Scary.
When I came to Alberta, it was an agricultural
province. Calgary had stockyards with a lot of cattle, Robin Hood Mills’ huge
granaries dominated the skyline and people with country-western clothes were
seen everywhere. The Stampede grounds, much smaller than now, were the prime
tourist attraction. Driving around the countryside, I saw lots of farms and
some coal mining towns, but they were on a decline. The price of coal didn’t
justify the huge investment.
My friend Jack O’Gorman was a boilermaker,
and he told me stories about the big steam locomotives he used to work on but,
he said, all things come to an end and diesel is by far better. The coal mining
towns were dwindling, horses were kept as pets or raised for meat and oil took
over the local economy. Calgary buildings reached for the sky with no plan for
what will happen after oil.
The new oil-based economy took off and the
big event was the Energy Policy dictating that Canadian oil was a temporary
boon for Canada. Sharing was not a very popular sentiment. Coal was no longer a
major contributor to the economy and places existing on coal alone closed down.
Technology advances always leave some people behind.
Some people who grew up in the days when
tough men went underground remember the days with nostalgia. We all miss our
childhood days, but we grow up and the world is forever changing. Not long ago
most people made a living in manufacturing and now the jobs went to China and
later many became automated.
In the last few years, China developed new
industries, demand for steel grew, and with it the need for good quality coal.
Australia sold coal, but extra measures to reduce the harmful environmental
effects of coal forced its mining corporations to look for offshore supplies.
Alberta mining towns woke up from a long slumber envisioning a renewal of their
glory days, but other aspects have changed. The short-time gains will not
justify large investments. The government investigation clarified that more
than a little local development is not worth the effort.
Prosperity for the coal mining towns that
flourished in the past will have to come from something else. Energy is a
superb source of income, yet reality shows that it will have to be a modern
form of energy. Although my father spent some years underground, I don’t think
that local coal mining will bring my youth back. Even if there is a mine
nearby, it will not change my life much.
We are getting new people in the area, and
taxes are increasing before they settle down. A mine that is not on municipal
lands will not directly pay taxes here. I am satisfied with the way things are.
One coal mine nearby gives us the right to be called a coal mining town and
another building a sustainable energy project and green hydrogen for sale is
just great.
I am interested in having peace here and in
the world. Sorry, all you fighters, I vote for cool heads and peace. Next, I am
worried about how fast anti-democratic forces are taking over the world. The
latest is the Philippines. Ukraine is fighting to keep democracy and next to us
the coming election may bring a more dictatorial regime. Already they are
fighting about abortions while a large majority is against reopening the
debate. What we need all over the world is strong independent journalism to
expose the truth or facts and let people make up their minds.
After this, I am concerned about having air,
water, food, health care, education, transportation, religious freedom, care
for the elderly, and ways for all people to make a living. I want us to do all
that without stealing all the resources from future generations. I completely
don’t have any interest in adding to someone’s accumulated wealth. If they use
it for common good, I am willing to help.
In my opinion, all the world’s resources,
regardless of who claims to own them at the time, should benefit all the
world’s people. The resources that keep us fed, warm, mobile, healthy,
educated, and more belong to all. Not to her majesty, the natives, the
colonizers, churches, or others, but humans and other life forms. The material
world is a circle of life and changes must be balanced properly.
Now we have pushed the world to the limits
and we know it, but many refuse to see it. Force will not repair it since it
cannot.
Human thoughts are formed with words and move
on their own to bring equilibrium. Haste brings waste, and we have wasted all
that can safely be wasted. So, if life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.
The war in Europe will cause a new wave of
development of cleaner energy and restrict energy waste. We won’t be able to do
it using only carbon taxes. The premature move from COVID restrictions will
bring more health care issues. War in Ukraine will cause starvation in places.
A scary situation.
What should happen now is for mankind to
realize important realities. The population will decrease if we educate girls.
Even when it does, we will not need to grow each economy against others to stay
alive. There will be less need for constant human labor and with proper
cooperation, there will be enough to feed all of us well into the future. Our
biggest enemy is the temptation to have much more than others and what we need.
Remove the glorifying of the superrich and superstars and people should and
will be happy.
A wise person once said, “if we don’t hang
together, we will surely hang alone.” All we need is to buy into it and vote
for it if we retain democracy.
Forget fighting and work for equality and
human rights. Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil. Amen.
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