KXL and Water

And so in Arkansas that which all knew could happen, did happen. Everyone knew it would happen because it always does. Anywhere a pipeline is laid, there will come a time when that pipeline will be breached in some manner and its content spilled out into the surrounding area. Destroying whatever manner of organisms are unable to escape. That is the nature of pipelines. And that being true, all could foresee what would happen given time. What has happened in Arkansas is a disaster, of that there can be no doubt. As it was in Montana when a pipeline broke open and spilled killer carbon on that land. And as it was in Alaska, and countless other places all over the world. They are all horrible damage done to the place we all call home. Planet Earth. And yet, knowing what we all know can and will happen, our own government, in partnership with KXL plans to connect a pipeline carrying tar sand through one of the most delicate water systems on our continent. Not only does the system water untold cattle, other livestock and those who reside in that area, but it also provides fresh water to a good many of the people who inhabit the Midwest region. Surely you would think that people armed with the knowledge that such damage could be done would not go ahead with such a foolhardy plan. But, it seems that such a thing is not only possible but has a good chance of happening. Why, you might rightfully ask, would possess anyone to destroy their own drinking water? The answer of course is the same as it is for those who clear cut timber, or conduct longwall mining for coal. PROFIT!! And not just profit. But, profit at any cost. This mentality, which caused the collapse of the world economy in 2008, is alive and well in the carbon extraction business. The Tar Sands taken from the ground in Alberta, CA calls for more use of water that even the fracking now taking place throughout the US. Not only is it used in the extraction process, but great amounts are needed to pipe the slurry. In this case the slurry is to be piped from Alberta, CA to Port Arthur, TX. That, my friends, requires a helluva lot of water. The cost of all that water and its loss to society for drinking or growing food is of no consequence to these folks. So, would they, knowing that those pipelines break regularly and catastrophically, put a pipeline through the Ogallala Aquifer to carry Tar Sands that could destroy the drinking water of millions of people? Of course they would. And, they would be given the ok and support of our own political leadership. If this kind of thing chaps your hide, the folks over at 350.ORG could always use a little help.

A Shell

We in the US have watched with great interest the goings on in the Middle East where people have gone through much to attain the freedoms they seek. Some have given all.

We in the US know, or at least some of us know, that the freedom we had, the freedom that those in the Middle East have so valiantly fought for, can only be won/kept with diligence and persistence.

We in the US seem to have lost sight of what freedom stands for. We look down on our own people. We have given corporations the status of human and given those corporations the rights of citizens.

Our nation is now, more and more, simply a government of and by the business community. Not beholden to the citizens, but to those who contribute the most to those who seek office.

It is sad indeed to watch as a dream slides slowly, but surely into the waste bin. But, the US seems now to be in a steady decline. And though there is a lot of sound and fury, little real action to recover the dream, once proud, now simply a shell.

Dunkard Creek...again

A article written by Don Hopey, Pittsburgh PostGazette, on January 10,2011 begins with this: "A dispute over drilling bore holes into Consol Energy's Humphrey No. 7 deep mine in Greene County without a state permit an the planned pumping and discharge of minimally treated mine water into Dunkard Creek has bubbled over again."

For those who may not have followed the Dunkard Creek disaster in late '09, all living things in a 38 mile stretch of this waterway were killed off. Whether it was brought on by frac juice or the dumping of mine waste water is still an open question. However, with this in mind, why in the hell would anyone want to dump more poison in the creek?

The answer is actually quite simple. CONSOL Energy, the longwall mining outfit destroying southern Pennsylvania, doesn't give a damn about Dunkard Creek. Or, the people and organisms that use it.

The problem however, isn't just CONSOL Energy. They are only party of the issue. The other part of the problem is the Department of Environmental Protection. They not only do not enforce the rules and regulations that are in place to protect the environment at large, they openly and willingly assist companies like CONSOL Energy to circumvent those rules.

Can anyone possibly believe that CONSOL drilled seven bore holes along the North Branch of Calvin Run without a permit and no one in DEP even noticed? A company which has violated all rules from their very beginnings? Nonsense.

CONSOL Energy will do all in their power to avoid doing the right thing. Why? Because it isn't the most profitable thing to do. They care nothing for life of any sort. They prove it over and over and over again year in and year out. Profit comes before anything...including any life form.

It is my hope that with light being shown on the DEP and its lack of oversight, they will do the right thing and disallow the dumping of minimally treated mining wastewater into Dunkard Creek.

