How will the american election yesterday reflect on the environmental issue? With the financial crisis at hand the climate issue has been pushed back into the shadows. A quick look at both candidates makes you think that the world outside USA does not exist. Yes Obama mentions it (it being the rest of the world). He will reengage with UN and the UNFCC. At least that's better than McCain who only talks about the national parks in USA (all important but lets face it, it won't save the world). So what will save us all?

Yesterday I woke up to the annoying sound of a leaf blower. The municipality were doing gardening work outside my apartment. I can't help but to think that the leaf blower is one of mankind's worst inventions.

The noise is just unbearable and the personnel is using both ear plugs and hearing caps to protect their hearing. Most of the leaf blowers run on gasoline which we now know is an energy source we will no longer have in 5 - 30 years depending on who you ask. And it's an obvious source of pollution.

Since the year 2000, the year of my high school graduation, I've been asking myself why the world is still in such a bad shape. I studied natural science and technology, everything from chemistry to computer programming. Even with my then very limited view of the world I thought we could do better. I knew instinctively something was very wrong.

I had been tricked, duped and indoctrinated. For some reason I felt like I was worthless, an insignificant piece of the world, not only insignificant but even a burden to the world. As my understanding of the world progressed I have become able to express those feelings in writing - but more significantly by talking to people.

Eight years ago I had a vision of a world were humans didn't work to receive income to pay for their food, or to pay mortgages on their homes.

What effects does the financial crisis have upon the climate change crisis and its associated movements and debates? Does the financial crisis have a beneficial effect on our planet wrecking activities? Or will it just cause less money in our collective pockets?

One thing is for sure, the media's earlier focus on the climate crisis is gone. Ever since the USA cried out load that the economic system was nearing collapse media has covered the financial crisis closely while all news about the health of the planet has been tugged nicely under the carpet.

The U.S. is home to 150 operational on-shore oil refineries, all of which produce vast amounts of oil each year for domestic use. Along with fuel production we see the inevitable production of air and water pollutants and the debate over whether or not it will be beneficial to consider alternative sources of energy and fuel.

There is another issue associated with U.S. oil refinery use, however, and that is the threat of exposure to asbestos, which is more than likely found in each of the 150 domestic refineries. Previous asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a fatal type of cancer that has no cure and affects thousands of Americans each year.