Friday 19 July 2019

July 19, 2019 Chautauqua


Beth's Ponderings

  My favourite time of year recently occurred - the 10 days of the Calgary Stampede.  A time when all things western are showcased, and relics of our early cultural history are revived.

   As our province has a very long history of ranching, it should come as no surprise that at one time, almost every community had their own blacksmith and livery stable.  The blacksmith was one of the most important individuals in a community, probably even more important than any law, in all honesty.  As horses were a mode of transportation, a form of farm machinery, and so much more, whomever helped you keep yours shod and in good condition was pretty vital to your livelihood.  But, blacksmiths were necessary for more than just their ability to make horseshoes, as they kept wagons in good repair and made a number of household items.

   And yet, despite their high esteem, our communities no longer have a local blacksmith.  Why?

   Because they were replaced by a viable alternative. 

   Now, we could argue whether that alternative was better, or more advantageous, but there is no denying that what we know today as gas-powered vehicles and farm machinery, and their associated businesses, have changed the way we travel, work, farm/ranch, and play.

   And now the oil and gas sector is in jeopardy of going the way of the blacksmiths and livery stables.  Or is it?

   Shutting down the Canadian oil and gas sector will not eliminate the use of oil and gas in this country, nor in the rest of the world, it will just raise the price of everything because oil and gas is so pervasive in our culture - it’s not just the gas we use to drive around - EVERYTHING around us either uses oil and gas, is made from a by-product of oil and gas, or is brought to us via oil and gas.  And, quite truthfully, while there are greener alternatives, at this time, there is no VIABLE alternative to oil and gas that is affordable, and available to everyone.


   Eliminating a whole sector isn’t the answer to living greener, the answer is to reduce your individual usage till a viable alternative appears.

Beth 

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://sites.google.com/site/thechautauqua26/home/July%2019%2C%202019%20Chautauqua.pdf?attredirects=0&d=1

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