Heated Rhetoric

It seems as though the heated rhetoric was not only short lived, but never really cooled at all. Of course, we knew that it wouldn't be long before the Becks/O'Reillys/Palins, et. al. would be back in the saddle. Just didn't know how quickly.

Rather than shut the hell up for a couple of days, they went immediately into their victim act. Claiming all sorts of wrongs, which is what they do best, being done to them by those horrible Librls.

They cannot, nor will they ever, take responsibility for their own actions. These are not adults we are dealing with, but ranting, raving, fit throwing children. Unfortunately, we can't just send them to their respective rooms and be done with them. For along with everything else, they have parents (Murdoch) who give them everything they want, including a soap box to stand on while they do their ranting.

Under our Constitution, they certainly have the right to speak. Inciting terrorism however, must be viewed somewhat differently. Those giving voice to armed insurrection should be scrutinized very carefully. For those who may think this a little over the top, consider that suggesting 2nd Amendment remedies is exactly that.

Now, as President Obama has said, is a very good time to dial down the tone and tenor of our speech. To cool our heated rhetoric. But, we must be diligent in pointing out where hate speech is used. And, by whom.

Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ)

There is much to be said. And it will be. But, in the short term let us just for a couple of hours, give our thoughts over to those who have been most affected.

Our most heartfelt condolences to all.

Social Security Trust

With all of the hyperventilating about the Social Security Trust (SST) being a welfare program and how it needs to be "reformed" due to the deficit, the following: BULLSHIT.

The SST has a surplus. It has not contributed one cent to the deficit. The need for change is simply to make sure it works further down the line.

We are in an economic in the US right now. It would be worse if not for the government borrowing from the SST. So part of the problem with the deficit we have is that we have borrowed from our future to pay for the present. Is it a problem? Of course. Can it be repaid, changes made and the problem resolved? Of course.

Just a couple of observations about that SST hyperventilating. Those who would most like to see it "reformed", people such as Alan Simpson (Cat Food Commission), have been working for years to eliminate the Trust. So much for bipartisan interest in resolving the issue.

The talking heads we see reporting on the issue are paid by large corporations who have no interest in having a SST. These same people are generally not of an age when the import of SST has become clear.

We cannot depend upon the old line media for our truth. We must seek it out on our own, relying upon the sources that we have. Want to know about SST? All of the information is available. Take a couple of hours of your time and find out for yourself. Become your own source. The information you garner will help insulate you from the truckloads of manure brought to you each day on television.

Happy New Year!!

To any/all who might come across this blog, I would hope that 2010 was a great year, and that the 2011 brings something even better. Happy New Year!!

Someday...justice

It is my hope that someday, perhaps not soon, but someday those who have killed in the name of profit, like Massey and CONSOL, will be brought to justice. They are and have always been willing to see others die so as to benefit their bottom line.

Just a couple of things to keep in mind whenever they begin their spin. Every time they open their mouths, they are lying. Longwall mining kills. Everyone knows it. And, it doesn't just kill the miners who are directly involved. No, it kills things that are above ground too. People? Yes. Animals? Yes.

How? Well lets just look at a couple of things. Mercury is a poisonous byproduct, sequestered in coal. When it is mined, it breaks free and enters the surrounding area and travels outward very likely at some point into our water. The coal is then burned at a utility plant where it is released into the atmosphere and carried to who/whatever is downwind. The ash left over from the process is then stored as a slurry behind earthen dams. And of course, there is mercury still to be found there. How about arsenic? Same flow as above.

First the mining companies will say that they provide jobs. They do. But, that number has dropped significantly since early in the last century with the advent of bigger shovels and longwall mining.

Next they might drop in the US need for coal. But with that one, we already know that most of the coal brought up by the use of longwall mining goes to China and India.

So, why exactly do they need to bring death and destruction to bear from Pennsylvania to Montana? Profits, of course. The deaths of those who do the work? Their view is that deaths are just a natural part of the mining business. Its dangerous business. People have always died.

Sound good to you? Me neither. So, back to the beginning. Someday, maybe not soon, but someday perhaps those who would kill for profit will be brought to justice.

Happy (?) Holidays

Don't for a minute think this will make one bit of difference. However, it is my fervent hope that the faithful, regardless of what that means, will take the day off and refrain from killing others in the name of their Higher Power. Happy Whatever!

Thanks