April 22 - How long does it take to change a light bulb?
by MaShow on Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:31 pm
Happy Earth Day?... I'm sorry to rain on the parade, but aren't we long past such a celebratory slogan? I mean, we have long known that Global Warming is really happening -- and happening much faster than expected -- and that the consumption of fossil fuels is the leading cause. Even the most thick-headed sloths in the Bush administration do not contest this any longer, although they choose to ignore it.
And so I fail to see the cause for celebration.
「快樂地球日?」，我很抱歉在這兒對大家潑一大桶冷水，「快樂地球日」怎麼可以在我們明白「全球暖化」的嚴重性之後，還被大家拿來當成「慶祝的標題」?眾所周知，「全球暖化」正在發生，而且比我們所預期的還要快速地惡化，其中，「消耗石化燃料」正是全球暖化的最主要原因，儘管最為短視怠惰無能的布希政府選擇忽視這個問題，但都已經不再質疑這個論點。
因此，我實在看不出來「地球日」有什麼值得「快樂」的?!
While finishing a music project here in Taipei, I read in the local newspaper about how local governments plan to recognize Earth Day with a few token actions such as turning off lights and elevators during lunch hour and using public transportation. The City of Kaohsiung even plans to replace all light bulbs in public buildings with energy saving brands within three years.
最近我在台北完成一個音樂創作後，發現此地某個媒體報導說，台灣的地方政府為了呼籲大家重視「地球日」，提出「午餐時間關掉電燈和電梯」、「多多利用大眾運輸工具」等幾項實際做法。其中，高雄市政府為了達到節約能源的目的，更計劃在「3年內」，將市府所屬各機關單位的「白熾燈泡」，全部改為「省電燈泡」。
I beg your pardon? What was that? Three years to replace light bulbs??? Wow! Now that is government in-action!!!
什麼?你說蝦米??換個燈泡居然要花3年的時間???看吧，這就是政府的行動力!!!
And how about those public servants and politicians using public transportation once in a year? Well, thank you for loving this Earth so much that you actually do something to save it once in 365 days! With this type of behavior, we can kiss this place goodbye!
「花3年才能換燈泡」，這主意聽起來不錯吧!那要不要請這些政府官員和政治人物每年「只花1天」，來一趟「大眾運輸工具」之旅?真該感謝這些人這麼愛地球，可以在365天當中，花了1天寶貴時間拯救地球。真要這麼搞下去，不必再等什麼，我們現在就可以向「快樂的地球」說再見了!
Meanwhile in the same newspaper, it was reported that the newly elected government led by Taiwan President-elect Ma Ying-jeou is eager to reengage the Tai Chao Project, which involves oil exploration in the Taiwan Straight in a cooperative venture between Taiwan's government-owned Chinese Petroleum Corporation and China's government-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation.
Never mind that oil is the leading cause of Global Warming, because at USD $120-per-barrel, it sure is tasty!!!
在同一份報紙裡，我也注意到另一個消息。剛剛出爐的台灣新政府，也就是馬英九政府，馬上急著宣稱要和中國重新啟動所謂的「Tai Chao」計畫，這個計畫包括在台灣海峽的「石油探測」，這項充滿投機睹注的計畫將由台灣的「中油公司」和中國國有延海石油公司共同合作。管它什麼「石油是全球暖化的元凶」了，反正一桶原油美金120元。這樣做，夠有吸引力了吧!
But fear not! This coming administration has announced a new environmental policy for Earth Day. After taking office next month, energy taxes will be increased for all Taiwan citizens to discourage excessive consumption.
誰知道呢?就當做這項偉大的幻想計畫，是衝著「憐憫地球日」而來的吧。下個月，新政府要就職了，總統當選人也宣稱將提高燃料稅，以遏阻台灣人過度消耗能源。
As you are surely thinking right now, the greatest beneficiary of this plan is not the Earth, but the government who just loves to retrieve your money.
