Exploiting Global Exploitation
Most of us have read that cracks in the arctic ice cap are becoming more prominent. There is one chunk of ice the size of Manhattan that may soon disengage and be gone forever (BBC News). While this news is disturbing, it certainly isn't surprising given the widespread media coverage of global warming. However, what's worthy of attention is another piece of information; research teams from Canada, Norway and other northern countries have been studying the area as part of an ongoing dispute over territorial rights. These northern countries are preparing for legal battles to determine who has rights to Arctic resources, resources which until now have been hidden beneath vast tons of glacial ice. Representatives from five countries met in May in Greenland for a two-day conference on Arctic territorial rights (Deutsche Welle). As the ice breaks up at both the Arctic and Antarctic caps, the anticipation is that the earth to be exposed holds untold riches for the countries with territorial rights to drill, mine, and otherwise exploit the previously unexploited.In one respect this news has a certain thrill, reminiscent of early pioneers and astronauts, evoking thoughts of boldly going where no man has gone before. Even without global warming, new technologies are continually allowing scientists to discover new species of plant, animal and mineral in previously unexplored lands.
For example, earlier this month, researchers at Cardiff University in the U.K. announced the discovery of new lifeforms a mile beneath the sea floor in hot ocean sediments (National Geographic). Not only are these life forms the deepest into the earth ever found, they are also the hottest, living at temperatures approaching water's boiling point. Also this month, extra-terrestrial researchers in the Netherlands announced high hopes for their search efforts introduced by new LOFAR (low frequency array) telescopes. These telescopes consist of many thousands of small antennae capable of receiving signals from space (SpaceRef Interactive, Inc.).How many entrepreneurs are currently searching for new business opportunities to be introduced by global changes to come in the next few decades? Are air conditioning manufacturers seeking to establish early market share in Vancouver and Juneau? Are there real estate moguls buying up soon-to-be beach-front property in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Switzerland? Certainly someone is making plans to profit from the ever-increasing number of weather-related disasters striking all over the planet. Like the Y2K scare, and post-911 panic, there are always opportunities for those willing to take advantage of a situation that scares the heck out of most everyone.
Seeking opportunities in disasters is not a new phenomenon. Throughout the centuries, post war opportunists have made fortunes off other's misfortunes. It's likely that after Pompeii erupted in 79 AD, some Roman capitalists were there to offer disaster services for a fistful of denarii. It's only human nature to adapt and attempt to thrive in new situations regardless of the circumstance. The irony with global warming is that mankind's exploitation of the planet is resulting in new opportunities to exploit the planet! The northern governments battling for territorial rights stand to benefit financially from the continued disappearance of Arctic ice. A conspiracy theorist might surmise that such governments are actively working to speed the effects of global warming in order to accelerate these opportunities.
Sound cynical? In nearly every piece of environmental and alternative energy news, there is good and bad. There do seem to be two sides to every story. This is frustrating, but not surprising. More than anything, humans seek answers that do not have strings attached, yet at the same time, humans seem to have an involuntary compulsion to uncover the negative associated with any positive. Key for sanity is to keep an open mind and always try to see the big picture. The world is not monotone, a million shades of gray exist between black and white. The world would be a vastly better place if every person, corporation and government understood and accepted that differing viewpoints do not make enemies, they define humanity.
Here's another (for me more painful) example:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/a-holiday-at-the-end-of-the-earth-tourists-paying-to-see-global-warming-in-action-447206.html holiday at the end of the Earth: tourists paying to see global warming in action
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The future of our planet is unsure and I don't think we are completely aware of what will happen. We need to engage in mass actions to make a difference and start healing our planet.
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