Is Oil Evil?

 

  1. Is Oil Evil?
    1. PT.1
    2. PT.2
    3. PT.3
    4. PT. 4
    5.  CONTRIBUTORS:

 

PT.1

 Is your personal consumption of oil part of the problem?

 

Yes, my consumption of oil is definitely part of the oil problem.  Just look below at the amount of oil that we Americans consume in comparison to the rest of the world. We use oil for almost everything we do in our lives. Many Americans live in the suburbs and drive to the city to work everyday. Our SUVs and trucks are gas guzzlers. We don't believe in using public transport or carpooling. Relative to people in other countries, Americans have very large houses which are expensive to heat and cool.  And to top it all, we import most of the oil we consume. This oil has to come from halfway across the world since most of the world's oil is found in the Middle-east and paying for it is expensive. 

 

 

 

 

Tables 1.2 and B1, International Energy Annual

 

www.eia.doe.gov/.../dem_image_cons_per_cap.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.pbs.org/.../stories/colombia/oilb.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

PT.2

 What impact does oil have on our environment?

 

 

          

 

 

www.pwsoundkeeper.org/spill.html      www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/

                                                              latest/korea-oil-spill-47121210

The Exxon-Valdez oil spill.                      A satellite image of the oil spill off the coast of 

                                                              South Korea

 

 

 

When oil has to be shipped halfway across the world,  terrible environmental accidents can happen.

This effects  animals in and around the ocean such as the fish, seals, birds, and other wild life. The picture above is and example of what happens to these animals. When the oil gets coated onto these animals it will not wash off and the animals cannot breathe and end up dying.

The Exxon-Valdez oil spill in 1989, and more recently, the tanker accident near the South Korean coastline on December 7th, 2007 are examples of  the pollution caused by such accidents.

 

Our dependence on oil is causing an environmental disaster.  It produces a lot of pollution when it is burned.  It also produces carbon monoxide emissions that destroys ozone in the

atmosphere.  Plastics are oil-based products - they are found everywhere but are not biodegradable.

 

The world's growing demand for oil is one of the main reasons we have a global warming crisis today.

 

 

 

 

healthandenergy.com/global_warming_cartoons.htm

 

PT.3

 

    The world is running out of oil and the shortages will only get worse. However, we still have time to react and change our addiction to oil.

    One option is solar power. Solar power can supply America with 100% of its oil for half the cost. This power would be cheap, renewable be under our own control. Unfortunately, solar power has not been recognized for its full potential and for this reason technological advances have been rare.

   Another possible alternative would be biomass. This is fuel made from fermenting plants waste. Biomass is a renewable resource. Biomass fuels include wood and forest and mill wastes, animal waste, grains, agricultural crops, and aquatic plants. If Biomass was used as the major energy source of the United States we could generate as much as four-and-a-half times more bio power by 2020.

    Another option would be geothermal energy. This energy uses the heat from earths core to bring steam and hot water to the surface. In some places this heat is used directly to heat homes and greenhouses, or to provide process heat for businesses or industries. With technological improvements much more power could be generated from hydrothermal resources. The entire nation of Iceland is powered by Geothermal Energy.

 

 

 

        

 

 

Iceland's Blue Lagoon offers swimming as well as geothermal power.
http://serc.carleton.edu/images/research_education/yellowstone/iceland.jpg

 

 

 

  Other alternatives include hydropower, wind and ocean sources. It is not that we have no choices rather that we have a specific timer that is preparing to go off; waking up America as well as the rest of the world. As one reporter says, "We have procrastinated until the eleventh hour". 97% of America's transportation energy comes from oil. Replacing this oil is a gigantic, if not impossible, task. It is in our best intrest to stop dragging our feet and make a revolutionary change that will lead us away from this depleating rescource.

 

 

PT. 4

 

Is there a connection between oil and violence in the Middle East?

 

 

 

“It is clear our nation is reliant upon big foreign oil. More and more of our imports come from overseas.”

                                                                                                                                                           - George W. Bush

   

    This is no understatement. It is estimated that by 2020 83% of the world’s oil reserves will be controlled by Middle Eastern regimes. Many believe that the America is simply fueling the very people it is at war with. Oil has caused much conflict and violence in the Middle East time and time again. Oil has led to the uneven distribution of wealth in the Middle East as well. While some countries that are rich in oil continue to prosper, others that have little to no oil stand on the sidelines and watch bitterly. This, can only lead to tension and jealousy. Also, as seen in the Yom Kippur War and the Arab Oil Embargo, oil can be used as a weapon like it was against the Israelites. Also, in the Iraq War President Bush has been largely criticized for entering the war in search of oil, rather then the weapons of mass destruction he claimed he was after. Although at the moment the Middle East continues to supply the West with oil, it is only a matter of time before conflict emerges.

 

 

"It's important for Americans to remember that America

imports more than 50 percent of its oil -- more than 10

million barrels a day. And the figure is rising. [..]this

dependence on foreign oil is a matter of national security.

To put it bluntly, sometimes we rely upon energy sources

from countries that don't particularly like us."

- George W. Bush, February 25, 2002

 http://www.iags.org/futureofoil.html

 

 

 CONTRIBUTORS:

 

Mallika Kumar (1 and 2)

Aamna Hafeez (3 and 4)

 


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  • Recent comments:
    Monica:I thought the blog was quite good and informative about alternate energy sources, listing many different kinds. Your graphs were easy to read and looked good, though some of your other pictures didn't show up. The only thing I would have changed is that oil spills are probably the least of the problems oil poses environmetally, so I would have put in more about drilling for oil and things like that.
    Diana:I like how you had a lot of picture and how they help support your argument. I like how you provide 3 alternative energy sources and not just one, but you could have explained them more. The quotes also helped support your points. Good job!
    Brian B.:I agree with most of your points, although I do not believe that geothermal energy is a viable energy source due to the fact that it is not available in a large number of places. Your pictures supported your points well, although the first two did not show up. The organization was a little confusing in a few places, but did not have too much of an effect. Overall, your blog was good.
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