Saving energy, or groping in the dark?
The prime minister has said all the right things and I'm sure his campaign is useful to remind people the need to save energy. However, I'm afraid that the ultimate goal of the campaign and the consistency of his message are at odds with reality.
A couple of years ago, Mr Thaksin ordered all attendants of cabinet meetings to be kept at 25 degrees Celsius. But the practice was abandoned not long afterwards. Now he is back at it again and we have to wonder how long it will last. Parliament is more consistent in its refusal to amend the rule requiring all members and employees to wear suits.
Some energy experts note that the campaign focuses only on the general public but ignores the "real culprits", which are the state enterprises, government agencies,and the industries.
Herein lies the dilemma and contradiction of the capitalist system. The goal of the campaign is an economic one to reduce our trade deficit with no regard for conservation of natural resources. The energy crisis and it cannot be called otherwise will continue to be with us and worsen as time goes by as people are encouraged to lead a decadent and wasteful lifestyle. Eventually, other crises having to do with other natural resources, water and forests among them, will follow. In the end the current lifestyle cannot be sustained no matter how hard scientists try to find new sources of energy. The only way to achieve a sustainable way of life is to use natural resources within to the capacity that nature provides for us.