Deadliest Catch, Ax Men and Black Gold

Firstly, here's a picture of the Black Hills of South Dakota. Green, aren't they?

The Discovery Channel, which is nothing to do with the Discovery Institute, is a television programme producer and procurer dedicated to educating the world about such diverse subjects as marine biology, geology and botany. It was also, until recently, the proud sponsor of a cycling team that helped Lance Armstrong help himself to a hatful of Tour De France yellow jerseys.

This channel's reliance on factual documentaries has ensured it's continued participation near the top of my TV channel Top Ten.

However, a disturbing trend appears to be flexing itself. The Discovery Channel is foisting on it's viewers a number of television programmes which rely on a group of men going about their daily business. The first problem is that it's dangerously close to reality television, which as a phenomenon is well past it's sell by date. Secondly, I don't want to watch a bunch of blokes burping and scratching their arses. If that isn't bad enough, men as a rule just aren't pretty. Even when thy're not picking their nose.

Despite all this, there is really quite a big problem with the Discovery Channel focussing on a trio of occupations which, however honourable they are, all contribute to the continued destruction of the planet's national resources most related to the human contribution to the Earth's history, global warming, or if you want to butter it up into an 'easier on the conscience - less likely to kill me' phrase, climate change.

Fact number 1 - Chopping down a tree reduces that tree's ability to suck up Carbon Dioxide, a prime contributor to global warming.

Fact number 2 - Drilling oil means that more climate changing particulates will be chucked up into the air, thereby hastening doomsday.

Fact number 3 - Fish have feelings too. Plus they haven't recovered yet, especially in the Black Sea. (I know that Deadliest Catch is set in the North Pacific but that's not the point).

What are we to make of the Discovery Channel's choices of occupations to focus on? We are to make our minds up not to watch it.

Frankly, I'm beginning to think that the Discovery Channel is related to the Discovery Institute. As they smugly think that the world is going to end anyway and, as they're first in line at the gates because they're Christians, (the only true religion, obviously) hastening Armageddon by glorifying those occupations most likely to cause it, is a good thing, right.

Here endeth the lesson.