當你仔細想一想就會明白，這項計畫的最大獲益者並不是地球，而是馬英九新政府，因為，它正準備好好地搜括台灣民眾的荷包!
Beyond this, there are no plans announced for legislating stricter energy conservation for new building construction, or better automobile fuel consumption standards, or rebates for the purchasing of hybrid cars, or using alternative fuel for public transportation... or... or... or...
除了這項不切實際的計畫之外，完全看不到其他任何法定的、周密的自然資源管理計畫與政策，例如，如何落實新建築的節能要求、更好的機汽車耗油標準、補貼購買油氣兩用汽車、使用替代能源的大眾運輸工具…等等。
Human Beings have lived upon this Earth for hundreds-of-thousands, if not millions of years. We can easily look back through thousands of years of documented human history. Yet today, we are unable to imagine how future
generations can survive the next 50 to 100 years. And we certainly have no plan for generations who should share this planet thousands of years from now.
人類在地球上已經生存了幾十萬年，我們也可以輕易地看見過去幾千年的文明記載，但是，我們卻無法想像我們的後代，該如何在未來的50年或100年後，好好生存下去?幾十年都無法想像了，更不必談我們有什麼計畫，可以和幾千年後的子孫，分享這個美麗的星球!
The most fearsome animal in the forest is a mother, and yet what kind of species are we, that we fully conceive how our actions are destroying the future of our own children but still we continue our destructive behavior.
在大自然界的森林中，為了保護下一代而奮戰、甚至不惜犧牲生命的母親，是最讓掠食者望而生畏的;由其他物種母親們的角度，可以對照人類是多麼可悲的物種!人類到底算是個什麼樣子的物種母親?我們有沒有想過我們現在的所做所為，正在毀滅我們自己的子孫?但是，我們現在卻持續地、大肆地摧毀著未來。
We live in a world where corporations and their markets are dictating government policy, waging wars, and determining the value of everything from food to oil. The rich profit from the heartless law of supply-and-demand, while the poor get poorer and the hungry starve in greater numbers.
我們生活在財團與市場支配著政府政策的世界，這是一場強取豪奪金錢的戰爭，食物、石油等一切事物的價格，經由無情的法律界訂供需後，財富終將歸於有權有勢的少數人手中。在此同時，窮人更窮，餓肚子沒飯吃的人也愈來愈多。
CNN is reporting today that those people with good intentions to save the Earth by promoting Biofuels such as Ethanol as an alternative to oil, are actually causing more climate change than the Biofuels counteract due to the clearing of rainforests to grow the crops used for Biofuel production.
CNN曾經報導部分有心保護地球的人，鼓吹採用有機燃料，例如採用酒精替代石油。報導中指出，「採用酒精取代石油」會造成更嚴重的氣候變遷，其反作用的來源正由於必須清除雨林，只為了取得更多的種植作物用地，以生產有機燃料的原料。
It is no wonder that CNN -- a massive news company owned by Time Warner Inc. -- is missing the point. It is not those with good intentions who are in error. It is the profiteers who embrace Biofuel crop production. Crops for Biofuels have become a commodity which is not used for stopping climate change, but is used instead by farming corporations to earn big profits.
Time Warner Inc.所擁有的這個巨大媒體公司CNN會有這樣的報導並不令人意外，然而，CNN錯了，但那些有心保護地球的人並沒有錯。牟取暴利的奸商抓住機會，將農作物生產為有機燃料變成「商品」後，它已經不是拿來當成阻止氣候變遷的工具，而事實上卻成為「農產公司」獲取暴利的手段。
Greed has once again scuttled a much needed plan to save the Earth.
貪婪的奸商再一次性急地迫切需要這個「拯救地球」的計畫!
As I contemplate the meaning of this day, I discover the best that Earth Day can bring is the revelation of how little we care about our planet 364 days out of 365.
當我仔細思考「地球日」的意義後，我發現，「地球日」所帶來的最重要的意義在於，它暴露了一個真相，那就是：「我們在一年365天的364天裡，是多麼地不在意我們這個地球!」
Imagine the Hitler administration of Nazi Germany promoting an annual Jewish Appreciation Day when people of Jewish descent are not executed. But for the remaining 364 days, the genocide continues.
