millennial generation: the force that killed the mountains.

Saving the environment one blog at a time

First, I'm sorry it's taken so long to update. The trip was AMAZING. I learned so much and I feel like I'm sufficiently prepared to take over the world. I'm so pumped about the whole thing that I'm seriously considering dedicating a new blog only for environmental issues. I get into so many arguments with people about the same things over over, that I wish there was a place I could direct them to that would fully explain my position. A new blog seems like the best way to accomplish that.

Some of the issues I would cover right off the bat would be:
Mountain top removal
Nuclear Power
Environmental Justice
Renewable Energy: why it's the best choice
Electric Cars
How to properly recycle
Composting
Off shore and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (anwr) drilling
The presidential election: through the eyes of an environmentalist
How you can make a difference

I don't know, there's a lot more I can think of right now, but y'all get the gist. Is there something in particular that sounds more interesting then the others? Does this sound like something you'd like to read? I would just like to get a feel for what people in general are interested in right now.

please let me know what you think.

I'm back...

Ok, so I'm back...I just haven't gotten back into the groove of writing yet. I will sit down and write tomorrow. I learned A LOT this past week, so it should be an exciting entry...I hope. Check back tomorrow and we'll find out together.

Technology, environment, economy...Oh yeah, I'll be gone for a week.

The key words in the title are just so I can try and get rid of the Christian stuff that popped up on the site after the Olsteen entry, but the going to be gone part is true. I am leaving for a week to go to an environmental leadership camp put on by the Sierra Club. I will be learning all kinds of interesting stuff, listening to awesome speakers, and generally having a good time...hopefully. I'm taking my computer with me (they have wireless at the park), but I don't imagin I will have time to up date while I'm there. I plan on taking very good notes though, and having one mega environment entry when I get back.

Happy blogging everyone!

Texas Finally Did Something Right

Texas approved a $4.9 billion plan to build energy transmission lines in order to transport the wind-generated electricity in the West Texas wind farms. It's said to be the biggest investment in renewable energy in the nation's history. While Texas is already the national leader in wind energy, this investment will insure there is the proper infrastructure to transport the energy collected from the turbines.

It seems that finally Texas is taking a step in the right direction, and for once we are an innovative example for the nation. Hopefully this will just be one step of many that the Lone Star State takes toward a more environmentally friendly way of life. And hey, if Texas can do it, a state which is infamous for it's oil production and consumption, anyone can. There is hope for the Nation yet.