Our local Borough is in the process of widening the main road. Alas, quite a few trees have perished in the process and left dead by the roadside. What is unique is how quickly my local Alaskans discovered this "waste" and went to work securing the valuable resource.
Almost a day later the pick-up trucks began arriving. Chainsaw yielding ladies and girls on ATV's with trailers are all busy loading up the valuable firewood left behind.
Even some artisans seem to be at work, slicing up beautiful, fat, old cottonwood for some sort of interesting purpose. Needless to say, Alaskans always see value in securing free resources.
As urbanites all over the Nation discuss how to save energy and be thrifty, they only need to look at the ingenuity of their Northern neighbors!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
School Vandalism
Once again there has been an incident of school vandalism in Southcentral Alaska. A pair of pre-teen boys claim they were "bored", so they destroyed $150,000 worth of school property, by smashing computers & breaking windows.
Now comes the name calling, where the conservatives blame the liberals, some blame the parents and many blame the kids. I have a different perspective on this situation, because unfortunately this is not the first time I have seen Alaskan kids vandalize a school.
My perspective comes from the simple little fact that schools back East don't get ripped apart by local kids--especially kids that know the school!!! Schools still enjoy some respect by the community and the families that are linked to them.
Yet, in Alaska, certain neighborhoods and parental types seem to think education is a joke. There is quite a bit of mockery regarding higher education, and a large drop out rate. Meanwhile the more affluent families bitch and moan that their taxes should never be raised in order to increase school funding.
This anti-school attitude is pretty easy in a state where the best occupations require little or no education. Nevertheless, even if you have no use for an education, I assume respecting property should come from somewhere.
That is certainly a harder nut to crack, as I have seen all kinds of kids commit vandalism--the rich kids who have no idea that replacing stuff really hurts, and poor angry kids who just like to smash shit. I guess my dog likes to dig a giant hole for no reason at all as well.....
Now comes the name calling, where the conservatives blame the liberals, some blame the parents and many blame the kids. I have a different perspective on this situation, because unfortunately this is not the first time I have seen Alaskan kids vandalize a school.
My perspective comes from the simple little fact that schools back East don't get ripped apart by local kids--especially kids that know the school!!! Schools still enjoy some respect by the community and the families that are linked to them.
Yet, in Alaska, certain neighborhoods and parental types seem to think education is a joke. There is quite a bit of mockery regarding higher education, and a large drop out rate. Meanwhile the more affluent families bitch and moan that their taxes should never be raised in order to increase school funding.
This anti-school attitude is pretty easy in a state where the best occupations require little or no education. Nevertheless, even if you have no use for an education, I assume respecting property should come from somewhere.
That is certainly a harder nut to crack, as I have seen all kinds of kids commit vandalism--the rich kids who have no idea that replacing stuff really hurts, and poor angry kids who just like to smash shit. I guess my dog likes to dig a giant hole for no reason at all as well.....
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Law of Unintended Consequences
I have been reading about a very depressing topic, namely biofuels. Here's something that should be a happy solution to our energy needs, proposed by green minded individuals, yet the whole thing has spiraled out of control.
You can blame "agribusiness" or the commodities market or even just the law of unintended consequences, but the result is the same--terrible. Instead of recycling used oils or grain waste, whole rain forests are being eliminated to plant soy for biofuel. Palm oil, traditionally used for cooking has spiked to such high prices (to be used as motor fuel), that the poor can no longer afford it. Mexico is having tortilla protests due to the prices of corn, Indonesia & Brazil is plowing rain forests, the list just goes on and on.........
Meanwhile governments really can't stop this crazy biofuels snowball--because they are the ones who just pushed it over the cliff in the first place!!!!!!!! (i.e. ethanol mandates )
So here I am, depressed again as the wilderness disappears in the name of progress. As I read one quote "the rain forests are just junk to many people". In other words: money talks and bullshit walks. So as we continue to provide energy to more and more earths inhabitants, we loose our wild places. Will there be anything left? Where is a nature lover supposed to live?? Am I on the right earth? Is there another one??
