Help, My Record is Skipping!

Some times I fell like my record is skipping, going over the same old groove over and over. But I can't help it. I love stumbling through the C.B.C.s website, mostly because I find stories like No exceptions for major polluters in Bali, says Baird. What an interesting piece.

International leaders attending the U.N. Climate Change Conference are hoping to draught an updated version of the Kyoto Protocol to include all polluters. Which as a matter of fact, coincides with the stance that P.M. Stephen Harper took at the recent Commonwealth summit. A lot of people criticized Harper for not wanting to be bound to the Kyoto protocol which only encompasses 36 industrialized nations. As many of you know, there are more than 36 industrialized nations that are contributing to Global Warming. Greenhouse gas emissions are increasing every year and it is time for us to do something about it!

This new 'Protocol' that International leaders are hoping to draught will encompass every industrialized nation. Far too long have smaller industrialized nations, out side of the Kyoto Protocol have been polluting with out limits. Granted that placing limits on Greenhouse gas production only slows the problem, but slowing the problem while we search for a solution is absolutely necessary. I'm sure people who have time to read through this post will agree, breathing is good, especially if its clean air we're breathing. But its not just for us that we have to create a solution for, its for the children.

How many people can remember having summers with out smog warnings? Is it possible to get rid of this health hazard? Is it really so hard to walk to the store instead of driving? Oil prices will never be the same as they were a decade ago, and the less dependant we are on cars, the better. Before the modern automobile was invented, we used to get around by steam powered trains, horses or just what God gave us, our own two feet. Economically, walking 20 to 30 minutes to get to the store is more logical than burning approximately $1-$3 worth of gasoline each trip. Not to mention the healthy side effects of walking. Are you willing to sacrifice some extra minutes for not only your health, but the health of our environment.

Image Sources: www.libcom.org and www.healthandenergy.com

The Deadliest Weapon

Everybody has one, if you don't have one you want one. This weapon has been mass produced for close to 100 years, but its not classed as weaponry. Most of these do not resemble in any shape or form the classic weapons, but do not fool yourself, it most certainly is one. This weapon has been studied for years, its been redesigned for safety, but it still is a weapon. Its sleek, sexy, its been revered and collected. A lot of people purchase one based on its sex appeal. Have you guessed what weapon I'm talking about? Its none other than the common automobile.

In its early years of production, the car was the most deadliest form of transportation. With the wrong person behind the wheel, it still is. When the car was first mass produced, the consumer just accepted the risks. Now there are people employed to design safety devices to prevent deaths in car accidents. Compared to the original car the rolled off the production line in early years, our cars are far more safe, for example; airbags, seat belts, collapsible steering columns and crumple zones keep the modern driver safe. Granted all these devices are not fool proof, people still die in car accidents, but thanks to these devices the number of deaths from car accidents has declined. But all of these safety devices would not have been installed prior to the first motor safety laws that were passed in 1967.

Some would argue that a car is one of the safest modes of transport in today's society. I can agree with that, at least when every body behind the wheel is fully aware of their surroundings. When they're not, the car or truck transforms into a 2500-65000lbs projectile, this is why cars and trucks are the most deadliest weapon on today's market. Most drivers are competent enough to pay attention to others around their vehicle, but this isn't always the case. How many deaths per year are attributed to motor vehicle accidents?

The safest types of cars are not production vehicles. Racing vehicles are designed to be crashed, the forces that act on these vehicles are extreem and the car has to be designed to prevent the death of the driver. Granted that some race car drivers do die during races, but their deaths are not in vain, new safety devices are introduced to prevent more deaths from similar crashes. Also the drivers are wearing far more protective gear than the average civillian driver, they usually wear a fire suit, helmut, fire resistant gloves and boots, as well as a five point harness instead of the three point safety belt that all current production vehicles are equipped with.

Since the inception of the automobile, thousands of people have died from driver error. In my corner of the world we have a graduated licensing system which encourages more and more young people to take drivers education courses. The incentive is that you are allowed to take your first of two road tests four months earlier than with out a defensive driving course. All this is a good system that will help prevent some accidents, its not fool proof, but its a step in the right direction. In my opinion, the volume of drivers out on today's roads is increasing, which is increasing the chances of being involved in a car accident.

Next time you get behind the wheel of an automobile, please remember that you are behind the controls of a weapon and be responsible with it!