Walden Cabin: Observations typed on an old Underwood

Saturday, January 19, 2002

Off my chest
I've been really sick for the past month. The flu sucks. Medication helps, but not much. Days of drug-induced wheezing and coughing have worn me down, and have left me grouchy. Many fevered sleepless nights spent staring at the ceiling have given me plenty of time to think. I have to get some stuff off my chest (like this cold). Some things are pissing me off. Here's a short-list:

1) This war against terrorism is stupid.
A recent column in the Globe and Mail by University of Victoria law professor Michael M'Gonigle put it in perspective for me: "Terrorism is the new Cold War phantom enemy, justifying all manner of conformism, continuously stoked by an anger and fear-infused populace." Dr. M'Gonigle then noted the stunning fact that while we are right to be shocked at the death of 3000+ people in New York on September 11, the same day 35,000 children died worldwide of malnutrition. And this happens every day. So, since September 11, 3.5 million little kids have slipped away while we worry about nail clippers on the short-haul to Thunder Bay.

2) Our governments' lies. In 1990, a resolution was passed in Parliament that pedged to end child poverty in Canada by 2000. Today, it's worse than ever. And while we're told there is no more money for families or education or human welfare, somehow Canada managed to find $8 billion for "security" in the last budget. And we just let them get away with this.

3) A-hoy, mates. I have a lot of respect for the Canadian navy, but can someone tell me what five of our ships are doing tooling around the Indian Ocean "supporting the war effort"?

4) Turn it off. A recent study published in the journal Nature points to increasing light pollution as a cause of wild species loss and illness in humans. For years, the astronomy community has been lobbying to save the night sky from city lights. Careless design of commercial and transportation lighting has spilled gigawats of energy skyward -- a great show if you're on the moon. As lighting expands, humanity loses touch with its universal context. Forgetting our place (and relative insignificance) in the greater galaxy is a slippery slope to greater arrogance and environmental destruction. Now it seems that municipalities are finally taking note of the problem not because of the ethereal, spiritual, or environmental damage, but because changing light bulbs on millions of street lights will save governments big bucks in wasted energy. Hell, if that makes the change, let's push it!

posted by Stuart Hickox | 8:54 PM



	Saturday, January 19, 2002 Off my chest I've been really sick for the past month. The flu sucks. Medication helps, but not much. Days of drug-induced wheezing and coughing have worn me down, and have left me grouchy. Many fevered sleepless nights spent staring at the ceiling have given me plenty of time to think. I have to get some stuff off my chest (like this cold). Some things are pissing me off. Here's a short-list: 1) This war against terrorism is stupid. A recent column in the Globe and Mail by University of Victoria law professor Michael M'Gonigle put it in perspective for me: "Terrorism is the new Cold War phantom enemy, justifying all manner of conformism, continuously stoked by an anger and fear-infused populace." Dr. M'Gonigle then noted the stunning fact that while we are right to be shocked at the death of 3000+ people in New York on September 11, the same day 35,000 children died worldwide of malnutrition. And this happens every day. So, since September 11, 3.5 million little kids have slipped away while we worry about nail clippers on the short-haul to Thunder Bay. 2) Our governments' lies. In 1990, a resolution was passed in Parliament that pedged to end child poverty in Canada by 2000. Today, it's worse than ever. And while we're told there is no more money for families or education or human welfare, somehow Canada managed to find $8 billion for "security" in the last budget. And we just let them get away with this. 3) A-hoy, mates. I have a lot of respect for the Canadian navy, but can someone tell me what five of our ships are doing tooling around the Indian Ocean "supporting the war effort"? 4) Turn it off. A recent study published in the journal Nature points to increasing light pollution as a cause of wild species loss and illness in humans. For years, the astronomy community has been lobbying to save the night sky from city lights. Careless design of commercial and transportation lighting has spilled gigawats of energy skyward -- a great show if you're on the moon. As lighting expands, humanity loses touch with its universal context. Forgetting our place (and relative insignificance) in the greater galaxy is a slippery slope to greater arrogance and environmental destruction. Now it seems that municipalities are finally taking note of the problem not because of the ethereal, spiritual, or environmental damage, but because changing light bulbs on millions of street lights will save governments big bucks in wasted energy. Hell, if that makes the change, let's push it! posted by Stuart Hickox \| 8:54 PM				(01.15.2002) Digging in. Walden tree day 1995 Chestnuts and crazy volunteers at the top of the hill. See the Walden Tree Day Photo Album. (01.07.2002) Jasper: Don't label me. None required, son. Critical observations of early '02. See the cover photo archive. (11.19.2001) Walden Cabin 1996 See the photos. Updated - September 12, 2001 Head for the Hills of Prince Edward Island Walden Cabin >> "I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, to front the essential facts of life and to see if I could learn what they had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) Walden; Or Life in the Woods (08.21) Walden Cabin is a publishing creation of Accolade Intermedia, an Ottawa-based communications company that specializes in content-rich Web products. www.accolade.ca >>
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