erden around and over...great post

our friend erden had some great words to say on his blog as he is still traveling around and over.

I will take the 12 km side trip to the shore in an attempt to see these whales. I truly hope that I can spot some of this season’s early arrivers so I can better tell their story. As I read about the oil rig disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico, I am sadly reminded once again of the callous handling of our environment as human beings. Without exception, commercial interests downplay the disaster risks for financial gain; governments play up the strategic gains by fear mongering; we hear of job creation as a populist rallying cry by politicians to gain votes when often only a handful of jobs are involved at the expense of entire ecosystems. The cardinal first rule of any profession: “do no damage” does not apply and we watch helplessly as some still cry “drill baby drill.” A huge steamroller of industrial momentum leaves carnage in its wake; whopping treasures are made by select few with little supervision where local communities inherit poisoned wells and destroyed ecosystems, without sufficient compensation to make up for what they have lost. Besides could we as humanity put a price at all on any lost species or ecosystems?

I had mentioned earlier the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve which is currently being pandered to strip mining for its bauxite riches. The calving areas of the humpback whales of Kimberley are now under threat due to proposed industrial activity. If we propose to ruin their calving habitats then do not give these gentle giants of the oceans a break on the high seas by hunting their last few remaining individuals, what chance do they have to be around for our grandchildren? Don’t we as human beings of this generation, have a responsibility to leave this world as a better place for our own children? Don’t they have the right to hear the same thrilling sounds, see the same majestic sights and experience the breathtaking wonders of nature as we have?