We've Got Competition....

Good, healthy competition is always welcomed...it keeps us in shape, on our toes and at the ready. But in THIS case, the news is less than stellar (even though it's ON a stellar scale).

In the realm of squandering the Earth's natural resources, the people of DUBAI (UAE) are right up there along side us with their insatiable consumption of everything and anything. With their chilled pools, quasi-bigfoot 4x4s, and air-conditioned malls, this small desert land is equal (in energy consumption) to the entire US of A. Curiously enough, since this nation is considered a "developing country", the protocol of the Kyoto does not apply to them, and on average each citizen is responsible for the largest "ecological footprint" on Earth.

Here's a nation that has an INDOOR SKI SLOPE that produces artificial snow even when it's 120 degrees outside....how ridiculous is that? How many ski enthusiasts are there in the UAE (apparently ENOUGH)? They've created artificial resort islands that have all but devastated coral reefs. Add to that...Dubai has one of the world's BUSIEST airports in the world. Energy consumption in the UAE runs high for all the same reasons it does here in America; that the "good life" dictates huge air-conditioned houses and cars, with a disdain for public transportation.

Now aside from the obvious impact all this is having on good old Mother Earth, it should be known that we are just as guilty as this small country. America is also not bound by the Kyoto protocol. We have many of the same narcissistic perks at our disposal. And if we don't have them...we manufacture them. We do it all for the sake of a better "quality of life".

Sorry, but I've just got to toss some water on this "electric blanket" of hedonism.

If there's one thing America might need a dose of...it's appreciation. Not to hug any trees, but this old Earth has been damn good to us, and how do we show our "appreciation"?

If a nice Aunt were to give you a nice expensive toy as a child, would you repay her by kicking her in the shins, or slapping her face? certainly not. You see where I'm going with this?

Sooner or later we're going to start paying the price for our blatant mistreatment of the resources alloted us by this planet. Many would say we're ALREADY paying...and will continue to pay more and more in generations to come.

As insidious as this increasing harm to the planet appears, there are just so many long-term effects we've yet to see. And maybe Mother Earth is getting a bit tired of "bailing our asses out" year after energy-demandng year. There may just come a time when what we are doing to the Earth will no longer be able to reverse itself.

As the David Bowie Song "SPACE ODDITY" goes... "Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do...."

Now I'm not for going up and giving Al Gore a pat on the back...hell no, but I would say that preserving what we have so our grandkids can enjoy it, DOES come with a price. And it might be as simple as NOT tossing that plastic bottle or potato chip bag on a person's lawn....or perhaps having that car or truck tuned up more than every 5 years. We can hold governmental agencies responsible for demanding that companies tow the mark regarding pollurion (in any form). We can demand better for ourselves...every one of us.

All we have to do is WANT to make it happen.

Besides, couldn't a few of us stand to "sweat off" a few pounds now and then?

;)