Is Oil Evil?

 

Is Oil Evil? Question #1 Question #2 Question #3 Question #4 Sources: Contributors:

 

Question #1

Is your personal consumption of oil part of the problem?

 

Generally, people tend to think that the amount of oil they use each day has no affect in the total scheme of things -- and this is where the problem lies. See, when one person thinks their oil consumption has no significance, it probably does have very little, but when many people start thinking as such, it’s a whole other story. When there are a whole lot of people using excesses of oil (there is no need to drive a Hummer unless you're in the military) and feeling no need to change their habits, it starts to add up in terms of cost and pollution. You see, we use oil in practically everything -- cosmetics, clothing, anything plastic, detergent, CDs, ink, camera film, vitamins etc. (Oil & Everyday Life) Pretty soon, everyone is affected by everyone else’s oil consumption. So yeah, in the long run, I do believe my oil consumption is part of the problem.

 

Question #2

What impact does oil have on our enviroment?

 

Global Warming 

 

Oil Spills

 

Question #3

Are there any viable energy alternatives?

 

Yes, in fact, there are several viable energy alternatives. An example of such an energy alternative can be found outside during the day, everyday. Yes, the sun is an energy alternative, or more specifically, solar energy is. Seeing as solar energy comes from the sun, not only is it harmless, but renewable and UNLIMITED (assuming the sun remains as it is). According to this video, solar energy is making a comeback as major corporations such as Google, Staples, and GM are taking full advantage of it. Currently, solar energy technology is expensive, even if the prices have dropped 50% over the years, but Craig Hanson of the World Resources Institute makes a good point: “If you have the biggest companies in the world putting solar panels on their rooftops, that’s going to drive up demand which is going to increase the supply of the systems and thereby drive down the cost. And before you know it, the price of solar will be somewhere where you and I can afford it and seriously consider putting it on our rooftops.” (quoted from video below)

 

 

 

 

 

Another energy alternative is wind power. Wind power, as its name states, comes from the wind. Though to harness this power you need a wind turbine, which looks like a giant windmill. The way a turbine works is that when wind hits the blades, it causes them to move. The movement creates kinetic energy which is then turned into useable electrical energy. Basically, a turbine is its own little generator. The best part is that wind power is environmentally friendly as it comes from the wind and does not release waste. Over in European countries, wind power has become quite popular. In fact, wind power it accounts for approximately 20% of electricity production in Denmark, 9% in Spain, and 7% in Germany. Wind power produces only just over 1% of the world-wide electricity use today, but if this number grows, we could cut back on our oil needs and pollution.

 

 

 c. Neil Crumpton, Friends of the Earth Cymru

 

 

An additional energy alternative is geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is that is made by tapping into the Earth’s surface and extracting thermal energy, which is then refined into electrical energy. Mainly, geothermal energy plants are found and used near geysers, volcanoes, or underground reservoirs with the largest group of plants in California. The advantages of geothermal energy are that it’s sustainable and the energy harnessed is environmentally safe. In addition, geothermal power plants work continually and are not affected by the changing weather. Geothermal energy has disadvantages as well seeing as the construction of plants can affect land stability, a concern primarily when water is injected into hot rock where no water was before. Although geothermal energy sites are capable of creating heat for decades, eventually some locations cool down, especially if the system is too large for the site. Overall, geothermal energy is a better option than fossil fuels, yet it only supplies less than 1% of the world’s energy.

 

David Mcnew / Getty Images file

 

 

For more on energy alternatives, visit: Our World Foundation - Solutions

 

Question #4

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

 

For the United States to thrive and prosper as it does, we require a substantial amount of oil. The problem lies in that our country can’t produce enough oil to sustain itself, so we rely on others, such as the oil-rich Middle East. Even worse is that our country relies on oil so heavily that we’re willing to do just about anything to obtain it, leading to some strong feelings. And really, it isn’t that hard to see why…

 

After World War I, the Middle East was divided between France and Britain, but eventually the imperialism was inherited by the United States. Having previously discovered oil in many of the Middle Eastern countries, the United States quickly exported much of it to fuel its rapidly expanding automobile industry as well as other developments. In return, the oil countries received a measly12.5% royalty payment. Even still, the leaders of countries, generally dictators or royal families, became immensely rich and used their power to help preserve the Western hegemony over the region.

 

Why would Middle Eastern leaders want Western powers to remain in control? Because Westerners were the ones to either put them in power or allow them to remain as such. For this reason, leaders still maintained a friendly relationship with the United States even when the wealth was transferred to their countries when the oil industry was nationalized in the 1960s.

 

The violence and anger in the Middle East stems from the fact that the United States of America did put/leave these leaders in positions of power. For you see, these leaders aren’t much of leaders in the first place, but corrupt dictators who care nothing for their people.

 

We have left the people of the Middle East suffering, and for what?

Oil, of course.

We rely on oil so heavily that we’re willing to overlook the crooked regimes and remain in their favor so long as they keep supplying us our precious oil.

But the cost of this oil isn’t so much as the billions of dollars we spend, but the lives of Middle Eastern people as they fight for their freedom. Even worse, our money goes to funding these corrupt regimes. No wonder the people of the Middle East dislike us so much...

 

Though if oil was considered thicker than my blood, I would too.

 

(Most of what has been said relates back to

"Ancient History": U.S. Conduct in the Middle East Since World War II and the Folly of Intervention, but check out what else this policy analysis has to say anyways, because it has quite a lot on the matter...)

 

 

After all, we all have to question Bush's motives at some point...

 

Sources:

1. George W. Bush picture - http://www.funnyandjokes.com/iraq-in-texan-terminology.html (censored by A.D.)
2. Wind Turbine picture - http://www.ourworldfoundation.org.uk/sol-nof.htm
3. Geothermal Energy Plant picture - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15749933/

 

Contributors:

 A.D. & M.J.

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