Mustang Muse

The degradation and destruction of Earth is accelerating out of control as a result of human influence, and presents a major crisis that stems from modern society. It can be attributed to overpopulation, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, depletion of natural resources and contamination of the planet’s oceans. In countless regions across the globe, oxygen-producing forests, teeming with life, are being systematically erased from the landscape to provide the lumber to house the growing population. Just as scores of diverse animals are being killed or driven from their natural habitats on land, death is spreading beneath the waves in the form of disappearing coral reefs. With the its exploding population, China’s unchecked use of coal burning as a cheap energy source is a major factor in contamination of the environment. Lacking a clean alternative, China’s practice contributes to the already dangerous levels of atmospheric pollution.

The exponentially expanding population must be the source of pollution simply because without the manipulation of man, animals’ impact on the environment is negligible. Moreover, the sources of energy provided for the people are often cheap and unclean. For example, China has an approximate population of 1,329,349,388, the largest in the world. In order to sustain this obscenely large body of citizens, China constructs, on average, one coal-burning plant per week. Since its main concern is to provide its citizens with enough energy to survive, the daunting prospect of developing “greener” sources of energy is not appealing. Unfortunately, as increasing numbers of humans are produced, the task of finding places for them to live has a higher priority than that of researching cleaner energy production methods. The total population of Earth is in the neighborhood of six billion people, most of whom use some form of transportation involving the combustion of fossil fuels.

Pollution, in the form of increased carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels, is something that we are largely ignorant about. Humans have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere drastically mainly through the burning of fossil fuels. The combustion of these emits carbon monoxide particles (a colorless, odorless, toxic gas) which, when released into the air, react with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, it is helping to ensure the eventual destruction of the environment through increasing temperatures. The warmer climate is causing the accelerated melting of the polar ice caps, which will eventually raise sea levels and cause widespread flooding. CFC’s, or chlorofluorocarbons, are the main cause of ozone depletion. Mainly used in industry in the forms of refrigerants, propellants, and cleaning solvents, these nasty chemicals have created a hole in our protective atmospheric layer that allows the entrance of harmful solar rays. These would be as serious if we had the natural resources to sustain our population while we searched for a solution. Unfortunately, we are consuming them faster than is healthy for our planet.

Compounding global overpopulation and pollution, depletion of natural resources magnifies the damage of “man’s footprint” on the planet. Deforestation causes flooding and washes away vital nutrients necessary to produce food. Contamination of Earth’s oceans further disrupts the fragile and essential life cycle upon which all forms of life, including man, depend. The Amazonian rain forest has some of the most diverse wildlife in the world, second only to coral reefs. Yet, for all the majesty and beauty surrounding such a natural wonder, we feel the need to cut it down to make houses and toothpicks. Deforestation is occurring on a large scale in the rain forests of the world, the Pacific Northwest, and developing third-world countries that are in desperate need of revenue. The removal of trees at such a pace that is now considered normal, even necessary, is causing loss of an abundance of oxygen-producing plants and trees. In combination with our constant pollution, lower oxygen levels will help to further the series of catastrophic events that is the evolution of the human race. Furthermore, the annihilation of the rain forest, the second most biodiverse region on Earth, is causing the loss of many precious species that are critical to the maintenance of the balance of life. Lamentably, in the most biodiverse places on the planet, the coral reefs, similar bouts of death and near-extinction have become commonplace. The endangerment of the animals and plants in the rain forests and coral reefs result in an unacceptable and highly devastating disruption to the “circle of life.” Combined with overpopulation and pollution, depletion of natural resources and ravaging of plant and animal life implies a nauseating consequence.

The unfortunate causes of environmental death are all interconnected. Overpopulation leads to use of cheap energy sources. Use of cheap energy results in major atmospheric pollution. Pollution is helping lead to global warming and therefore increasing natural disasters. Increasing amounts of destruction from natural disasters necessitates more resources to rebuild and provide for unlucky survivors. Depletion of natural resources leads to loss of plant and animal diversity. Fewer plants and animals means more room for ignorant, dirty humans. It is a vicious cycle that cannot be stopped. Regrettably, “the central problem of our age has therefore become the destruction of man’s total environment.”

Over Spring Break 2008, some members of my drama class and I ventured to a far away land called London, England. Upon arriving here, we noticed just how many people called this place home. There were massive amounts of people streaming on foot through the streets and buses and cars every place. Then we realized that the English had a lack of one thing, and we knew it wasn’t manners. It was garbage cans. There were very few “rubbish” bins to be found, and the ones we were able to locate had holes in them, like a metal office waste basket. “Wouldn’t all the trash just fall through the holes?”, we were all wondering. It was a complete mystery to us Americans, how a place with so many thousands of people, could possibly be kept so clean. “It’s because here in here in England we like to keep our home clean.”, our very proper, and very British tour guide, Sue would say. “We don’t spit in our streets, we don’t throw litter in the streets and we certainly always use the rubbish bins.”, she would also say. One of my class mates accidentally dropped a cup in the street and was immediately confronted by someone she didn’t know and was told to pick it up. The British just have much cleaner life styles than we do and they have much different manners. They take the “Tube” to get to work everyday, and hardly anyone drives cars from place to place. Mostly since gas prices have shot up and it’s currently about 109.8 pence a liter, it’s no surprise that the tube is the main source of transportation. The amount of buses in the city area really over poweres the amount of cars as well. Also, the Thames river, the river that runs straight through the country and seperates North and South London into two. It used to be one of the dirtiest rivers in the world. In 1858, the river was badly polluted and they called it the “Great Stink”. The river has been cleaned up quite a good amount since then and they proudly now call it one of the cleanest rivers in the world. This goes to show how much the inhabitants of England care about the cleanliness of their home. Maybe if we cared just as much, we could have a cleaner home too.

