Tannishblog

If we dare seek a future glance into the Bush Administration’s abysmal environmental policy, we need look no further than China. China is well known for lacking not only safety policies for factory workers, but also lacking sanctions and restrictions for polluters. Earlier this year we learned about toxic water near a MSG factory, causing many of the poorest agricultural neighbors forced to drink from streams and wells serious intestinal problems.

Today we hear about an explosion at a petrochemical plant and the subsequent release of a 50-mile long slick of highly toxic waste floating seaward toward some highly populated areas. Typical to any totalitarian government, lies, cover-ups and a series of “blame game” attacks follow the poison slick downriver. Not unlike the FEMA disaster of New Orleans 2005, which will likely mark one of the greatest disasters in American history, so too will this gob of petroleum by-products be seen as one of China’s most disastrous accidents.

The similarities of policy are staggering: Neither government cares about the health of its people, neither care about clean air or potable water. No thought is given to the future of generations or to what kind of world we are leaving for our children. Only economic growth (read: money) and political strength (read: military power) matter to the leaders of both China and the United States. Both nations are bent on a myopic policy of unrestrained growth unmindful of any destructive impact it may have on society, humanity or our fragile planet.

In both nations leaders are driving the force of hyper-industrialization blindly. We, the powerless people, must stand aside and watch as our future is abandoned, our children’s children pay untold costs, and our globe heats up on its way to extinction of all life. All the while we pray that we don’t get run over by the sightless drivers of our political malcontent.

In this time of year, when Holiday Cheer (horns blaring impatiently near shopping malls, the occasional vulgar shout as another vehicle takes the parking spot you scoped out) and Purchasing Orgy (”More, more, cheaper, cheaper…”) collide, we again hear the insipid yet bucolic strains of music of Christmas Past. It should remind us of better times. Not, however, at the expense of current times. Perhaps we should update some of our favorites to reflect the season as it is during the New American Century.

I don’t profess such talents, but If I tried, I would start with something about a White Phosphorous Christmas, in honor of all the Iraqi civilians burned by the oxydizing political effects of our nation’s Culture of Life:

“First, I think it should be a stated goal of United States policy to not melt the skin off of children. As a natural corollary to this goal, I think the United States should avoid dropping munitions on civilian neighborhoods which, as a side effect, melt the skin off of children.

You can call them ‘chemical weapons’ if you must, or far more preferably by the more proper name of ‘incendiaries.’ The munitions may or may not precisely melt the skin off of children by setting them on fire; they do melt the skin off of children, however, through robust oxidation of said skin on said children, which is indeed colloquially known as ‘burning’…

No doubt the Three Wise Men are rolling in their graves.