At the risk of sounding like Grandpa Simpson, sometimes valuable lessons from decades past are worth dredging up. As a case in point, one cold February evening when back on the farm I drove over to a friend’s house and we headed into town for refreshments. We took his truck, and when we got back to his place at 3 am my car wouldn’t start because it was -42 and the block heater had called in sick. So I slept on their couch, and was awakened at about 6am by a gentle shake on my shoulder. It was my … [Read more...]
An open letter to any idiot that would compare petroleum with tobacco
I know, I know. Conversations are supposed to be positive and constructive. Bad Terry. The goal is, and should be, to expand the energy dialogue to be more inclusive, to bring together the disparate viewpoints so that we can start pulling together towards a greener future, at an appropriate pace. But that isn’t always possible when myths or outrageous accusations are held out as truths, and become part of the mainstream narrative through unopposed force. Constructive dialogue does not mean … [Read more...]
Terry Etam book launch – redefining energy conversations, with your help
Over the years of energy writing I’ve received many kind and supportive emails (and astonishingly few of the opposite – a few who took offence when I made fun of the cannabis craze, and a few scattered and enthusiastically brainless attacks). Thank you for all who have sent all those emails my way (except the potheads and the idiots). A common theme I’ve heard is how to get useful energy messages out to a wider audience, how to cut through the clutter of energy disinformation. The general … [Read more...]
A demand for a level playing field – ban ALL oil tankers from Canadian waters or abandon Bill C-48
Growing up a Saskatchewan farm boy, my concept of oceans was a bit inane. Oceans of wheat were common enough but real oceans were mythical heartless things that, to my landlubbing mind, were nothing but bottomless death traps. Granted, they did cough up some fish now and then, in exchange for inevitably trying to drown all comers. The boats always sank, because those were the stories that made the flatland news. It was conceivable that oceans had some redeeming qualities, from shore anyway, but … [Read more...]
Terry Etam’s open letter to Victoria city council on climate change lawsuit ambitions
Dear city council, Humbly submitted for your consideration is the following. On January 22, 2019, Rhode Island’s governor declared a state of emergency due to a problem with natural gas delivery. Excess demand from cold weather reduced line pressure causing 7,000 customers to have service cut. A near-catastrophe was avoided through massive emergency response actions. On October 8 2018, a natural gas pipeline exploded near Prince George. Residents of the lower mainland were warned to “turn … [Read more...]
Canadians learning about trees from Italians? The benefits of a scarcity mentality
Some years ago, I bought my first house, a townhouse. It was one of those three story open-plan 1970s things with a west-facing back wall mostly of glass and a theoretical mountain view if you stood on a 12-foot ladder in the middle of the living room and twisted your head just right. The back yard was my oasis, a nicely-shaded high-walled 12 foot by 12 foot pen, which with youthful enthusiasm I imagined was actually nice. I bought the place in May and enjoyed a great summer hanging out there, … [Read more...]
Canada picks an international role model but does it have to be Venezuela?
Two countries in the modern age seem to despise their resource sector, or their elite leadership does anyway. Most, if not all, other countries are proud of theirs. It is not hard to see why most nations cherish their natural bounty of resources. There is something elementally important about a nation having more of any given raw material than they actually need at present. Ones that lack sufficient natural resources are often skittish and paranoid, roughly speaking, because they are beholden … [Read more...]
“Hey, that’s not right…” – an (inter)national movement for energy truth gains momentum
The news stream has changed a lot over the past few decades, obviously. We used to have a very finite number of news sources; either a handful of newspapers or a few evening TV news shows. From these, the general population could then take relatively bland narratives and bash them into whatever twisted shape their minds wished to interpret them as, running them through political/ethical/moral/cultural/philosophical filters and shouting the results to whomever might listen. Which was often almost … [Read more...]
Canadian energy truck convoy: Ottawa, get ready to meet some strapping, hard-working, long-lost cousins for the first time
So you think you know trucks, most people think they do… but unless you are involved with operating one, you probably don’t know them very well at all. Trucks are often nothing more than obstacles, big bloated things that annoy you on the freeway, block the view, and accelerate like they are loaded with three planets. On the other hand, for people that build stuff, and move stuff, and make the world go ‘round, trucks are the silent (OK, nearly silent) heroes of the world. Industrial trucks … [Read more...]
Terry Etam’s Open Letter to the Law Foundation of British Columbia regarding selective group funding
Dear Law Foundation, In chasing down the funding trail for the recent demand by Whistler's mayor for Canadian Natural Resources to compensate the resort for climate change, I came across a pronounced pattern in funding that is a bit odd. Your stated mission is "To advance and promote a just society governed by the rule of law, through leadership, innovation and collaboration." You support many worthwhile programs, particularly for groups that may not otherwise have access to legal aid, advice, … [Read more...]
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