想像一下，如果希特勒所操控的德國納粹政府宣傳一個「一年一天的猶太人感恩日」，只有在每一年的這一天，猶太種族不會被處決。至於其他364天，猶太種族滅絕的集體屠殺，繼續進行…
Do I think this is this an extreme example? Absolutely not. We are committing global biocide, eliminating countless species who had every right to live on this Earth. They have evolved beside us from the time when life began. And yet today, one species becomes extinct every hour.
你認為這是個極端的例子嗎?絕對不是! 我們有義務承擔責任，因為我們過去一直以大量的殺蟲劑、抗生素等有毒物質，消滅了許多和我們一樣有權利住在地球上的物種。地球自從有生命開始，這些物種便和人類一起進化，而今，其他物種的滅絕事件卻無時不刻地上演著!
As politicians think about changing a light bulb sometime in the coming years, I hope more of us will make every day Earth Day in our actions. Let April 22 be the one day when we remember those thousands of species we wiped out during the preceding year.
Let it become International Mourn The Earth Day.
當政治人物希望在未來的幾年內把「白熾燈泡」換成「省電燈泡」，我盼望有更多的人用實際的行動，將每一天都當成「地球日」。至於每年4月22日所謂的「地球日」這一天，就把它當成過去這些年來，我們造成許多物種滅絕的紀念日，我們應該將4月22日，當成「國際哀悼地球日」。
The human species is capable of both conceiving this global crisis, and of experiencing a certain quality known as love. Only when these two join together and create action, can we believe in a future for our children and understand what Earth Day truly means.
人類是有能力採取對策「應付」地球危機的物種，人類也肯定是擁有「相愛」美好特質的物種。只有當人類將這兩個「能力與特質」結合起來並採取實際行動後，我們才能寄望我們的子孫能夠擁有未來，我們才算深刻體認「地球日」的真實意義。
by MaShow on Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:31 pm
Happy Earth Day?... I'm sorry to rain on the parade, but aren't we long past such a celebratory slogan? I mean, we have long known that Global Warming is really happening -- and happening much faster than expected -- and that the consumption of fossil fuels is the leading cause. Even the most thick-headed sloths in the Bush administration do not contest this any longer, although they choose to ignore it.
And so I fail to see the cause for celebration.
「快樂地球日?」，我很抱歉在這兒對大家潑一大桶冷水，「快樂地球日」怎麼可以在我們明白「全球暖化」的嚴重性之後，還被大家拿來當成「慶祝的標題」?眾所周知，「全球暖化」正在發生，而且比我們所預期的還要快速地惡化，其中，「消耗石化燃料」正是全球暖化的最主要原因，儘管最為短視怠惰無能的布希政府選擇忽視這個問題，但都已經不再質疑這個論點。
因此，我實在看不出來「地球日」有什麼值得「快樂」的?!
While finishing a music project here in Taipei, I read in the local newspaper about how local governments plan to recognize Earth Day with a few token actions such as turning off lights and elevators during lunch hour and using public transportation. The City of Kaohsiung even plans to replace all light bulbs in public buildings with energy saving brands within three years.
最近我在台北完成一個音樂創作後，發現此地某個媒體報導說，台灣的地方政府為了呼籲大家重視「地球日」，提出「午餐時間關掉電燈和電梯」、「多多利用大眾運輸工具」等幾項實際做法。其中，高雄市政府為了達到節約能源的目的，更計劃在「3年內」，將市府所屬各機關單位的「白熾燈泡」，全部改為「省電燈泡」。
I beg your pardon? What was that? Three years to replace light bulbs??? Wow! Now that is government in-action!!!
什麼?你說蝦米??換個燈泡居然要花3年的時間???看吧，這就是政府的行動力!!!
And how about those public servants and politicians using public transportation once in a year? Well, thank you for loving this Earth so much that you actually do something to save it once in 365 days! With this type of behavior, we can kiss this place goodbye!
