Energy of the Future

I love the way the Yes Men think. In one of their latest clever feats, they posed as National Petroleum Council (headed by ex-Exxon CEO) representatives at the GO-EXPO in Canada, where their speech received star-billing in the program. At tee-time, they unveiled "Vivoleum": energy for the future, made from human flesh. As Andy Bichlbaum, Yes Man and "NPC rep," explained:

"We've got to get ready. After all, fossil fuel development like that
of my company is increasing the chances of catastrophic climate
change, which could lead to massive calamities, causing migration and
conflicts that would likely disable the pipelines and oil wells.
Without oil we could no longer produce or transport food, and most of
humanity would starve. That would be a tragedy, but at least all
those bodies could be turned into fuel for the rest of us."

Reminds me of Swift's 18th c. "A Modest Proposal" in which he proposes eating babies to alleviate poverty. Isn't it uplifting to think we still have great minds today?

Google-eyed in the Amazon

Here's an interesting tidbit from an AP article:
Apparently, a Brazilian Indian tribe is teaming up with Google Earth to stop deforestation and mining in the rain-forest. Although the area doesn't have internet access, people hope that images of the rain-forest on Google Earth will have enough impact to stymie the illegal destruction of the land. A case of futile optimism, ulterior corporate motives, or a step in a positive direction? I wonder...

Chat

there is nothing here really

a small town

but stuff is coming together i guess

i'm going out to a village on thursday

to start trying to introduce myself to the communities

i need three - and this will be the first one - i hope

i don't know about the maya though

are you enjoying yourself so far?

umm... it's ok - people are really nice

but i've been a bit bored and lonely

so...does there seem like there might be people to get to know?

well... i don't know... there are a lot of people doing work here from the states

well - not a lot

but some

and the locals are really nice

i don't know

i mean.. i've talked to a whole bunch of people.

i'm kind of thinking of just doing my own thing to a certain extent

but we'll see i guess.

besides that

i don't know

it's different down here

everyone speaks creole

which i'm starting to understand a little already

i don't know what anyone is saying when they're talking amongst themselves

but they all speak english too

but - i've been hearing it so much and i'm realizing that i understand it a little

some times more than others

and the people are from all over too. it's heavily african and mayan

but there's chinese

and east indian

which i'm not sure what that means

there's nowhere to hike or no beach and there's nothing to do in town

so it's really got nothing

but maybe once i start getting out of town, i'll feel better about it all

i'm not sure why any tourists would come here really

besides to see a small water side community that is really friendly