Semi-Daily Scribbles

There is no denying the gulf-sized surge of irony associated with this year’s upcoming Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival. My purpose of bringing this annual celebration to your attention is to not be mean-spirited or judgmental. Rather, I’m more interested in examining the interconnectedness of all things on this planet. In my opinion, crustaceans and crude should never mix. I do understand, however, the necessity of carving out industry using the resources one has been dealt. Jobs are a necessity, but so is good stewardship of the well we dip into for survival. I don’t like oil spills any more than the commuter next to me, yet we’re both racing along in our gasoline dependent vehicles. A similar quandary to which I find my mind ensnared is the diamond trade. Mining is a brutal business on the earth and worker alike, and yet I wear the hard fought product on my finger. Over harvesting of marine life is tipping the planet’s delicate balance into chaos. That sure hasn’t stopped my ravenous consumption of seafood.

Whenever ecological disaster strikes, it’s a stinging slap upside our often-sleepy heads. What are we going to do to prevent the next oil spill? I don’t have the answers, but I do have the desire to evaluate, and change, my habits that create negative impact on people and places known and unbeknownst to me.