Day 15

I just came across an interesting NY Times article about a book about "a secret plan to save the Earth."

According to the article the book's main premise is:

"In an era in which government has been either broke, indifferent or actively hostile to environmental causes, a band of visionaries — inventors, philanthropists, philosophers, grassroots activists, lawyers and gadflies — are using their wealth, their energy, their celebrity and their knowledge of law and science to persuade, and sometimes force, the United States and the world to take a new direction.”

It is interesting to hear this view because, when we were in Laos this past summer we had a conversation with a local man about the same thing. He almost had tears in his eyes when he pointed out across the river at the rolling hillsides covered with verdant forest and asked us if we thought his country was beautiful. When we answered yes, of course, he told us it was being destroyed and people like us (Westerners) needed to come and buy up land so it could be protected.

We thought it rather bizarre that they look at foreigners as their saviours, but we did see his point. Most people in Laos are too poor to worry about much beyond basic necessities so they don't have the time or the money to lobby the government or put pressure on industry. Their meager lifestyle does little to affect the environment but illegal logging and poaching are seriously damaging the countryside.

It was really sad that they feel so helpless in their own country that they are begging backpackers like us to buy up land in their country so it can be protected.

I guess Canadians should look at this example and take from it that we do have the time and money to invest in saving our planet. Even a little bit can go a long way and those of us who are able need to do as much as we can to keep the planet safe for generations.

In the meantime, I think I will have a read of Eco Barons to gain some inspiration.