Why today is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Today is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. as declared by the United Nations in 1966! Here is a great backgrounder on the history of the day by Stephen Hammond:
I’m racist, how about you?

Up and Down

I don’t drive my own car. I buy gas sometimes but most of the time I pedal my bicycle and occasionally use public transit. I’m lucky I can get around this way. My lifestyle and a streetcar stop at the end of my street make it all possible.
Nevertheless, I am painfully aware of the “price of gas obsession” in our society. It’s like an addiction–we all get higher than a skyscraper when the prices go up and hang our heads in shame when the prices come down. And then we just wait for our next fix, the rush we get when the price of gas starts climbing again. Like addicts.
Considering the level of rage we feel about high prices, we should balance ourselves with a corresponding joy when the prices come down.
And, what about the stock market? I seem to recall when the price of oil surpassed $50 per barrel the media reported the planet was going to hell in a hand basket. Nobody talked about the people getting rich because they invested their money in oil stocks. But today I hear the sad lament that the price of oil is headed down and how horrible this is for the economy.
Seems to me that if I make an embarrassing amount of profit because everyone else is paying far too much for gas, I should graciously give some of it back. Or at least be content making some money instead of lots and lots of money.
In the past couple of weeks, the price of gas has gown DOWN by about 20 cents per litre! Why don’t I see people dancing in the streets? Perhaps you are dancing in your cars.

Gas Prices

Some things to consider when complaining about the prices we pay, in Canada, for gas:

• There is currently a food shortage crisis in the developing world.
• The Globe and Mail writes that in Canada we are actually seeing LOWER food prices
• The CBC says that 33 countries are on the verge of anarchy as the people take to the streets to protest against the price of food
• Three billion people in the world simply cannot afford to buy food–it’s not hard, it’s impossible!
• The cost of fuel has been suggested as one reason for the increase in food prices
• The demand for fuel in China and in the devolped world (that’s us folks) has allowed suppliers to charge whatever they want
• Large agri-corporations are responsible for high food prices and food shortages (so big corportaitons are bad)
• Wal-Mart takes the credit for low food prices in Canada (so corporations are good)

Are you bitching about gas prices?

OR

Wanna help the third world?

Here’s what to do:

• Get your bicycle out of the garage
• Ride your bicycle
• Walk somewhere
• Stay home one day a week
• Tell your kids to walk somewhere
• Protest in the streets