Not that the micronation of Dogland has yet been recognized by any substantial number of other nations, this quantum reality having only unfolded into existence about 26 hours ago, but anticipating the general approval of the world, here's our first proposal we would like the UN to consider. And while we do consider this a crucial step in providing a safe world not only for our dog citizens, but also for the humans in our neighbor, America, we make no threats nor do we suggest any retaliation if the members of the UN need a few weeks to process this proposal--for clearly, a global civilization can't conduct its mission of bettering the lives of all involved in a hostile atmosphere.
Some background information first. As of 2013, we passed 1 billion cars in the world. And where? "That gives China the world's second largest car population, with 78 million vehicles. But the United States still constitutes by far the largest vehicle population in the world, with 239.8 million cars," according to the Huffingtonpost, and there are predictions of more than 2 billion by 2035.
And is that a happy thing? Getting a car is not only the dream of flocks of young teens, but of nearly everyone around the world, as that huge step up from the grinding limits of poverty. We seem to believe in cars as that keystone of our independence, can't imagine life without cars--indeed, most of us seem pretty sure that all science and history talking about human life before Henry Ford is just scandalous propaganda.
Some consequences of all these cars...
land paved over: "The United States, with its 214 million motor vehicles, has paved 6.3 million kilometers (3.9 million miles) of roads, enough to circle the Earth at the equator 157 times. In addition to roads, cars require parking space. Imagine a parking lot for 214 million cars and trucks. If that is too difficult, try visualizing a parking lot for 1,000 cars and then imagine what 214,000 of these would look like."
road deaths: 32,744 in 2014, 35,485 in 2015, 37,461 in 2016...and counting. (There's a great chart there in Wikipedia.)
Even more danger to our citizen-dogs, and all the other critters who get squished on the road, 1000s of times a day.
And then, just the changes in who we are and how we live. I assert that driving has never made anyone a better person, nor strengthened any neighborhood.
Perhaps most vital, the world just can't afford to keep this habit, neither in terms of production costs, resources used, nor carbon emissions.
So, here it is. We follow the notions of Ernest Callenbach, in his seminal, if not perfectly written novel, Ecotopia Emerging, in which the newly formed nation agreed to a list of key principles. It's worth finding the book and looking at the 10 items on that "No more" list, but we'll adopt here, "No more private cars." That's what we propose the UN vote on--finding ways to eliminate the automobile industry worldwide, before natural castrophies do it for us.
Talk to your dogs. They'll agree.
later,
President bob
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