「花3年才能換燈泡」，這主意聽起來不錯吧!那要不要請這些政府官員和政治人物每年「只花1天」，來一趟「大眾運輸工具」之旅?真該感謝這些人這麼愛地球，可以在365天當中，花了1天寶貴時間拯救地球。真要這麼搞下去，不必再等什麼，我們現在就可以向「快樂的地球」說再見了!
Meanwhile in the same newspaper, it was reported that the newly elected government led by Taiwan President-elect Ma Ying-jeou is eager to reengage the Tai Chao Project, which involves oil exploration in the Taiwan Straight in a cooperative venture between Taiwan's government-owned Chinese Petroleum Corporation and China's government-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation.
Never mind that oil is the leading cause of Global Warming, because at USD $120-per-barrel, it sure is tasty!!!
在同一份報紙裡，我也注意到另一個消息。剛剛出爐的台灣新政府，也就是馬英九政府，馬上急著宣稱要和中國重新啟動所謂的「Tai Chao」計畫，這個計畫包括在台灣海峽的「石油探測」，這項充滿投機睹注的計畫將由台灣的「中油公司」和中國國有延海石油公司共同合作。管它什麼「石油是全球暖化的元凶」了，反正一桶原油美金120元。這樣做，夠有吸引力了吧!
But fear not! This coming administration has announced a new environmental policy for Earth Day. After taking office next month, energy taxes will be increased for all Taiwan citizens to discourage excessive consumption.
誰知道呢?就當做這項偉大的幻想計畫，是衝著「憐憫地球日」而來的吧。下個月，新政府要就職了，總統當選人也宣稱將提高燃料稅，以遏阻台灣人過度消耗能源。
As you are surely thinking right now, the greatest beneficiary of this plan is not the Earth, but the government who just loves to retrieve your money.
當你仔細想一想就會明白，這項計畫的最大獲益者並不是地球，而是馬英九新政府，因為，它正準備好好地搜括台灣民眾的荷包!
Beyond this, there are no plans announced for legislating stricter energy conservation for new building construction, or better automobile fuel consumption standards, or rebates for the purchasing of hybrid cars, or using alternative fuel for public transportation... or... or... or...
除了這項不切實際的計畫之外，完全看不到其他任何法定的、周密的自然資源管理計畫與政策，例如，如何落實新建築的節能要求、更好的機汽車耗油標準、補貼購買油氣兩用汽車、使用替代能源的大眾運輸工具…等等。
Human Beings have lived upon this Earth for hundreds-of-thousands, if not millions of years. We can easily look back through thousands of years of documented human history. Yet today, we are unable to imagine how future
generations can survive the next 50 to 100 years. And we certainly have no plan for generations who should share this planet thousands of years from now.
人類在地球上已經生存了幾十萬年，我們也可以輕易地看見過去幾千年的文明記載，但是，我們卻無法想像我們的後代，該如何在未來的50年或100年後，好好生存下去?幾十年都無法想像了，更不必談我們有什麼計畫，可以和幾千年後的子孫，分享這個美麗的星球!
The most fearsome animal in the forest is a mother, and yet what kind of species are we, that we fully conceive how our actions are destroying the future of our own children but still we continue our destructive behavior.
在大自然界的森林中，為了保護下一代而奮戰、甚至不惜犧牲生命的母親，是最讓掠食者望而生畏的;由其他物種母親們的角度，可以對照人類是多麼可悲的物種!人類到底算是個什麼樣子的物種母親?我們有沒有想過我們現在的所做所為，正在毀滅我們自己的子孫?但是，我們現在卻持續地、大肆地摧毀著未來。
We live in a world where corporations and their markets are dictating government policy, waging wars, and determining the value of everything from food to oil. The rich profit from the heartless law of supply-and-demand, while the poor get poorer and the hungry starve in greater numbers.
