Re: [Paddlewise] Environmental Degradation

> I am curious to know what environmental degradation paddlers have
witnessed around the globe. [snip]

Good Lord!  . . . Well, it certainly is a good question, if a big one. . .

I have witnessed so much environmental degradation that sometimes I just
want to crawl into a hole somewhere and never come out again. . . .  It
sickens me.  In Italy, in certain areas, the air was so thick with polution
I was afraid to breath.  In France, the rivers were so thick with polution I
wouldn't even want to be on a boat on them.  . . . In London. . . . well, I
could go on and on.

I can't imagine what you're going to do with all this information.  Perhaps
it would just be useful for us here on PW to hear about what others have
seen.  Just generally enlightening.

I can report several recent experiences right here on Long Island Sound, NY,
where I live.  I don't paddle on the Sound that often, since it is so
disgusting.  I drive hours away to get to cleaner waters.  But on two
occasions recently we saw medical waste floating in the water, both times
near Rye, NY.  On one occasion, we saw three dead birds floating in the
water, not clear how they died.  On that same latter occasion, we saw a
large film that seemed to indicate a gas or oil spill covering a substantial
part of the Harbor at Rye (a large harbor).  Although there are still some
oysters living in the shallows near some islands in W. LIS, the locals say
DO NOT eat them.  You will get very sick, they say.  In Mamaroneck Harbor, I
often see dead fish floating on the water, which itself is filthy.  . . .
God, I could go on for days.

The "degradation of the environment" is, IMO, the single greatest issue
confronting mankind at this point.  We are destroying the planet on which we
live, the planet that gave birth to us. . . .  As far as I can see, we are
destroying it at a very rapid rate.  (I don't love Gore, but I support him
because I think he is a stronger environmentalist than any other politician
at that level.)  I also believe that a large portion of the people of this
country, at least, would be willing to make substantial sacrifices to help
reverse this trend.  People care about the environment.  At least many of
them do.  But the "market forces" haven't managed to "catch up" to that
concern, or adopt to it.  Or, alternatively, the concern hasn't managed to
control market forces.  It's an argument in favor of a mixed market and
regulatory system.  (And BTW, as a former Ph.D. candidate in political
economics, and being fairly familiar with the subject, I would point out
that the great "philosopher" of capitalism, Adam Smith, strongly advocated
such a mixed system.  Anyone who ever bothered to really READ "The Wealth of
Nations" would see that.)

Well, I could rant and rant.  Is this an answer at all to your post,
Froggie?  Am I overstepping the "on topic" requirement, Jackie?  (Sigh.)
Sorry.  Off my soapbox. . .

Mark



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