SAVE THE PLANET

January 2024

Google “Konstantin Kisin: WOKE Culture has Gone too Far” It is a YouTube video of a man saying how the first world can do everything possible to clean up the planet, but it will ultimately be decided by the poor countries. Having travelled through lots of “poor” countries, I can 100% concur with Konstantin. Whereas the USA and Canada have their emission control laws and ”retire” old buses and other service vehicles; do we inquire how they got “retired”? Well, a lot of them get sent to Central America, where they continue to belch smoke. Basically, we got rid of the garbage in our backyard by throwing it over the fence to our neighbour’s back yard. Problem solved! Just about every bus is an old school bus, affectionately known as the “chicken bus”.

Secondly, we can ban all the plastic bags and plastic containers we want, and feel righteous about cleaning up the planet. I agree we over-use plastic and an intense education program must be established world-wide. However, at the moment, I don’t know how poor countries would survive without plastic. Cut up fruit is sold in plastic bags, fruit juice is sold in plastic bags with a plastic straw to drink it, nuts, dried plantain and other homemade food items are sold in plastic bags. These are common snacks and drinks sold by street vendors. It’s what feeds families and makes the economy turn. There are even Plastic Superstores, selling chairs, wash basins and buckets, toys, storage containers, and almost every household item you can think of. Unfortunately, there is no proper garbage removal system and NO recycling program. The garbage, compost and plastic, are all dumped along the road or burned. If the G8 countries really want to help the global situation, maybe establish an educational program and garbage recycling and removal programs. Stop throwing our garbage over the fence and turning a blind eye.

Thirdly, when I say “poor” I am referring to monetary poverty. However, most of the time that poverty is due to lack of education and foreign aid not properly distributed, as I mentioned earlier. However, they are richer in so many other ways. The people are more kind and helpful than any first world country that I have travelled . I have had strangers stop me in the street to ask if I needed help. I have had people walk 10 minutes out of their way to take me to where I need to go, because I was lost. I have had strangers offer me free food and drink because they wanted me to experience their local cuisine. I have had numerous people thank me for visiting they country. Locals give me travel advice on places to go and cautions to be aware of. They have even given me their phone number, in case I need more help. They smile more than any North American.

The children never cry, even when squashed two to a seat on a small bus. Every child I have come across has been happy playing with seemingly nothing. Little children in their parent’s shop play on the floor while the older ones work the shop – no time for video games or Face Book. Yes, being in school would be the better answer, but they are learning a life skill. (See my comment about meeting the Czech man in the Simmer Down restaurant in Santa Ana, El Salvador) Children sit on the sidewalk playing some imaginary game with a friend. Children run around the town square while I try to figure out who the parents are. The parents are busy selling their trinkets to tourists and have no time to be helicopter parents. The kids learn to be self sufficient early on. I am not saying this is the proper way to raise a child, but giving your kid every modern convenience is more harmful. Teenagers do not slouch and shuffle along, they walk tall, straight, proud and with purpose. They are much richer in morals, values, and hospitality.

I think the “have” countries could make a huge difference on a world-wide scale if aid was given, altruistically, to educate countries in the classroom and in garbage management. Give the contracts to companies who really care, and not political friends and sponsors. If a fraction of the military budget was spent on humanitarian needs, the world would be a better place.

OK, I will get off my soapbox now.