Two cents for environmentalism

This is an interesting interactive map of the North Slope of Alaska once you figure out how to use it. I found the easiest way is to right click on the map and hit 'zoom', then move the map around manually with the mouse to see different parts. You can also just hit the zoom button at the base of the map and decide which features you want to enable/disable - there are wildlife layers; oil development layers. I found that with all the layers activated it's all too confusing.

Here is a primer on the discovery of oil in the North Slope - its bias is pro-development, but I figure mine is pro-conservation so between us there's a pretty solid set of facts. Remarks on the careful insulation of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and housing built on permafrost are interesting to me. The article stresses that the insulation was used to prevent heat transferrence from the pipeline and homes to the foundational permafrost. The thing is, while no heat may have been lost on the ground in the early days (and it is quite impressive that the pipeline withstood a magnitude 7 earthquake) no mention is made in this article about what happens now that the earth which supports that pipeline is melting. And that it's melting because of what happens to the stuff in the pipeline later on in its lifecycle; the same oil that is so carefully insulated in its debut run down from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. It's been pointed out several times before, probably in this very same blog, but one of Alaska's big ironies - kinda like an L-shaped pipeline across its forehead - is that the same resource it hustles to make a quick buck off is exactly what warms it up - and disproportionately faster than the rest of the world. This state is an oil addict and is choking on its own fumes.

Ok, so strong statement. I've had many conversations and been privy to many meetings where the topic of conversation is basically 'so now what'. Well, on a political level I think it's a tremendous problem that Alaska as a state is so reliant on oil industry for its income. A main tenet of Alaska Conservation Voters is that 'a sound economy and a healthy environment go hand in hand' and this is going to be a crucial frame of reference if any sustainable development is to happen. I do not think, given our dependence on oil, that the solution will happen overnight. I do think that given the opportunity planning/development does not always occur in forward motion, and that given insane schemes such as the Alberta Tar Sands there need to be stringent guidelines and economic incentives in place which prevent highly emissive, energy inefficient, and overall environmentally catastrophic development from taking place.

But you know, these words are almost meaningless to most people now. Even as I write them, 'environmentally catastrophic' seems like it would be best illustrated by a set of pictures, or superhot days with terrible air quality, or even being stuck in bad traffic. 'Environmentally catastrophic' means not being able to afford food, or being forced to work crappy jobs, or not having a place to live. Once you start to examine one part of our culture, such as the reliance on oil, the rest starts to unfold fast. One massive get-rich-quick scheme, such as the Alberta Tar Sands or even oil extraction in general, works for a few, but for the rest of us it causes a steady erosion of our surroundings. We can't even see that this cumulative effect of our day-to-day lives is the environment, so that if we decide to use less gas; if we decide to put our money where our mouth is, if we decide to vote/letter write/demonstrate/at least think we can make a marked difference in our personal lives that has potential to contribute to a greater whole. So, on a personal level, the reasons for getting out of oil addiction, or just bettering the world in general, have to conjur up a whole lot more personal incentive in order for the political side to work.

Now people (ok Alaskans) tend to think 'extreme environmentalists'. Well, I don't consider myself extreme. I just want a nice life for everyone...even those 'damn republicans'. When I think 'environment' I think whatever it is we all live in, day-to-day.

So, on a personal level, I think environmentalism is really just a steady consideration of what's right around you - how much effort you put into it, what feedback you get, how involved you are. Here, we're riding our bikes everywhere - bing, connection to the road and we're not paying $4.19/gallon at the pump (we run on bagels). We're nice to folks and listen and try not to cram an opinion in their ears, and hopefully then there's room for conversation. And yeah, whoever it is at the office who hasn't yet removed the plastic bag they stuck in the dish drier (that's been there since the start of my internship) could maybe be called an 'extreme environmentalist' but I think it's cute. It's better than the opposite. And I like that it's still there; it means no one else would just throw it away.

Now if only I could get myself to make my bed every morning I could certainly stop global climate change.

Ok, lovely tangent, now back to poking around the North Slope..