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

In my daily life my family and I consume a large amount of oil or oil related products and materials. My mom, dad and uncle use fair amounts of gasoline daily for their automobile transportation. Gasoline is a major product of crude oil refining. Small amounts of unburnt fuel and pollution byproducts are also produced. My uncle wants to create and customize his own computer or laptop for business and personal use. I am not sure that he acknowledges that building a computer is practically building a machine made of oil. Some computers are made up of plastic which is made from oil refineries and little metal. My family sometimes leaves unnecessary light running in the house. I, myself, leave light that I do not need.

Oil has impacted many people and animals lives. For example, some people dump oil waste into our water, including the oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. By this occuring sea animals are dying from the toxic from oil. Many human lives have lived near factories where black smoke floats out of the funnels. The former Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr Lorna Medd says,"that the oil and gas industry is growing so fast it has out paced the health field's knowledge of possible health and safety impacts on communities." From 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 states that there has been an increase of usage of the emergency room facilities during the peak periods of oil and gas production. It sounds that when oil is burned in these factories it lets out chemicals that could effect many people.

3. Are there any viable energy alternatives?

There have been countless efforts to reduce the world’s dependence on oil, and very practical alternative energy sources have been developed. The major types of alternative, renewable power are wind, solar, geothermal, oceanic, biomass, and nuclear. However, there are several drawbacks to each of these methods, renewable as they may be. For example, nuclear power generates an enormous amount of energy, however, this type of science is extremely dangerous and, if a mistake is made, could have fatal consequences for hundreds of innocent victims. Also, if one country was to develop foolproof methods of generating nuclear power that they would want to share with other countries, there is a large danger that this information will benefit nations seeking nuclear power for use in warfare, such as Iran (we think). Solar power has long been a popular method of obtaining energy, but there is the tiny drawback that solar powering your home can cost almost $10,000. However, this article at <http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL24158364._CH_.2400> tells us that in London, optimists believe that a “solar era might be dawning” (Wynn 2), creating the opportunity for developing countries to obtain cheap, renewable energy. Hopefully we will be blessed with this solar boom sometime soon- it will be just the thing poor countries need to build success. Good luck and Godspeed, London!

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

Yes, there is a definite connection between oil and violence in the Middle East- it initiates a vicious cycle of poverty, oppression, and subsequent violence. The cycle begins when a country begins to obtain massive amounts of money from the exports of oil they produce. This money sparks greed in the leaders, who become corrupt dictators and take all the money for themselves. The people are furious at being manipulated like this, and fight back. However, this retaliation has negative effects on the rest of the world. The rebels are too scared to attack their own cruel government, so they resort to scapegoating and blame more successful countries for their pain. An example of this is the country of Saudi Arabia. It is no coincidence that the country supplying the majority of the USA’s crude oil (14 percent) produced the terrorists that attacked our country on September 11, 2001. Saudi Arabia’s GDP per capita income is $13,800, compared to the rest of Africa, who’s GDP per capita income is a mere $568. However, all this money Saudi Arabia makes with its oil is stolen from the people and used by government officials on themselves. Honestly, the rage that the Saudis feel is justified; just please don’t take it out on us.

Sources:

Schaefer, Brett D. . "Economic Freedom: The Path to African Prosperity." The Heritage Foundation: Leadership for America 20 Feb 2003 9 Dec 2007 <http://www.heritage.org/Research/Africa/hl778.cfm>.

Central Intelligence Agency, "Saudi Arabia." CIA World Factbook 6 Dec 2007 9 Dec 2007 <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sa.html>.

Gerard, Wynn. "FEATURE-Solar energy boom may help world's poorest." Reuters 31 Oct 2007 9 Dec 2007 <http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL24158364._CH_.2400>.

250 News, "Impact of Oil and Gas Industry on Health Subject of Report" 5 Dec 2007 <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>.

Contributors: Rebecca G. and Katie R.

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