February 21st 2007

Today is the day I start to write, and more importantly, to learn about this new way of communicating. I have always been interested in the human condition and believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to grow and learn. Ultimately they will be the ones that decide for themselves where to go with all this wonder that we have before us every day.

Forcing people to change to conform to a certain system, way of life, or even religion is ultimately impossible. For a short while, people will fold to force but only until the collective spirit rises up again. The issues are so big and so important but as they say, to get there is just a matter of one bite at a time.

A recent event got me really thinking on these issues. I read a book called The Outlaw Sea by William Langwiesche. I was originally drawn to it simply because it was another book about ships and the ocean - I just can't seem to get enough of them. One chapter had me captivated and was an example of the complexities we now face in deciding what is best.

The chapter was about the ship breaking beaches in southern India. Greenpeace, a group that I would normally feel good about supporting, was attempting to shut things down. The beaches are a toxic mess and the work is dangerous yet this work ends up providing work for thousands that end up providing for their families where other work simply isn't available. The ship does get completely taken apart and almost everything is recycled - the steel, wiring, piping, etc. Shutting this place down would put an end to the environmental mess but it would also put an end to a livelihood for thousands.

So what is right? Why should the people from Greenpeace have a say? What about local authority? Is there a better way to provide the service of shipbreaking together with making a safer, more environmentally responsible place to do this?

The choices are huge and as the planet gets smaller, these decisions begin to effect us all. Getting the discussion started is the first step or for some the first bite.