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1. Is your personal consumption of oil part of the problem?

Our personal consumption of oil is a major part of oil. We use oil in our daily lives to an extent in which we can make a huge difference. Since, I am one of these people, everything I am about to say represents my thoughts on the matter, my thoughts about myself personally and the thoughts of what we as a whole can do as well.This situation can be remedied by only a few people. Our country is a country that is based off of being united. If one person stops using oil, then maybe one of his/her friends will stop using as much oil. If I went around and told people to stop using oil, they probably would not listen, but if I cut using oil myself, then maybe others would follow.The chain goes on forever and ever, therefore just by me using oil we as a whole have wasted a lot of oil. Not only because of strength of numbers, but the number of things that we must use oil for have also increased. We drive to work, we drive to practice, we drive to a friends house, we drive to so many places in a day. Then there is heating, cooking, and other uses for oil that we are unaware of the contents. There might also be many other ways that I use oil that I am unaware about. Therefore, yes our personal consumption of oil is very strong. And we will make the world feel our wrath. From here to antartica. Also, it is also affected by my personal consumption due to the fact that, if I just quit, then I could help the environment. However I am not ready to quit yet, I am able to make small changes like using electricity instead of oil, but I am not ready to give it up entirely.Ben Yoon

As The graph above you can clearly shows that Saudi Arabia has the most oil mined. However, studies show that Saudi Arabia is probably one of the countries that uses the littlest amount of oil on a daily basis. Therefore you can see that most of Saudi Arabias income comes from oil, which could cause a huge problem for them if they could not produce as much. Not only to them, but to us as well.

2. What impact does oil have on our environment?

Oil probably has one of the most largest effects on our environment.Currently the amount of oil we are recieving from OPAC and other companies are molding our future. And from what the situation is currently, the future does not look bright. Speaking on a geographic and nature level, oil is a pollutant, and mining for it is not good for the environment due to the fact that we are eliminating some of the key elements of nature. Not to mention that when mining for oil we are using technology that uses oil itself, releasing more of this pollutant into the air and worsening the problem that already exist.There is also the problem of the animals. Animals do not have the ability to adapt to having oil in their feathers or skin very well. They are very suceptible to oil and many die because of it. Also, on the website http://chennaionline.com/science/Environment/oilspills.asp, I have researched more of the painful side effects that may occur, when oil enters the sea. Therefore, it raises concerns about the animals as well. Another problem is that if there are other accidents like oil spills, or an oil leak, it will end up in our ocean, polluting our water even more and exacerbating our situation. Also, speaking on a more economic level, the prices can be devastating for remeding certain situations. For example, if there is an oil spill off of key west, the amount of money spent to remove the oil is very fast hurting the economy. Also, in a country whose population is very dependent on oil and very large, it is really bad for oil prices to go up. As people have seen in recent days, gas prices have gone up significantly. These gas prices have shaped our falling economy. WIth raised gas prices, inflation occured, everything else had gone up in price, and the worth of the dollar went down. So oil not only affects our environment naturally but economically as well. Utilizing the website http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/7647/1/impact+of+oil+and+gas+industry+on+health+subject+of+report">http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/7647/1/impact+of+oil+and+gas+industry+on+health+subject+of+report , we have found several ideas. Ben Yoon

While looking at the picture below you can clearly see the point that the drawer is trying to make. He is saying how even though the prices have only gone down that little, that this family household believes its cheap enough that they should buy an SUV. Criticizing our country's situation right now, he has made a very fair and honest point, one that we should heed.

3. Are there any viable energy alternatives?

There are many viable energy alternatives for oil, and we have taken steps toward it. However, the United States is still holding onto oil which will be our downfall. The U.S. has released hybrid cars and other such devices in various areas that do not require oil, however people refuse to listen and still stick with oil. There is hydro-power, wind power, solar power, and electric power. People have heard about all of these different types of powers, however the actual realization that they are substitutes have still not fully been accomplished as of yet. Then there is also geothermal and natural energy. People are starting to take steps in order to become less oil-dependent, but in this case the rate of passing on is way too slow, and must be sped up. Hydro-power, people are starting to use more of it, however it is only used in one or two instances, even though it can be used for just as many instances as oil. Wind power is used in only field or in labs in deserted areas. They are also only used in ceratin areas. Solar power is just like wind power and can also be used for cars and even though the design is different, they are not any different from regular cars. All of these powers can be used for different things, but not all of them are used to their fullest potential. There are some websites that have specialized in finding certain ways to utilize alternative energy sources, for example http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/solar.html. They have specialized in learning about solar energy and certain ways one might be able to harness it. Ben Yoons

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

There is a definite connection between the oil and violence. The middle east recieves most of its payment through gas money. Due to the fact that their area is the prime spot for oil mining, they are bound to not export as many items due to the fact that there was no need to, and that would be a major waste of their time. Most other items made in the mideast would probably not be as useful compared to the same items made in china or japan. Since, oil is their main money grabber, there may be some disputes about pricing, how much is being sold, why its being sold, how its being sold. It can raise various questions, due to the fact that the countries are not that close to each other. They have always disputed and will continue to dispute for a long period of time. So when discussing oil, fights might arise. Sicne oil is so important to them, they really can not just give up on their ol. Oil is what keeps their country alive and running, so the violence is a way to make sure that they maintain that balance between the powers, and that no one gains an upper advantage. Also, returning to the fact that oil is the main way for the middle eastern countries to make money, they are put in a position in which having money becomes desperate. The people are starving and can not get any money in order to save themselves. Thus they result to robbery, which leads to fights. There is also the problem of jealousy for the people who do have the money, many people might attack the cars that do in order to make the rich feel the same way as the poor do. They are stuck in a position that they believe is unfair, and riots break out because people want to even out the score. There are people who believe in this, and these people might cause various problems. Physically and emotionally. The people will have been attacked from their position and will fight against each other. Ben Yoon

SOURCES

1. "Thirst for oil." (60 SECONDS)(Brief Article) New Scientist, May 21, 2005 v186 i2500 p7. Science Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 08 December 2007 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SciRC?ste=1&docNum=A132941238>

2. "Analysis: Oil prices. (10:00-11:00 AM) (Broadcast transcript)." Morning Edition (May 6, 2004): NA. General OneFile. 12 Dec. 2007 <http://find.galegroup.com/ips.do?prodld=IPS>.

3. "Iraq's disappearing oil." The Wilson Quarterly 30.4 (Autumn 2006): p.69(2). (540 words) From General OneFile(2006) 69(2). 07 Dec. 2007 <http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?

prodId=IPS>.

Q1. Ben Yoon, David Hurley

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