Something about the overall mentality of our youth seems to me to be an inherent inhibitor to environmental involvement. I don’t know; my view might just be narrow. But from observing my classmates from afar, I’ve noticed an intense reluctance to get involved with anything, particularly things organized by adults.

That’s why I’m fairly worried about earth Day. Recycling and caring about the environment seem to be things most teenagers consider to be “wimpy” or “hippie stuff”. In fact, caring about anything is often construed as a sign of weakness these days.

Those kinds of people that I’m talking about simply need to take another look. The problems in the environment have the potential to do serious harm. If it goes too far (and it will sooner than you’d like to think), permanent damage is unavoidable. The advantage of the human race so far has been our versatility and adaptability; so why do we choose now to stick our heads in the sand and resist change? It’s easier than you think to see the truth. Open your eyes and look at the haze in the air; you can do something about it.

2008 Rivalry Records Showcase: Night One
For three consecutive years the rivalry records showcase has multiplied in size and importance to the hardcore scene. 2006 was held in the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma, starting at Four and going until midnight, it hosted 11 bands including Champion’s last show ever in California. 2007 was held at 924 Gilman St. and was split into two nights, six bands each night. This year they repeated that design of six bands in two nights, however the crowd this year surpassed anything the NorCal Hardcore scene has witnessed in recent history, possibly ever.
I arrived to the show to find a line, six or seven people thick, stretching all the way to the opposite side of the block (The venue is on a corner). Last year the line had been half of what it was and even then Gilman had been packed to the point of being uncomfortable. This year the venue had a packed house, functioning at capacity while the other half of the line that couldn’t get in waited outside. Hardcore has blown up within the last year, lately the number of people at shows has practically doubled. This brings good and bad things and this show reflected that. It was a night full of two stepping, circle pits, sing alongs and stage dives (take that security!).
The show began promptly at eight with the up and coming punk rock band Red Handed. They blasted through their set, but seemed as bored as the crowd was with their set. I had trouble distinguishing where one song ended and the next began. Overall I found myself waiting for their set to end. It has to be difficult to play a show like this, with so many great bands the bar for a good performance is incredibly high. They finished their set and gave way to The First Step.
The First Step is Straight Edge Hardcore with a positive message at it’s absolute finest. I always love seeing them play for their relentless energy. No band in recent memory has put such a modern and interesting spin on the Youth Crew sound of the 80’s. They took their time getting through their set, taking time to talk about various things like veganism and vegetarianism. The set was one of the best of the night and I was sad to see them leave.
Then came Trash Talk, whose fans take the award for Idiot Kings of Mindless Douche Bag violence. Some seven or eight people broke their nose during their set. I couldn’t even watch the band or listen to the music, I had to watch the pit so my nose wouldn’t get broken! I don’t remember how their set sounded, just how violent the crowd was.
Trash Talk gave way to Internal Affairs, pissed off straight edge hardcore. They were fine, I had never seen them before and I’m not beating myself up over that, but at the same time I wouldn’t go out of my way to avoid seeing them again. Their set was just okay, I can’t say it was good or bad, it was just a set.
Verse however, who followed Internal Affairs, take the cake for the best contemporary hardcore band around. No contest. The best message, the best music, the best frontman, and the best crowd reaction. They never fail to put on an amazing show. Easily the best set of the night, as well as one of the best sets I have ever seen. Even the musical interludes were entertaining and exciting. I have nothing but great things to say about this band.
The entire night had a somber undertone to it. This was Allegiance’s last show. Bands come and go fairly quickly in hardcore, the average band lasts two years. Allegiance was not one of those bands. They went from 2002 to 2008, underrated until the last year, they never got the attention they honestly deserved, and it was sad to see them go.
Recently it has felt like one era of hardcore is coming to a close as another era begins. Two of the biggest bands in hardcore, Go It Alone and Allegiance both broke up in the last three months, a huge blow to the hardcore community. The night reflected this loss as Allegiance blasted through every important song they ever wrote. No Dice and Why I Am This Way have always been my favorites and I was not disappointed. They played every song I wanted to hear and then some. Different members and ex-members of different bands from all across North America were there to see them. Members of Lights Out, Go It Alone, Champion, Set It Straight, amongst many others all came to see their friends off to a new part of their lives. There were no sentimental words, no drawn out goodbyes about how much this band meant to them, just hardcore the way Allegiance played it. And that’s a hell of a way to go.