National Geographic Society
P.O. Box 98199
Washington, DC 20090-8199
800-647-5463
Lat/Lon: 38.90531943278526, -77.0376992225647
Inspiring people to care about the planet since 1888
RSS Syndication
“There is no feast which does not come to an end,” a Chinese proverb warns, and this month’s story on Canadian oil sands is a cautionary tale about the consequences of large appetites. With the decline of conventional oil reserves and the rising price of oil extraction, sources like oil sands—layers of tarlike bitumen mixed with clay, sand, and water—are increasingly attractive as a way to satisfy the world’s craving for hydrocarbons. The catch: Extracting them is messy and costly to the environment.
All the more reason to be mindful of the choices we make. Nearly 20 years ago my wife, Elizabeth, and I chose to live in the country, which makes us highly dependent on a car. We could move to the city and use mass transit, but we want to raise our family in the country. In compensation for our choices, Elizabeth drives a small, high-mileage car, while I commute to Washington once a week, park, take the subway, walk, and stay with a relative.
Much in life revolves around balance. Public policy strives to balance individual needs and freedoms with community welfare. Canadian oil sands, says author Robert Kunzig, are about balancing the needs of today and tomorrow.
In my own personal quest for balance, it occurs to me that I could compensate for my rural lifestyle by purchasing carbon offsets, but, really, the best strategy is to live an environmentally responsible life to begin with.
Photo: Peter Essick
Subscribe to RSS feed
Ancestry.com
Buy NG Photos
Special Issues
Comments
Feb 15, 2009 1PM #
Please, in portuguese too, for us, that love this space.
Thanks.
Feb 15, 2009 1PM #
Your portrayal of the oilsands was hardly balanced! All mining activities are ugly but they are a worldwide phenomenon. What about the coal pits of the Eastern States or the mineral mines in South America?
In the 60's my father worked on the first plant called the Great Canadian Oil Sands.
In the early 70's when I was in high school, Syncrude was planning its first plant near Mildred Lake. I requested and received coil bound books about the environmental impact studies they were then undertaking! I was impressed with their thorough analysis. I recall descriptions of the land restoration and reclamation process.
That plant was built and many families raised their children on the salaries that were earned. And today EVERY Albertan has quality health care with no premiums charged to the individual because of the royalties paid by oil companies to the province.
And so one can see that it is all about trade-offs. Leave the earth pristine -- but then families might suffer. Balance is what is needed.
The March issue on energy was about PERSONAL ACTION. If everyone stopped wasting energy maybe then the oilsands wouldn't be needed.
But until we each take responsiblitity the liquid gold of the oilsands will sustain families and lifestyles. And after we do take personal action we can only hope that employment in alternative energy technology will replace the incomes lost from the oilsands.
Thanks.
John Lilley
Edmonton, Alberta
Feb 15, 2009 1PM #
This not is for Chris Johns...my friend, Steve McCurry says you can do amazing stuff, so I just saw the work of Hans Sylvester.
I was amazed and was hoping you could help me find him. I have a gallery in Florida and want to represent him.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Dick Coplan
Boca Raton, FL
Feb 15, 2009 1PM #
Great information you have there. Helped me alot. Thank you!
Post a Comment