Oxygen for Sale - A modest proposal to save the world

“I believe that global warming is a myth. And so, therefore, I have no conscience problems at all and I’m going to buy a Suburban next time. ” - Jerry Falwell

So the depressing news that we are self-destructing continues unabated. As the global warming evidence accumulates, specious though some of it may be, Ban KiMoon warns us that each of us (or our offspring) will ultimately sizzle in a global frying pan or be drowned in a diluvian wash of our own devise, unless we change our erring ways tout de suite. He might be right, though ever since the explosion of the “HIV causes AIDS” myth I view all sweeping prognostication from the world of “science” with a skeptical, jaundiced eye. Nevertheless, global warming and environmental catastrophe in general fall into that category where one must error on the side of caution. Of course, that’s easy for me to say; I do not own a Suburban or a yacht or an energy devouring house - or much of anything, for that matter - so perhaps I’d be less affected than most by any voluntary or compulsory movement to shrink our individual carbon footprints.

One of the greatest concerns of recent years has been the relentless destruction of the Amazon jungle (and similar rainforest areas throughout the developing world - like here in the Philippines where 90% of the country’s forests have disappeared in the past 100 years). Millions of Amazon acres get burned to make room for agriculture (read: coffee) and livestock (read: Big Mac). “Tsk tsk” says the world to Brazil et al. “How can you be so irresponsible? You are the oxygen engine of the world. Without you, we die.” Such statements are usually made by someone in a press conference held moments after having had their obligatory morning Starbucks Mocha Latte and shortly before their Chateau Briand lunch.

Oxygen, though perhaps the most important, is not the only reason given for preserving these wilds.
- deforestation destroys species - both the known and as yet undiscovered.
- many of the world’s medicines have originated in these forests (thank God, Allah, Zeus or whomever for aspirin!)
- indigenous societies and cultures are threatened with destruction (more on this crap in a later post!)

Most of us who do not own a ranch, plantation or mine would be happier to see the Amazon left alone. However, economics and greed being what they are, how likely is that?

As is often the case with “big issues”, I find myself once again the old grouch going against the flow when it comes to Brazil bashing. In this case I take umbrage with the “moral” tone with which the arguments against Brazilian developers is made. They are to stop what they are doing because it endangers the world. That seems fair enough on the face of it but something is left out. I have yet to hear an environmentalist, government agency spokesperson or anyone point out what is not only obvious but completely relevant in this matter:

Brazil and the others are poor countries. They need to develop if huge segments of their populations are to be raised above the bare subsistence level. Deforestation is expedient. And why? Firstly, because there is a market. Brazilians could not consume the coffee and meat they produce even if they could afford to. That consumption is job of the wealthy nations who do the preaching. (Something about having cake and eating it keeps drifting through my mind…)

A second point, and one that again is never mentioned is this: How did those wealthy nations become wealthy nations (besides, in most cases, having a history of imperialism)? They deforested their lands for agriculture and industry. It disgusts me, frankly. “We got ours. Now it’s up to you to forego ever getting yours because of what we did to get ours.”

Is there a solution? I don’t know, but I do know exactly how I would approach the problem were I the emperor of Brazil. I’d address the UN and say the following:

“Here’s the deal, fat, decadent, spoiled, rich coffee-guzzling, burger-downing, SUV-driving folks: We will rent you the Amazon. The down payment for the first year is our entire national debt of $25 billion (or whatever). A bargain basement price of no more than a couple of billion each from the developed nations. Thereafter, for every acre of the Amazon we do not burn down you will pay us $X annually. In addition, we will make the area open to scientific exploration on the proviso that Brazil owns 50% of the patents for any medicines developed from that exploration. We earn or we burn. It’s up to you.”

I do realize that within days of such a speech being made, George Bush would announce that it had been discovered that Brazil had become a safe haven for Al Qaeda, and regime change is imperative and the 101st Airborne is en route to protect the country’s neighbors.

Like I said, a modest proposal.