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WindWalker
Senior Member

since 2001-10-12

Posts 1218

0 posted 2006-10-13 10:07 PM

Seems the question before us is:
“When will oil reserves peak?”
“How much time do we have until then?”
“What alternatives have we in place
to bring us gently
into new ways of living?”
“What secure source
of alternative energy do we have?”

Seems to me there are no answers:
the great train of progress
will careen along and go off the track
and we can blame God,
the aliens... or the spotted owl –
just as long as there’s someone to blame
then we can die happy in the dark.

The problem is not lack of energy –
the problem is usage:
we are no longer just people
sharing a small planet in space:
we’ve become consumers –
and there’s nothing natural about that.

Earth wasn’t designed to accommodate
the concept of consumerism.
It’s a finite world, after all,
an ecological marvel –
the only one in an entire solar system
and we’ve managed to eat it up –
all but the crumbs
and we’re at war over those.
There is no place else to go
to build new Wal-Marts or Home Depots.

Now what?
Solar, wind, hydrogen, ethanol?
By comparison to the raw power
of that Esso tiger in the tank:
pretty mild alternatives, these,
even if available
in remotely adequate quantities –
They are not and never will be:
only a complete change of lifestyle,
not in the future, not tomorrow
but today
will humanity survive at all.
“Blessed are the fools
for they shall die at the wheel of their SUV
and be spared the horrors of tomorrow.”

[This message has been edited by WindWalker (10-14-2006 01:34 AM).]

ThisDiamond
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-02-22

Posts 9353
Michigan, USA

1 posted 2006-10-13 10:31 PM

A scary thought, and truth that is for certain.

There are times, in my mind, when I retreat to my ancestors playground...the prairies, mountains and farms. Life was simple, replenished and full.
Well written WW

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

2 posted 2006-10-13 11:02 PM

seems they'll always find a new place to build a WalMart

we have 6 in our 30 mile radius, all SuperCenters

The Lady
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-12-26

Posts 7634
The Southwest

3 posted 2006-10-14 12:32 PM

if the world were a big apartment
we sure wouldn't get our deposit back

great poem WindWalker!

miscellanea
Member Elite

since 2004-06-24

Posts 4060
OH

4 posted 2006-10-14 12:47 PM

You peak the truth! Much food for thought...

miscellanea

Magnus

Member Laureate

since 2001-10-10

Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA

5 posted 2006-10-14 08:34 PM

Very true...yet there are many other things
that are as threatening if not more than
the energy reserves.... There is a huge
assembly of those who hate us, despise us
totally and would and will do most anything
to crush us into the soil we stand on...

I think that is our first worry...though
they all are very important and a part of
the puzzle.

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