Re: [Paddlewise] Dave's Spot: Angst about "Sharing"

Two, years ago while camped on the sands (south of Long Beach)
my son and I witnessed several single engine Otter 'sea planes' loaded
with tourists, fly over the Sea Lion rocks, circle and fly by again. This
went on several times day in and day out. Pathetic were the sounds of a
roaring aircraft engine breaking the stillness of the day. The Sea Lions have
been tolerating this without choice for some time now. Yet Parks Canada
say it is ok. Tourism means big bucks. Our presence on the Beach was
unobtrusive, the daily presence to the aircraft was literally obtrusive and
annoying.

Now with respect to sensitivity toward ducks and other water foul
while paddling and a sense of self guilt for being intrusive lets remember
we have a right to be here! It is how we choose to move among
the wildlife that makes the difference (In my opinion).

We can paddle with stealth and care or with mindlessness.
If some still feel guilty then be aware of the magnitude of pollution and
poisoning of water foul that is going on in North America where there are
some controls employed (none in Mexico).
Myriad's of polluted tailing ponds full of chemical pollutants etc. from pulp &
paper, mining and heavy oil extraction plants etc, etc. poison and polluted tens
of thousands of migratory water foul each year. The chemical Industry (thanks to
Mr.
Rockerfeller holdings) does the most damage via the retail sale of pesticides and

herbicides for which 'they' have convinced the farmers of our three nations to
become dependant users of their poisons.

Red Deer Alberta, has one of the highest cancer rates in the province of Alberta
and I suspect it is due to the fact that the city's drinking water comes from the

beautiful Red Deer River which is an elongated collecting basin for farm land
run-off.
Concentrated amounts of the so call friendly chemicals pouring into the estuaries
and the
main river are undoubtedly having an effect on water foul as much as humans
are being impacted. So Knowing that the Red Deer river is but a small microcosm
of the total North American scene (absolutely the frigging Mexicans are
especially
included)of what has been going on for nearly 90 years I am persuaded that
a little eco tourism or paddling amongst migratory ducks is quite insignificant
in terms
of a considerate kayakers impact on the wildlife. Such problems are exacerabated
in a much larger scale in China and the former Soviet Union.

As for the West Coast trail of Vancouver Island, I have hiked it three
consecutive
times over these last few years. I am impressed by how resilient (not how
fragile)
Nature really is and how well the trail holds up. In my opinion, the hiking
impact is
minimal for such a large volume of hikers from around the globe. What does piss
me
off and what is the real scourge of environmental impact is all the dam garbage
dumped at sea and washed up on the the shore and among the surge channels
etc. Floating florescent tube lamps full of mercury smashing on the rocks. Black
plastic garbage bags for sea lions be be curious about. All the shit loads of
garbage
dumped by fishermen, Canadian and US navy and the damn Japanese and Taiwanese
gill net fishing fleets that remain at sea and continue to make their ship
environments
clean at the expense of the ocean. Logging is another issue I won't get into
here.

We all have a right to be here and to use and enjoy nature. What is wrong is how
we go about doing life as a species! Many of us do life quite well with little if
any effect
of harm or wrong doing. But!  There are many who do life wrong. Governments and
corporations are accountable if made to be but accountability begins with the
individual
and it seems to me that kayakers have little cause for self guilt. At least as I
see it.

And who the hell is gai? Some greek god of Sanfrancisco cell movement or a secret
lover
of Bill Clinton?

Cheers,

Philip Wylie




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