• Let’s clean up together • Let’s clean up together
Wake up and smell the aromatic hydrocarbons
I was one of those “problematic” kids in second grade — high IQ, thick glasses, prodigious vocabulary and an ignorance of when to keep one’s mouth shut in the presence of power.
It was a social studies class in 1956; we had watched a film about how oil was made, how it was drilled, and how it was used (this was before plastics were common).
It seemed obvious to me that, if oil took millions of years to produce from decaying organic material, then there had to be only so much of it down there in the ground.
It also seemed obvious that, given the rate at which we were using it, it would someday have to run out. I decided to do some reading.
I found a paper at the library by a Shell geologist named Hubbert predicting U.S. oil production would peak around 1970, and then decline as reserves ran out.
He also predicted that global production would peak around 2000. In my naive 6-year-old mind, this made perfect sense.
In another social studies discussion a few days later, the teacher asked what we thought about the film on oil. I offered what I thought was an honest, well-thought comment, “The film was well done — lots of good information. But what happens when the oil runs out?”
The teacher had a blank look on her face, then got rather upset and retorted, “There’s plenty of oil for a very long time. We don’t need to worry about that.”
I responded, “But ma’am, there’s a respected geologist for Shell Oil that says it has to, and we’ve got maybe 20 years before production starts to decline. I’m just wondering why no one seems to be planning for what happens after that.”
The teacher didn’t respond to my comment; she sent me to the principal’s office for insubordination. I admit it wasn’t the first time and it would not be the last. The principal and I had become good buddies. I had my own tea cup on his shelf.
Anyway, I’m now 62 and asking the same question.
I’m getting a similar response, except now it’s from politicians and other pundits who don’t seem to understand, or who intentionally disregard, that it’s not about the Deepwater Horizon, or Obama. It’s about getting off our duffs and engaging in concrete action to remove our dependence on fossil fuels.
If we don’t, we’ll pay a horrendous price before the next generation matures to handle our ignorance.
There are folks who don’t want to see this change happen. They make money on petroleum and the markets it supplies (plastics, automotive, pharmaceutical, etc.) and do not want to spend any of that money on diversifying unless they can control the new market. There are politicos who are beholding to the oil market, or who are loath to try a forward-thinking and risky task, and so will not rock the boat.
We need to wake up and smell the coffee — or, in this case perhaps, the aromatic hydrocarbons.
Elaine Albertson, Waimea
Let’s clean up together
I would like to thank Laurel Baldridge for her efforts in cleaning up the litter along Kuhio Highway from Kealia to Aliomanu; that’s a long stretch of roadway for one person to be cleaning up. I would hope that others will be inspired to lend a hand.
I also agree with what she said in her June 24 letter “Trash Problem.”
I have been cleaning up litter in the Wailua area along Kuhio Highway between Wahooo’s restaurant and the Lydgate park access road. I usually do around 1/2 mile to a mile or so. It’s good exercise and makes a huge difference. However, due to the careless behavior of others, it doesn’t take long for that same stretch of road to need additional cleaning.
I’m looking for a few volunteers, folks on unemployment, retired individuals, concerned residents, or anyone else who would like to pitch in and make a difference. All you need is a bright shirt, a pair of inexpensive gloves, and maybe a hat and some sun screen. I’ll provide the garbage bags and take the filled bags to the transfer stations. One or two mornings per month is all I ask. I’m hoping that other groups, aside from those that already do a great job with the Adopt-a-Highway programs, will organize in other areas of this Garden Island, and spend a couple of hours per month keeping our roads clean.
One last suggestion, if you participate in the many fundraiser/charity walks around the island, maybe take a bag with you so you can pick up some litter as you walk. I think there were 700-plus walkers involved in the most recent event. Think of the difference those walkers could make if they were simply asked to do the walk/cleanup in their part of the island.
Anyone interested in lending a hand is asked to call me at 822-5912. Please leave your name and number and depending on the response, we can schedule a time to hopefully organize into regional cleanup groups. Just a few volunteers will make a huge difference. A big mahalo to those individuals that are already pitching in on their own time. Any assistance from the county, other agencies, or the business community would be greatly appreciated.
Bernard Verkaaik, Kapa‘a
