New York banned fracking last week. One amusing footnote:
In explaining why, Governor Andrew Cuomo explained that, since he “was not a scientist”, he decided to listen to those actual scientists who have concerns about the health and hydrological effects of fracking.
This turns the newest climate denial dodge, the “I’m not a scientist” meme, on it’s head, by drawing the obvious conclusion.
Since the Governor is “not a scientist”, he listens to those that actually are.(quote at about 1:00 in the video)
Fracking’s visual effects, as these photos show, are just as noxious as the health effects.
Wasson Oil Field- Detroit City- Texas_900Wasson oil field, Detroit City, Texas. Photo credit: Mishka Henner
A few weeks ago we ran some photos by artist Mishka Henner who creates projects that make people think about how we interact with our environment. Those photos showed industrial-scale feed lots, factory farms where thousands of animals are raised, taken from the air. He discovered them while flying over the country working on another project: aerial photos of oil drilling sites.
San Andres oil field, Hockley County, Texas. Photo credit: Mishka Henner
Those pictures that look like circuit diagrams bring to mind a note I made years ago, plucked from the, ah, the Web:
“One [Native American] tribe has associated the white man with spider medicine. Their prophecy says that when the white man (Spider) has connected all of his power (electrical) lines and forms a great web over the earth, then his world will burn and he will be destroyed. Another tribe speaks of the Spider Woman who weaves existence together like great strands of a web. Learning the stories of the Spider Woman can help one understand that we are all connected. By dishonoring one, we dishonor ourselves.”
Mitakuye oyasin (All My Relations) indeed! (from the Lakota)
Aho Mitakuye Oyasin….
All my relations. I honor you in this circle of life with me today. I am grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge you in this prayer….
To the Creator, for the ultimate gift of life, I thank you.
To the mineral nation that has built and maintained my bones and all foundations of life experience, I thank you.
To the plant nation that sustains my organs and body and gives me healing herbs for sickness, I thank you.
To the animal nation that feeds me from your own flesh and offers your loyal companionship in this walk of life, I thank you.
To the human nation that shares my path as a soul upon the sacred wheel of Earthly life, I thank you.
To the Spirit nation that guides me invisibly through the ups and downs of life and for carrying the torch of light through the Ages, I thank you.
To the Four Winds of Change and Growth, I thank you.
You are all my relations, my relatives, without whom I would not live. We are in the circle of life together, co-existing, co-dependent, co-creating our destiny. One, not more important than the other. One nation evolving from the other and yet each dependent upon the one above and the one below. All of us a part of the Great Mystery.
Thank you for this Life.
I don’t see any thanks in there for capitalism, free markets, and profit. Am I missing something?
“….the Governor is “not a scientist”, he listens to those that actually are….”
It was bound to happen sooner or later with some politicians, but don’t hold your breath waiting for Inhofe, Boner, McConnell, and the Repugnants to follow Cuomo’s lead.
What I’m very curious about is who’s doing the thinking for the rightwing political machine and how are they getting the message and keeping everyone in line.
They’re very quick and effective with their memes, so much that their public talkingheads become a chorus of chattering sockpuppets within a matter of hours.
“I’m not a scientist”, “Obama is the most radical socialist president in US history”, etc.
And the base eats it up. If they could get Ted Nugent to write songs with those messages as lyrics, he’d have a platinum single every 6 months.
Those pictures that look like circuit diagrams bring to mind a note I made years ago, plucked from the, ah, the Web:
Mitakuye oyasin.
Mitakuye oyasin (All My Relations) indeed! (from the Lakota)
Aho Mitakuye Oyasin….
All my relations. I honor you in this circle of life with me today. I am grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge you in this prayer….
To the Creator, for the ultimate gift of life, I thank you.
To the mineral nation that has built and maintained my bones and all foundations of life experience, I thank you.
To the plant nation that sustains my organs and body and gives me healing herbs for sickness, I thank you.
To the animal nation that feeds me from your own flesh and offers your loyal companionship in this walk of life, I thank you.
To the human nation that shares my path as a soul upon the sacred wheel of Earthly life, I thank you.
To the Spirit nation that guides me invisibly through the ups and downs of life and for carrying the torch of light through the Ages, I thank you.
To the Four Winds of Change and Growth, I thank you.
You are all my relations, my relatives, without whom I would not live. We are in the circle of life together, co-existing, co-dependent, co-creating our destiny. One, not more important than the other. One nation evolving from the other and yet each dependent upon the one above and the one below. All of us a part of the Great Mystery.
Thank you for this Life.
I don’t see any thanks in there for capitalism, free markets, and profit. Am I missing something?
Thanks. That’s a synthesis of wisdom if there ever was one.
“….the Governor is “not a scientist”, he listens to those that actually are….”
It was bound to happen sooner or later with some politicians, but don’t hold your breath waiting for Inhofe, Boner, McConnell, and the Repugnants to follow Cuomo’s lead.
Hey I have seen those pictures before, they look very similar to this 🙂
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131216180922/middleearthshadowofmordor7723/images/9/9e/Ud%C3%BBn_concept_art.jpg
Well played, Guv’nor, well played.
What I’m very curious about is who’s doing the thinking for the rightwing political machine and how are they getting the message and keeping everyone in line.
They’re very quick and effective with their memes, so much that their public talkingheads become a chorus of chattering sockpuppets within a matter of hours.
“I’m not a scientist”, “Obama is the most radical socialist president in US history”, etc.
And the base eats it up. If they could get Ted Nugent to write songs with those messages as lyrics, he’d have a platinum single every 6 months.
Let’s be clear – Cuomo did NOT turn “I’m not a scientist” on its head. He flipped it back right side up, as it should have been in the first place.