Do You Know?

John Darvill

1990

Published in:

The Northwest Technocrat, 4th quarter 1990, No. 321

... By now almost everyone is aware of the effects of the build-up of carbon dioxide (CO₂), how it is accumulating in the earth's atmosphere, and that it will, as time goes by, cause increasing temperatures on the planet, with the resulting repercussions. Anyone with even a nodding acquaintance with the problem is also aware that the main culprit in this CO₂ build-up is the automobile. How many people, we might ask, are cognizant of how great a part automotive transportation really plays? As of 1987, the total installed Prime Mover Power capacity of the United States was 33,263,000,000 horse-power. Of this amount, 31,488,000,000 was used for automotive transportation. This means that factories, mines, railroads, merchant ships, farms, electric generating stations etc., use only 1,775,000,000 horse-power of the energy generated by prime movers, a very small percentage of all generated energy -- and the rest was generated by automobiles.

... In light of the above, one could be excused for thinking that the logical thing to drastically reduce the build-up of CO₂ would be to sharply reduce the use of automobiles, getting as close to zero as is practical. But this creates a dilemma. Cars are still heavily advertised, and their ownership is emphasized as a status symbol. Aside from that, people are forced to use cars because of the nature of our society. We have built our civilization around the automobile. The distance between our homes, and work locations, recreational pursuits, shopping areas, etc. necessitates the use of an automobile, because, in so many instances, that is all there is. Efficient mass transit systems were gutted years ago, and those that remain are insecure. The Canadian Government recently made serious cut-backs in the national rail system, virtually eliminating the cross-country rail service, meanwhile paying lip-service to the need to reduce the emissions of carbon. A shortage of cash (and where have we heard that before?) will probably result in the closure of the public transit system in Buffalo, New York. Heavy lay-offs are contemplated, which will severely reduce the system, even if it is not closed down completely. All of this is just another example of economic expediency taking preference over the well-being of this planet and all that live on it.

... Another side effect of the build-up of carbon dioxide has been discovered, that is its effect on plants. Fakhri Bazzaz, a Harvard University biologist, has grown plants in enclosures rich in carbon dioxide and found that the plants grow faster but that their leaves may be less nutritious. It is possible that the leafy vegetables eaten by humans may have their chemistry changed so much that they would become unpalatable. The accelerated growth of plants will, no doubt, also mean the increased growth of weeds with all of the attendant problems.

... The problems mount while the prospects for our survival diminish, and we blindly follow the dictates of the Price System. We cling to the belief that monetary concepts must be saved, even if it means the loss of all else.

... It is indeed a paradox that the last words said by the last two survivors on this earth may well be "HOW MUCH."