blue gold

a documentary about water … stark, informative, shocking, imperative to watch …

Tuna are magnificent fish. They are large, stealth predators with powerful, stream-lined bodies that can out-perform even the most sophisticated machine (of comparable size) in strength, resilience, and vigor.

Unfortunately for them, they are also incredibly tasty and one of the most desirable ocean catches worldwide. Unfortunately for humans, they are not nearly as abundant as they once were, and nor are they as nutritious, because over-fishing threatens their survival and because they are becoming increasingly contaminated with pollutants such as heavy metals.

more…

in my previous post, i briefly introduced “the water issue” … water is a necessity, a blessing, a right, a luxury, an indispensable and irreplaceable vital nutrient … and yet, i consider myself ineffably fortunate to have daily, liberal access to clean, abundant, potable water on demand — where i want it, when i want it …

how and why is it that approximately 1.1 billion people in the world (more than 16% of the world’s population; United Nations statistics, 2004) live without free access to clean, sufficient water? … equally horrific is the fact that billions more live without adequate sanitation … more…

for several decades, scientists, naturalists, and concerned citizens around the world have been cautioning people against the careless use, abuse, and rapid disposal of plastics … fortunately, their message has not dissipated in intensity and it is increasingly more far-reaching … however, considering the explosive rate of global population growth, i wonder if the message is becoming diluted or more concentrated among the proliferating minds populating Earth today … more…

as i stood, gazing at the pile of tools resting neatly against the barn wall, listening to the gentle choir of contented cows, and floating on the light cleanliness of farm-life air, i deeply understood the plight of the small farmer, the migration of aspiring entrepreneurs and restless youth to urban centres, and the paradox of the “you-can-have-it-all-American-Dream” … more…

so let’s consider what it means if we understand that climate change is real … it means we have to appreciate what we already have, be satisfied with having our needs met every day, and re-think our pressing desires to consistently indulge in ‘extras’ … because once you begin the cycle of wanting more all the time, it becomes difficult to separate needs from wants … more…