We demand the speed and convenience of air travel, even for relatively short trips, compromising the economic viability of passenger trains, and have killed off transoceanic steamship travel, both the latter modes of transportation being much more energy efficient than aircraft. We demand an astonishing polyglot of consumer goods, most of them frivolous, production of which wastes raw materials and pollutes the environment. Industrial production is more than 50 times what it was 100 years ago. It's time to admit that we, Canadians as well as Americans, have become selfish, addicted, energy junkies, fouling our own environmental clothing and that of others. We need detox badly, and the Cheney-Bush prescription of more cheap energy is not going to help.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
There are energy technologies under development, and doubtless more as yet undiscovered, that would be much less polluting than oil, coal, and nuclear. However, their widespread adoption will be slow as long as there is a cheap supply of conventional energy, and they will likely at first involve significant compromises in both cost and convenience. However, if we are not prepared to make the relatively modest sacrifices that will be required to wean ourselves off our addiction to cheap, fossil fuel energy, we no doubt collectively deserve the consequences of our prodigality. Statement on Human Life Comments and suggestions for other services are welcome. The Mission of the Western Catholic Reporter is . . . .