Miracle product turned plague.
I unfortunately remember the slow at first introduction of plastic into our lives. The drip became a flood and many of us thought that it could be effectively recycled. That appears to be have been somewhat of a myth. As if we didn’t have enough problems right now we appear to have contaminated our oceans, our air, our water and a great many of the living things on this planet, probably ourselves too. Way to go. Plastic is even showing up in Arctic ice.
Plastic is so much of a component is almost everything that we use that I really don’t see a quick solution or, for many governments and businesses a desirable one. Billions of dollars have been and continue to pour into petrochemical investments all around the world. I’m afraid the oil industry’s dream of evolving in this direction may turn out to be an expensive bust.
We have the challenge not only to cut back, even stop using plastic altogether, but to clear up the mess that has been made. Unless someone comes up with some sort of miracle one size fits all recycle option I’m afraid the only thing I can think of is burning it to produce power and make darn sure the emissions aren’t worse that the problem. Big change must come and soon. There will be economic casualties and opportunities both. Mankind has made plastic into a plague.
President Trump has been comparatively quiet for him with the French President Macron’s visit. Macron did not turn out to be the best buddy though and was forthright and critical in his speech. I think Trump should have gone to Barbara Bush’s funeral.
The choice for Veteran’s Affairs looks like a bust and Trump seems to have distanced himself. Comey is still speaking out and interestingly it looks like Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen may take the 5th amendment in the Stormy Daniel case. I know it’s a right but the very act of doing it piles on suspicion.
Trump called Kim Jong-Un “very honourable” ahead of a proposed meeting. Incredible. I hope it all works out with North Korea, but I fear that it won’t neither am I confident of the nuclear deal with Iran or NAFTA for that matter. Negotiations that are desired to be a win for one side and a loss for the other rarely work well.
The Trans Mountain Pipeline has kind of shuffled down the pack in the news with the Humboldt tragedy and the Toronto van attack. I’ve said so before and I’ll say it again. If these pipelines were going to be built it should have been years, even decades ago. Also, I don’t believe that China and India are or will be what’s been assumed, market saviors. The U.S. is already going a long way to sour China relations and many of the companies operating in Canada are U.S. based, including Kinder Morgan. Not only that China is busting a gut to develop its own shale oil and has considerable energy investments in Brazil, Africa and more. India is investing heavily to develop its own oil industry too.
The snow pack is melting and there will be wildfires. I’m disappointed that although some trees have been cut down and cleared most of the action around Mountain Pine Beetle is to have meetings and form committees. Actions speak louder that words. It’s not rocket science. Cut down the trees and burn them or develop flocks of ravenous woodpeckers. The former seems easier. Time is short.