The Russian invasion of Ukraine makes one wonder if another world war is possible.  For most, including myself, it was the furthest thing from one’s mind.  That’s why I had somewhat supported the environmentalist’s call to stop building so many pipelines that threaten sensitive ecosystems in our country.  However, when you look back at history and the preponderance of evidence that mankind just can’t seem to learn how to live in peace, there seems to be a need to not take environmentalism to the extreme.  Meaning that the consequences of “preventing” the improvement of pipelines, railroads, highways and other activities that have the potential to impact the environment, can have unexpected consequences when world conditions change.  And I mean “when” and not “if” world conditions change.

In the 1940s, for example, the United States did not want to get drawn into the conflicts occurring throughout Europe and Asia, but was forced to get involved.  The country wasn’t ready for it and it took a monumental effort to gear up for it.  Once the US became engaged in the war (World War II we’re talking about), it didn’t take long for German submarines to show up on our east coast and Japanese submarines to show up on our west coast.  Now why was this a factor?  Back then, we didn’t have a comprehensive railway system, nor a national highway system with semi-tractor-trailers that could deliver goods, nor pipelines to transfer what was needed to support our industries that were sustaining the war efforts.  During the first three months of 1942, German U-boats sank over 100 ships off the US east coast, in the Caribbean and the gulf of Mexico.   Over 100 ships in three months (along with hundreds of sailors) – think about that!  Because of this, the US began building pipelines to replace the ships that had been used to transport oil supplies to needed points in the country.  The company behind the effort was called ‘War Emergency Pipelines’ and was owned by the Federal government.

In August 1943 was when a large pipeline, called the Big Inch, was completed.  I’m sure that the “environmental” impact of building it from our oil fields in Texas to states like Pennsylvania and others along the east coast (who needed petroleum for wartime manufacturing and other purposes) was minimally (if at all) considered.  The huge number of tanker ships being sunk by enemy submarines at the time put environmentalism on the back burner.

That is what’s so shocking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  How can a modern society repeat such a terrible wrong, where innocent people are killed and cities (along with everyone’s livelihood) are reduced to rubble?  It seems insane, but it’s happening.  In a world where there has been growing sentiment to protect the environment, man’s aggressive nature again rears its ugly head to threaten our sense of purpose and aspirations.  It eliminates environmental considerations.  To be blunt, the Ukrainians digging ditches and driving tanks through their countryside are only concerned about one thing – kill or be killed – not whether they are disrupting the environment of a rare bird or mammal that may go extinct by the actions of war.  Before the war, Ukraine had been a peaceful, thriving society, and a country considered one of the breadbaskets of the world due to its huge farming capacity.  Much of its grains and produce was shipped to countries around the world.  Loss of this output has led to many people to go without food, including those in Ukraine itself.  In a world where famine already had existed in many places, countries like in the Middle East and Africa had relied on the grain from Ukraine to help keep their people from starving.

So very sad.  And it’s one thing when a pandemic (which is wrought by nature – although some believe was manmade) ends up killing millions and upending society, but quite another when it’s simply a land grab by an egomaniac that ends up causing immense pain and destruction through the use of bombs and bullets. In the future, I hope we in the US remember to protect our environment as much as possible, but in a way that preserves our ability to protect our country.  It is a tough balancing act, but one we need to figure out.  Without the US, the world will be a less safe place.  Although we can’t police the world, we sure can provide a beacon of light to those, like Ukraine, who need someone they can call upon when help is needed.