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Is Oil Evil?

NO! The problems that oil causes are evil.

Partners:

Rasseil(RA)

Katharina(KM)

Question #1: Is your personal consumption of oil part of the problem?

RA 12/11/07:

I am a huge oil waster! My family (not including my extended family) has 3 cars and we use at least two cars a day. I travel everyday at least 5 times. I don't really know why my family and I,(and lots of other people) use up so much oil. But, I think it is because we are modernizing. Our technology is getting better (we can tell because it is getting more expensive!) Because we are advancing in technology we need something to run it...OIL! There are things we can use instead of oil, such as corn or ethanol (http://www.granneman.com). But, it is too expensive. People can't afford using other things besides oil. A few months from now, we might not even be able to afford oil!

KM: Like RA said, the problem is that oil is a ending source and in some years we could run out of oil. That is why we should start to work with other sources. And everyone is an "oil waster". We can't help it. E.g. when we transport anything by plane or ship, oil is used. But of course there are things which we could make better. We could use bus or even improve the bus system, so that everyone can go by bus, wherever they want to go. Oil wasting is really hard to stop, but we should at least try to make things better.

RA 12/13/07:

I would like to point out that we (some people) have and are trying to helped the miss use of oil. It is just too expensive. It is a change...and people are too stubborn of change. This is because if one were to convert oil to ethanol, one would need to buy a new car and work harder to make more money to keep their car running. We (most people in the United States) do not feel the need for oil as such a big problem. Why?....because right now they think too much about their lives. They (including me) are greedy. They think about new technology about what the want for presents and that is about it. They want, want, and want, way too much. And if you think about it you will find that the NEW technology is and will be run or made in a process used by oil. Really this is a problem that is out of our hands. I alone can not convince the world to let go on their consumption of oil. And gas stations would run out of money and wouldn't have any use any more. We can't just stop using oil. It has come to be part of our everyday lives......we are even killing for it!(mainly in Middle East)

This is a graph on what oil is used for in the United States

Question #2: What impact does oil have on our environment?

RA 12/11/07:

Oil has a huge impact on our environment! We use oil to mainly power our cars, and do other things.(like make popcorn or fries!) Oil impacts our environment and plays a huge role in global warming. Since we use oil to power our cars it pollutes the environment. It is really not the best resource! Check out this site- (http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri03-4260/)

KM: Like RA said oil has a huge impact on our environment. Through the cars CO2 gets in to the air.

RA 12/13/07:

Keep in mind that oil is not the problem.....it is the USE and WANT of oil that is tearing apart our world. We use oil in our cars..so oil pollutes. We want oil to use to make new technology....so we go to fight for it in the Middle East. Us, Americans (being greedy and selfish) will probably not notice or pay any attention to this problem until it is too late. (This problem can be related to when a person smokes and starts to ruin his/her lungs, then after many tests for their lung disorder they realize they shouldn't have spent their lives smoking.)

Question #3: Are there any viable energy alternatives?

RA 12/13/07:

Of course!!!!! Some cars (hybrid) have been produced. This is a try to decrease the impact that oil has had and will have on our lives. Hybrid cars use oil AND electricity. Some viable alternatives are corn and ethanol (as thought of by some people)

KM: There are a lot energy alternatives, but some are not good for the environment. Others like wind turbines are very expensive, think a lot. This is not true. They maybe expensive to build, but on the long term they can be much cheaper then many think. In fact there is an area in the USA, where it would be very profitable to build wind turbine, because the wind is constantly blowing. So it would be maybe expensive at first, but then the wind turbines would provide energy for a huge area.

RA 12/14/07:

I do like how KM said that we could use wind turbines to make energy. I would like to add that we can also use solar energy. But as I stated many times before it is way too expensive! I do not think that a lot of people would be wanting or able to put solar panels on top of their roof tops to provide energy. Both of these are pretty good ideas...but they cost too much. But I think that if the government passed a law that required us to pay a higher percentage of taxes..cost would not be such a problem. The government could help restore some of the problems it cause and perhaps get the soldiers out of the Middle East! (Because the government would not need any more oil...because of solar energy and wind energy) Check out this site-- (http://www.solarexpert.com)

Question #4: Is there a connection between oil and violence in the Middle East?

RA12/13/07:

Of course! There are many connections between oil and the violence in the Middle East. One of the main reasons for western imperialism on the Middle East was because of the economic resources found there....OIL! Wars have been taking place and lives have been lost all for the quest for oil! This clearly has to stop!

KM: Yes, definitely there is a connection. I think that if the Middle East wouldn't have any oil there would less wars and terrorism. I also think, the western nations came just to the Middle East, because they wanted to have influence on the oil. So when there is now more oil in the future, maybe the wars will stop or at least there will be less violence.

RA 12/14/07:

I would like to point out a problem with KM's agreement. Terrorism. When people think or hear it word Middle East, they think of the incidence on September 11th. Not all people (Muslims especially) are like that. It was just that one ruler got too much power and misused it. The main problem that takes place in the Middle East is caused by oil. Many people (of or from western powers) do not realize that by invading and torturing the lands of the Middle East, they are harming innocent people. This goes against the golden rule. Think about it...would you like America to be invaded just so those invaders wouldn't have to pay for our technology? Most of us want to keep our ipods and computers.... what I am trying to say is that even though oil has been fought for, used in many ways and causes a disruption in not only the environment but in government, it has changed the lives of many Middle Easterners. OIL is NOT the problem....The problem is how people think, want, use and need oil. The solution to this problem seems easy but in reality is one that can not be achieved without the want of change. If all people do not want to change and use other resources instead of oil, we will continue to have this problem.