What Are Some Little Things People Do That Make You Mad?

[MTL]

I've thought of another one that really pisses me off.

I realize that our world economy has major problems, right now.

I realize that there isn't always a large selection of jobs available, everywhere.

And I realize that unless a person lives like Gandhi,
we are all guilty of being part of the problem,
in our Western lifestyle,
to some degree or another.

However, I also think that we should all be doing our best to improve where we can,
when it comes to the environment,

and it pisses me off when people make a living off of damaging the environment,
when they might be able to get a job doing something a little less wantonly destructive
...or, at the very least, have an unapologetic attitude about it,
and have no intention to even try to make a change, because it's easy, secure, and lucrative.

There has been a spate of shamelessly unnecessary tree removal around here, lately,
and it's because the businesses who trim trees make more money when they cut a big tree down, completely.

They give ominous warnings to city council that such and such a tree is a danger,
and bring pressure to bear on residents.

They just cut down a completely healthy, sound,  tall, majestic 120 year old Linden tree near my home
that was no threat, whatsoever.
The trunk and major boughs were almost 100% solid and sound, I saw them, myself, after they were cut,
and I saw no sign of weakness, pestilence, or blight on the tree.

They cut down a gorgeous 500 year old oak tree that stands near here, too,
in a spot where it was a danger to no-one,

To put it into perspective,

a tree that was here before Canada existed, as a nation,
a tree that saw First Nations peoples mix with the first Europeans,
that saw British and American soldiers in battle against each other,
a tree that still has musket-balls embedded in its trunk.


They've been TARGETING old-growth trees because that's where they make the most money.

If the tree is rotten or otherwise a danger, I could understand.

but this is patently a cash-grab, and council are a bunch of milquetoasts.

They've ruined the beauty of several main streets by cutting down old growth,
streets that get a lot of traffic, where trees help to clean the air.

When questioned about the gratuitous cash-grab aspect of it,
they say that they have to earn a living to support their families, too.

But they don't seem to care about the welfare of the world they are leaving to their grandkids.

On a grander scale,

The province of Alberta is the wealthiest, in Canada, 
and this is primarily due to the Oilsands (or, as they used to be called, the Tarsands).

Much of Alberta's economy and employment hinges on the Oilsands.

However, there is no denying that it is filthy and indefensibly wasteful,
and I consider it a black mark (literally) on Canada.

The defense is that it creates jobs and bolsters our economy.

But it mainly lines the pockets of major shareholders,
is devastating to the environment,
and is making both humans and wildlife very sick.

So you create jobs and put food on the table for your kids.

But with each generation, cancer rates, birth defects, autism and developmental abnormalities increase,
and the environment gets destroyed.

What's the point of feeding your kids if you're poisoning your grandkids?

Or worse, if your kids have difficulty having kids, themselves?