A couple of years ago, the president of Ecuador made an offer to the world. For just $3.6 Billion, he will forgo any drilling for oil in Yasuni National Park in the eastern part of the country. Ok, it’s not like you would actually own it, but just think about it!!!
To be able to protect a pristine part of the Amazon rain forest from being exploited… what an opportunity!!!
Back at the beginning of this century, Canada was racking up surpluses of $10 Billion a year! What a great way to spend some surplus cash! Think about the PR potential… “This rain forest protected by (fill in the blank).”
The United states spends $300 million EVERY day pursuing its war in Afghanistan!!! take 12 days off, protect a rain forest! Hell, make it an even two weeks… the extra $600 million could go a long way for Malaria nets in Africa. Maybe after you and the Taliban get back at it after the hiatus, you’ll forget what it was you were killing each other over in the first place.
On the other hand, why restrict it to any one country? A couple of countries could go halfsies on it! think about the good feelings that could be fostered by enemies coming together for the common good. India…Pakistan? Are you listening? Think about it.
Let’s not forget the obvious, either. There are certain individuals on this planet who have MORE than enough cash to protect this rain forest and several others! Would it not be fitting for a Saudi Shiek to use oil money to prevent future drilling? How about Bill Gates? It would make a lovely new logo for Windows 9.9.
Or Oprah!!!
Yes… just think about it! “You get a tree, and you get a tree, and YOU get a tree!!!!!!”
The real beauty is that it can be amortized over 13 years! HOLY! This deal just gets better and better! That is less than $300 million a year!
But act now…… supplies of pristine, 10,000 square kilometre tracts of wild Amazon are drying up.
Literally.
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