我們生活在財團與市場支配著政府政策的世界，這是一場強取豪奪金錢的戰爭，食物、石油等一切事物的價格，經由無情的法律界訂供需後，財富終將歸於有權有勢的少數人手中。在此同時，窮人更窮，餓肚子沒飯吃的人也愈來愈多。
CNN is reporting today that those people with good intentions to save the Earth by promoting Biofuels such as Ethanol as an alternative to oil, are actually causing more climate change than the Biofuels counteract due to the clearing of rainforests to grow the crops used for Biofuel production.
CNN曾經報導部分有心保護地球的人，鼓吹採用有機燃料，例如採用酒精替代石油。報導中指出，「採用酒精取代石油」會造成更嚴重的氣候變遷，其反作用的來源正由於必須清除雨林，只為了取得更多的種植作物用地，以生產有機燃料的原料。
It is no wonder that CNN -- a massive news company owned by Time Warner Inc. -- is missing the point. It is not those with good intentions who are in error. It is the profiteers who embrace Biofuel crop production. Crops for Biofuels have become a commodity which is not used for stopping climate change, but is used instead by farming corporations to earn big profits.
Time Warner Inc.所擁有的這個巨大媒體公司CNN會有這樣的報導並不令人意外，然而，CNN錯了，但那些有心保護地球的人並沒有錯。牟取暴利的奸商抓住機會，將農作物生產為有機燃料變成「商品」後，它已經不是拿來當成阻止氣候變遷的工具，而事實上卻成為「農產公司」獲取暴利的手段。
Greed has once again scuttled a much needed plan to save the Earth.
貪婪的奸商再一次性急地迫切需要這個「拯救地球」的計畫!
As I contemplate the meaning of this day, I discover the best that Earth Day can bring is the revelation of how little we care about our planet 364 days out of 365.
當我仔細思考「地球日」的意義後，我發現，「地球日」所帶來的最重要的意義在於，它暴露了一個真相，那就是：「我們在一年365天的364天裡，是多麼地不在意我們這個地球!」
Imagine the Hitler administration of Nazi Germany promoting an annual Jewish Appreciation Day when people of Jewish descent are not executed. But for the remaining 364 days, the genocide continues.
想像一下，如果希特勒所操控的德國納粹政府宣傳一個「一年一天的猶太人感恩日」，只有在每一年的這一天，猶太種族不會被處決。至於其他364天，猶太種族滅絕的集體屠殺，繼續進行…
Do I think this is this an extreme example? Absolutely not. We are committing global biocide, eliminating countless species who had every right to live on this Earth. They have evolved beside us from the time when life began. And yet today, one species becomes extinct every hour.
你認為這是個極端的例子嗎?絕對不是! 我們有義務承擔責任，因為我們過去一直以大量的殺蟲劑、抗生素等有毒物質，消滅了許多和我們一樣有權利住在地球上的物種。地球自從有生命開始，這些物種便和人類一起進化，而今，其他物種的滅絕事件卻無時不刻地上演著!
As politicians think about changing a light bulb sometime in the coming years, I hope more of us will make every day Earth Day in our actions. Let April 22 be the one day when we remember those thousands of species we wiped out during the preceding year.
Let it become International Mourn The Earth Day.
當政治人物希望在未來的幾年內把「白熾燈泡」換成「省電燈泡」，我盼望有更多的人用實際的行動，將每一天都當成「地球日」。至於每年4月22日所謂的「地球日」這一天，就把它當成過去這些年來，我們造成許多物種滅絕的紀念日，我們應該將4月22日，當成「國際哀悼地球日」。
The human species is capable of both conceiving this global crisis, and of experiencing a certain quality known as love. Only when these two join together and create action, can we believe in a future for our children and understand what Earth Day truly means.
人類是有能力採取對策「應付」地球危機的物種，人類也肯定是擁有「相愛」美好特質的物種。只有當人類將這兩個「能力與特質」結合起來並採取實際行動後，我們才能寄望我們的子孫能夠擁有未來，我們才算深刻體認「地球日」的真實意義。
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