In another installment from the "do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do" category we find the mysterious and wonderful champion for all things green and fuzzy, Al Gore. Check the link, people:
http://www.climatedepot.com/a/8595/Gore-leaves-car-idling-for-one-hour-during-speech-Opts-for-Swedish-government-jet-over-public-transportation
So Capt. Planet idles his car at a speaking engagement for an hour spewing out oodles of unnecessary carbon into the atmosphere. Then, in a respect for tradition, he was invited to a fete in Stockholm as he is a Nobel laureate. Did he take the four hour train ride, the more environmentally acceptable choice (Green Bean Express)? No... he rode in a government airplane with one other passenger. Waste not want not, unless you dine on other people's expense accounts, right? Have more caviar, Albert...
I want nuclear power. I think carbon emissions and other global warming hoopla is a bunch of hooey. I believe that the environment should be preserved but not to the extent that humans become second class citizens. I believe corporations that harm the environment should be punished, but I also believe that not every corporation does or should be painted as such. But I am evil in Mr. Gore's eyes, and am now on the ELF hit list I'm sure. Still, he can do as he pleases, not as he preaches. The hypocrisy is sickening.
Live by example. In all things. Live as you would want the rest of the world to live. If that means wearing a loin cloth and eating berries, go for it, but try to remember to turn your thermostat up to save energy when you go out foraging. Let's be green until a better browner option is offered (sorry, Mike Rowe. Brown is before Green!) I love the nature bloggers who decry power generation facility construction despite the fact that the Internet runs on (drum roll...) electricity and batteries are made of (crescendo & rim shot) nasty chemicals. You can't have the wondrous tool of information sharing without power, Sparky...
Solar is nice, and wind is promising, but they are inefficient. I loved the late Ted Kennedy saying he didn't want free wind turbines spoiling his Martha's Vineyard view, regardless of the fact that the electricity would be free for residents. (refernce: http://www.homewindpowerkits.net/why-is-ted-kennedy-against-free-nantucket-wind-turbines.php) So we need to install wind turbines and solar collectors in bad real-estate locations. And I can't blame him. Who wants to see progress? That's crazy talk.
We have a power source that works. NUCLEAR. Our plants are safe. We could fix our power problems by adding a few reactors to the grid. But no. Why? Al and the Tree Huggers say no no no a million times no. But we can't burn coal or fossil fuels either. So how do we get electricity? That's a good question. Cut to the blank stare.
Maybe we should all contain our flatulence and light the methane for power generation and for the public good. That way every one gives back. I'm just saying....
I guess I shouldn't be surprised when prominent issue mongers act outside their mantras. Heck, I know a few evangelists that had "No-Tell Motel" frequent flier miles. The list goes on, and no one's immune. Hypocrisy is everywhere. Heck, I'm guilty of it too, but I can admit it. I want a clean world for my son and his children, but I also want to not have to be subjected being made out to be some sort of radioactive dog peeing nuclear waste on every tree by the people who disagree with me.
How many people died from Three Mile Island?
Everlast said in the intro to House of Pain's first album: "The time has come for everyone to clean up their own back yard before they go knocking on their neighbors door." I'm with you, guy. I'm with you.
Chip Grefski
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