Panic At Nabisco

Last night at the Planning Board meeting in Plymouth, a guest by the name of Michael Murphy; from Portland, Maine came to speak about the current proposed wave energy projects in Massachusetts and to educate us about the many different kinds of mechanisms to cull the power of the ocean for electricity.

He gave a Power Point presentation which displayed photos and illustrations of myriad devices, and spoke of the pros and cons of each one.  Plus, he told us of some of the "wave farms" already in place in other parts of the world and the huge strides they've been making by actively pursuing alternative forms of energy.

I was across the hall to broadcast the meeting on Plymouth's cable access television (PAC-TV).  But when the opportunity arose, for only the second time in about six or seven years of doing these meetings, I got up to the podium to speak.

As I said when I got up, I spoke with Mr. Murphy before the meeting to let him know that I'd be speaking just after he was done.  He reacted to me as if disarmed; repeatedly asking, "Who are you?"  I got the feeling he suspected that I had some kind of ulterior motive; like I was some kind of corporate tool cloaked in mufti to undermine the whole thing.  I had to laugh a little.  "I'm just a concerned citizen" I affirmed about four or five times.

I didn't know what to expect when I got up to the podium.  I started by relating the meat of what I had to say to the very specific topic at hand; wave energy.  I read a very interesting article from The Oregonian (which I may have copied and pasted here on myfoxboston...can't recall) from January 8.  It expounded further on a massive wave energy project off of the coast of Oregon of which the state just released the first $1million of $4.2 million allocated to the project by the state.  The report gave a very interesting breakdown of how the funds would be utilized.

I seized the opportunity to segue into my own personal alternative energy favorite; hydrogen.  I went on to explain that hydrogen could be produced without the use of fossil fuels (to answer the biggest criticism) using other alternative energies such as wave energy.  BP just invested $2billion towards the construction of a hydrogen plant in Abu Dhabi.  India is looking to hydrogen to fuel their vehicles...China as well.  And what are we doing here in the US-?  ...Looking to cellulosic ethanol.  I pointed out that where the rest of the world is taking very proactive steps towards insuring their economic and environmental futures, we're merely putting band-aids where surgery is required.

I really didn't expect the wonderful reception I got.  I didn't know what to expect, but I spoke with such a passion...my audience was not only listening - they seemed absolutely captivated.

As I said last night, I really wish more average, ordinary citizens would quit buying into the b.s. put out by corporations by Exxon/Mobil.  When you stand to lose billions upon billions of dollars to alternative energy, you will go to unimaginable lengths to preserve your fortunes.  ...And I really wish that more citizens would not only become as informed about the truths of alternative energies, but speak out about them as well...using whatever platforms they can.  Why did it shock Mr. Murphy that I wasn't a lobbyist or with a special-interest group-?  ...Simple; because not enough people in this country are using the powers afforded to them in this democracy of ours.

If only more people would learn some important truths about what is going on....  If only they would acquire some wisdom to better understand their knowledge...  If only they would take both knowledge and wisdom into the voting booths with them...(actually, some knowledge would be a good start).  If only more people would first become thoroughly informed, and then get up and share what they know with a captive audience.  -Last night, that's just what I did.  ...Your turn...