The DoE: Failure

Oil and Natural Gas Resources in Alaska  Too me this is just more evidence of the Administration’s efforts to serve oil and big business interests at the expense of the American people, our ecology, the oceans, and the world. The Department of Energy shouldn’t be encouraging the use of oil and petrochemical fuels by destroying our nature preserves, lands, and waters. The DoE should be demanding the use of alternate energy sources and fuels: wind, hydrogen, nuclear, photo-voltaic, et. al., to meet the nation’s energy needs as well as work with other agencies to encourage or demand the development of usable mass transit systems, car pooling, mandating significant improvements in automobile fuel efficiency, mandating alternative energy generation (such as noted here and here) and/or management in new building and housing construction (such as this technology), and even encouraging walking/cycling to work or school (which can do wonders for the nation’s lack of exercise and obesity rates) as just a few examples. Drilling for more oil does not eliminate the simple fact that there is only a finite amount of oil on the planet. Period. It’s better to deal with the issue now in a reasonable and informed manner, then ignore it until it becomes too much of a problem to overcome without serious geopolitical, social, and environmental repercussions for all.

Analog to Digital TV Conversion

Because so many don’t seem to realize the facts about television switching from analog to digital signalas in the United States here is a site of interest for information. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s TV Converter Box Program So no need to rush and throw out your older televisions if they lack a digital tuner.

Personally, I think the government kept the whole thing relatively quiet until recently so people will just assume that they need to buy new televisions in some twisted idea that it’ll somehow help the economy or something. That or they’ve under funded the program like they are wont to do when they change public policy but want the public to pay for the change. It’s been done before and will be done again.

Shadows of Uluru

Australia to Apologize to Aborigines  I’m glad the Aussie government is finally dropping it’s intransigent behavior in refusing to acknowledge their past abuse of the aboriginal peoples of Australia, particularly those who are part of the Lost Generation. My hope is that this will ope up a dialog in Australia about the rampant discrimination against Aborigines and the latent racism too many Australians refuse to acknowledge. After all, you can not rectify a problem is you refuse to admit that there is one.

Make no mistake Australia does have a racism problem. All one needs to do is look at the actions of the government and people during the period of the Lost Generation and it’s scarring of the Aboriginal people to this day. Add to this more recent government actions to try and take Aboriginal lands and rights away from them under the guise of doing so “in their best interest”, made all the ore confusing given the push to give back tribal lands and holy places by other agencies. This is similar to arguments used in the Aussie government’s actions in stealing so many children away from the tribes and families in the first place, many of which ended up in abusive environments (homes, schools, etc) far removed from their culture and family.

I suppose I just do not get why the Australian whites, descendants of  people Britain considered to be criminals, scoundrels, and the scum of humanity, who were treated to poorly themselves would inflict such horrific treatment on the native people. I suppose it simply comes down to cultural arrogance, arrogance that has led to the oppression and attempted exterminations of local populations and cultures by invasive foreigners throughout the history of the world.