Albert Einstein once explained relativity like this: “If you sit with a pretty girl for an hour, you think it’s only a minute. If you sit on a hot stove for a minute, you think it’s an hour. That’s relativity.”
I’ve been thinking about relativity lately in connection to British Columbia. Like all Americans thinking of Canadians, at first I fall victim to the relativity handicap. I think, “Oh, what a bunch of nice, polite people.” Relative to us down here in the US, that is. The impression of civility doesn’t last long. The government of British Columbia this summer is underwriting the clearcutting of the last great ancient temperate rainforest on earth. There seems to be little concern that this forest is claimed by native nations and has never been ceded by treaty. Want to cluck your tongue over the raw deal white people forced on Native Americans? You can go see it up in British Columbia – it’s still going on, live. The man in charge of this chainsaw carnival – Premier Glen Clark – is the leader of the New Democratic Party, which touts itself as Canada’s left-wing party. Like I said, relativity.
Physics aside, money seems to have a good deal to do with the relativity I’ve observed. A few years ago, British Columbia introduced the Forest Practices Code, so the world could see Canada’s standard of environmental awareness. This week Glen Clark announced he is gutting the code – he calls it “streamlining.” Most of the code was never enforced before it was “streamlined” anyway, but these things are all relative. Under this particular form of relativity, British Columbia introduces a forest practices code with great fanfare, congratulates themselves roundly, then quietly revokes most of it.
Forests are not the only natural resource to inspire relativity in British Columbia. There’s also oil. Every year, British Columbia bestows a Minister’s Environmental Award. Given the way British Columbia treats its forest, one would not think the BC Minister’s Environmental Award would be any big deal. Inexplicably, it is. This year, World Wildlife Fund nominated Shell Oil to receive the award because Shell gave up its marine exploration rights off Haida Gwaii, along the coast of British Columbia. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think it’s wonderful that Shell decided not to drill off the coast of British Columbia – but it’s a relatively good thing.
I say it’s a relatively good thing because I can’t contemplate the activities of Shell in North America without thinking about Shell’s activities in Africa. Money from Shell Oil operations have been the largest source of income for the military regime of Nigeria’s Sani Abacha. For 35 years, Shell Oil has been polluting, impoverishing and repressing the Ogoni people of the Niger River Delta. The actual killing is done by soldiers, but Shell provides the money. Shell buys the guns and Shell buys the bullets.
For years, the Ogoni people have spoken out and resisted Shell’s presence in their land. The Ogoni people have been successful in their struggle – but unfortunately, they have only been relatively successful. They have let the world know of Shell’s misdeeds, but they have paid a terrible price. Their charismatic leader, Ken Saro Wiwa, was arrested, tried, convicted and executed by the military for crimes he did not commit. Eight other Ogoni were killed with him. There are currently 19 Ogoni activists in jail, under torture and facing possible execution. Their crime is that they want to live in communities free from oil spills and gas flaring. Back in British Columbia, the executives at Shell are straightening their black ties, ready to accept awards as environmentalists.
Theories of Relativity
Albert Einstein once explained relativity like this: “If you sit with a pretty girl for an hour, you think it’s only a minute. If you sit on a hot stove for a minute, you think it’s an hour. That’s relativity.”
I’ve been thinking about relativity lately in connection to British Columbia. Like all Americans thinking of Canadians, at first I fall victim to the relativity handicap. I think, “Oh, what a bunch of nice, polite people.” Relative to us down here in the US, that is. The impression of civility doesn’t last long. The government of British Columbia this summer is underwriting the clearcutting of the last great ancient temperate rainforest on earth. There seems to be little concern that this forest is claimed by native nations and has never been ceded by treaty. Want to cluck your tongue over the raw deal white people forced on Native Americans? You can go see it up in British Columbia – it’s still going on, live. The man in charge of this chainsaw carnival – Premier Glen Clark – is the leader of the New Democratic Party, which touts itself as Canada’s left-wing party. Like I said, relativity.
Physics aside, money seems to have a good deal to do with the relativity I’ve observed. A few years ago, British Columbia introduced the Forest Practices Code, so the world could see Canada’s standard of environmental awareness. This week Glen Clark announced he is gutting the code – he calls it “streamlining.” Most of the code was never enforced before it was “streamlined” anyway, but these things are all relative. Under this particular form of relativity, British Columbia introduces a forest practices code with great fanfare, congratulates themselves roundly, then quietly revokes most of it.
Forests are not the only natural resource to inspire relativity in British Columbia. There’s also oil. Every year, British Columbia bestows a Minister’s Environmental Award. Given the way British Columbia treats its forest, one would not think the BC Minister’s Environmental Award would be any big deal. Inexplicably, it is. This year, World Wildlife Fund nominated Shell Oil to receive the award because Shell gave up its marine exploration rights off Haida Gwaii, along the coast of British Columbia. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think it’s wonderful that Shell decided not to drill off the coast of British Columbia – but it’s a relatively good thing.
I say it’s a relatively good thing because I can’t contemplate the activities of Shell in North America without thinking about Shell’s activities in Africa. Money from Shell Oil operations have been the largest source of income for the military regime of Nigeria’s Sani Abacha. For 35 years, Shell Oil has been polluting, impoverishing and repressing the Ogoni people of the Niger River Delta. The actual killing is done by soldiers, but Shell provides the money. Shell buys the guns and Shell buys the bullets.
For years, the Ogoni people have spoken out and resisted Shell’s presence in their land. The Ogoni people have been successful in their struggle – but unfortunately, they have only been relatively successful. They have let the world know of Shell’s misdeeds, but they have paid a terrible price. Their charismatic leader, Ken Saro Wiwa, was arrested, tried, convicted and executed by the military for crimes he did not commit. Eight other Ogoni were killed with him. There are currently 19 Ogoni activists in jail, under torture and facing possible execution. Their crime is that they want to live in communities free from oil spills and gas flaring. Back in British Columbia, the executives at Shell are straightening their black ties, ready to accept awards as environmentalists.
Like I said, everything is relative.