You can blame "agribusiness" or the commodities market or even just the law of unintended consequences, but the result is the same--terrible. Instead of recycling used oils or grain waste, whole rain forests are being eliminated to plant soy for biofuel. Palm oil, traditionally used for cooking has spiked to such high prices (to be used as motor fuel), that the poor can no longer afford it. Mexico is having tortilla protests due to the prices of corn, Indonesia & Brazil is plowing rain forests, the list just goes on and on.........
Meanwhile governments really can't stop this crazy biofuels snowball--because they are the ones who just pushed it over the cliff in the first place!!!!!!!! (i.e. ethanol mandates )
So here I am, depressed again as the wilderness disappears in the name of progress. As I read one quote "the rain forests are just junk to many people". In other words: money talks and bullshit walks. So as we continue to provide energy to more and more earths inhabitants, we loose our wild places. Will there be anything left? Where is a nature lover supposed to live?? Am I on the right earth? Is there another one??
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Wolf Politics
I have received news that there will be a protest against "predator control" a.k.a. aerial wolf hunting in downtown Anchorage on April 7th. It is certainly a commendable cause and it is always good to rouse support and awareness, yet I fear the Alaska Fish & Game Dept. will just continue their tricks.
As aerial wolf hunting enters the public eye, the Alaska Fish and Game folks (practically a pro-hunting lobby) does two predictable things.
#1--they blame "outside influences" for bringing about the pro-wolf movement. As they like to claim that "real Alaskans know that wolves are not cuddly dogs". This of course is a really insulting assumption, not only for those in the lower-48 who probably know that wolves hunt and dogs eat dog food. But also to thousands of Alaskans who actually vote against these hunts and sign petitions for this cause.
#2--the new trick is to simply change the hunting and trapping laws. So in anticipation to a public backlash against aerial wolf control, they have already boosted the hunting and trapping limits for wolves. And regular leg-hold traps and what have you, are actually much crueler to wolf family units than the winged gunmen.
I actually really do support looking out for our Bush communities and Native inhabitants and their right to a proper harvest of game meat. Yet, there is a vocal and strong group of urban and suburban Alaskans claiming the same rights. In effect: that predator control is needed to ensure their own successful hunts. In my opinion, these more wealthy Alaskans could easily support some Valley farmers and purchase excellent natural grass fed beef, or even raise their own Angus. If it's a thrill kill they seek, then raise and strangle your own chickens. You can chase them around the yard and woods too, to really get the whole hunting experience!
As aerial wolf hunting enters the public eye, the Alaska Fish and Game folks (practically a pro-hunting lobby) does two predictable things.
#1--they blame "outside influences" for bringing about the pro-wolf movement. As they like to claim that "real Alaskans know that wolves are not cuddly dogs". This of course is a really insulting assumption, not only for those in the lower-48 who probably know that wolves hunt and dogs eat dog food. But also to thousands of Alaskans who actually vote against these hunts and sign petitions for this cause.
#2--the new trick is to simply change the hunting and trapping laws. So in anticipation to a public backlash against aerial wolf control, they have already boosted the hunting and trapping limits for wolves. And regular leg-hold traps and what have you, are actually much crueler to wolf family units than the winged gunmen.
I actually really do support looking out for our Bush communities and Native inhabitants and their right to a proper harvest of game meat. Yet, there is a vocal and strong group of urban and suburban Alaskans claiming the same rights. In effect: that predator control is needed to ensure their own successful hunts. In my opinion, these more wealthy Alaskans could easily support some Valley farmers and purchase excellent natural grass fed beef, or even raise their own Angus. If it's a thrill kill they seek, then raise and strangle your own chickens. You can chase them around the yard and woods too, to really get the whole hunting experience!
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