Is Oil Evil?

 

  1. Is Oil Evil?
    1. Question #1: Is your personal consumption of oil part of the problem?
    2. Question #2: What impact does oil have on our environment? 
    3. Question #3: Are there an viable energy alternatives?
    4. Question #4: Is there a connection between oil and violence in the Middle East?
    5. Sources:
    6. "Global Warming." Time Magazine. 10 Dec. 2007 <http://www.time.com/time/2001/globalwarming/splash.html>. The Oiloholics. 10 Dec. 2007 <transitionculture.org/p=367>. "Iran Fuel Rations Spark Violence." British Broadcasting Company. 27 June 2007. 13 Dec. 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6243644.stm>. "Clashes Fuel Oil Price Rise." British Broadcasting Company. 12 Dec. 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/967357.stm>. Solarbuzz. 2001. Fast Facts Germany. August 2007        <http://www.solarbuzz.com/FastFactsGermany.htm>  Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit. 6.Jun 1986. Gabriel: Germany remains a pioneer of climate protection. 5. Dec. 2007 <http://www.bmu.de/english/current_press_releases/pm/40562.php>
    7. Contributers:
    8. N. R. and F.B.

 

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

Our world depends on oil. Our wealth, our jobs, our economy and even our video games depend on the scarce energy source. What are we going to do without it? The world wide oil crisis is nowadays a problem concerning a majority of America’s population in many ways. Even our personal consumption is a big part of the problem. For example, what do you see if you look around you just now? I see a clock, a bin and a printer. All those things are mainly made of plastic, or once oil. All day stuff from plastic bags and knives from Kroger and Meijer up to non-recycled bottles: Our dependence on the scare resource through all day uses became so enormous over the last decades that a world or even live without oil can’t be imagined by many people in the United States and almost all, economically normal strong countries.

By F.B.

 

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

By now, we should all know oil is an essential part of our daily lives. It is hard not to notice the huge pain you feel in your wallet every time you visit your best friend, the pump. But, the most critical part of this predicament has been ignored for years, the problem is called global warming. Lately, the effects of global warming have become much more apparent. By using oil so frequently, we release a massive amount of CO2 into our atmosphere. By doing this, the heat that is usually let out of the earth, is reflected back into our environments (which explains why temperatures are rising). Global warming is effecting all organisms on the Earth. From polar ice caps melting to crazy weather patterns is global warming’s fault, which all leads back to oil. The oil we buy in present day will eventually lead to our downfall in the future.

By N.R.

http://www.time.com/time/2001/globalwarming/splash.html

 

Question #3: Are there an viable energy alternatives?

So, of course our question is: Are there different possibilities of producing energy so that we do not destroy our environment as with oil? Is there a way we can escape from our dependence on this resource? The answer is very simple: Yes. New technologies such as wind powerRenewablesolar photovoltaic. In 2006, Germany also led the world wide production of wind energy by generating 28% of the world capacity. Germany’s goal for 2010, according to wind energy is to generate 12.5% of their total energy production by the renwable energy source. Also, according to renewable energy sources, the federal environment minister of Germany, Sigmar Gabriel that the booms of oil-independent, or as people call it in Germany “green energy”, will continue to be assisted by the German government. For 2008, the federal government decided to spend 3.3 billion € (approximately 4.8 billion $ according to current exchange rate) or 200% more than in 2005 for renewable energy sources. With the new “climate packet”, containing out of 14 new laws, reducing the CO2 emission, Germany is looking forward in reducing the CO2 rate from the base year 1990 to 2020 a total amount of 40%. EnergySources. From 2005 till the end of 2006, Germany created 10.000 new jobs because of the only , biomass, hydropower, geothermal power and solar photovoltaic are progressed by many countries. Currently, together with Japan and the United States of America, Germany is one of the world’s biggest sponsors of viable energy alternatives.

By F. B.

http://www.bmu.de/english/current_press_releases/pm/40562.php

 

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

As we all know, our world is dependant on oil. Since this is true, wouldn't it mean people that possess oil would have power? In the Middle East, this is the case. The Middle East is the region most bountiful in oil, and because of this, we see constant exploitation of oil and its prices. Many times the oil we use is used by terrorists (not specified by religion) to fuel their tirades. By constantly using oil and not searching for alternatives, we fuel the very terrorists we are spending billions of dollars to eliminate. Also, the constant fighting in countries in the Middle East causes oil prices to rise for us. As we have seen our price in oil rise, we have also seen more violence in Middle Eastern countries. There is an undeniable connection between the two. Oil has even sparked violence within Middle Eastern countries. For example, in Iran, there were riots and violence due to the new limit on oil (100 liters per month). Even though a liter of gas costs a mere eleven cents, it would be almost impossible for an average american to live off of the diminutive amount of oil the government is allowing them to have. So next time you go to the pump or get ready to buy that huge Hummer that runs at five miles a gallon, try to think about the consequences and what you need to do to set the world right.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/967357.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6243644.stm

By N.R.

 

Sources:

  1. "Global Warming." Time Magazine. 10 Dec. 2007 <http://www.time.com/time/2001/globalwarming/splash.html>.

  2. The Oiloholics. 10 Dec. 2007 <transitionculture.org/p=367>.

  3. "Iran Fuel Rations Spark Violence." British Broadcasting Company. 27 June 2007. 13 Dec. 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6243644.stm>.

  4. "Clashes Fuel Oil Price Rise." British Broadcasting Company. 12 Dec. 2007 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/967357.stm>.

  5. Solarbuzz. 2001. Fast Facts Germany. August 2007

           <http://www.solarbuzz.com/FastFactsGermany.htm>

  6.  Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit. 6.Jun 1986. Gabriel:

    Germany remains a pioneer of climate protection. 5. Dec. 2007 <http://www.bmu.de/english/current_press_releases/pm/40562.php>

Contributers:

N. R. and F.B.

 


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  • Recent comments:
    Kelsey Russell:i need to say something else... the third paragraph was very well written, however it only focused on ONE energy source(atleast thats what it sounded like), this is okay, but i would like to bring up the issue that the wind power thing that you guys were talking about, isnt suitable for all places. Im not saying dont use it, because it is obviously working where it is being used... i just thought that i would say something...food for thought. Nice job guys though, very well written.
    Kelsey Russell:That was quite a complete blog. You guys did great on the last three, but as it was previously pointed out, your first esponse didnt have much to it, it was all that related to YOU, i suppose it was not that big of a deal thought. I also noticed that you guys did a wonderful job with statistics and data, it really help proove your point (ex: alernative energy souce paragraph). The last thing that I noticed was that you guys kind of answered the questions, however, they were not written as if they were answering them. This made it a little but annoying(so to say) for the reader because they had to read it and then twist the idea to fit the question. this was not all that noticable though, it didnt have a large effect on you blog. In the end, your blog was very well written and completely thought through.
    alex:Overall their responses were very nice. One problem I saw was on question 1 you didn't say much about your own personal consumption. Question 3 was fairly good. The good part was you had very good ways of solving our dependance of oil. But the bad part was you were talking to much about Germany, it would be very good if we lived in Germany but we don't.
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