"We need to be moving away from oil..."
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| Fri, 08-29-2008 - 7:15pm |
from another post:
""We need to be moving away from oil, not reinvesting in it." "
I just wanted to take this point on. Bear with me if you can. NOTE: I know that in the internet world, capitals mean yelling. For whatever reason the formatting in ivillage does not show up in my browser on this computer- so from here on out, capital does not mean I am yelling, it is a point- like italics. I know, I know- I could use html to make italics, but when I get going on this stuff I cannot take the time to stop do code- I assume most all of you on this board know what I mean. so please don't flame me for "yelling" cause I am not. k? thanks.
I agree that we need to find other methods of energy- The idea of America becoming like China with its "fog" of pollution scares and revolts me. I think twice about everything I buy, every time I drive. I bring my own grocery bags to the store. I pack my sons sandwich in a reusable container. I walk whenever I can (often with three kids on bikes, one in a stroller and one in a baby carrier on my back!) I do a lot of those things. Not because I believe in global warming or climate change- not because I want to feel Good about myself; but because I believe we should be good stewards of this earth.
HOWEVER- the oil discussion comes down to one thing- we are a country of growth and change and we rely on oil for ENERGY. We need energy. Not because we are addicted to oil- because of the makeup of our country. We HAVE to drive sometimes to get to where we need to be. If you live in one town, yet your work and daycare are in another town- you can't very well ride a bike with three kids on it over a bridge in the middle of winter. Yes, we could change our habits and lifestyles (which is partly why we moved to a small town), but not everyone has the luxury of doing so. Even with all I do, and with the fact that I work from home- I still have to drive the van sometimes! I need energy to do that. Medical supplies need to be delivered to hospitals, food needs to be delivered to communities and cities who cannot produce enough of their own, tvs and refrigerators and carpet and everything need to be delivered- which requires gas in trucks, which is energy from oil. We need energy to live- period. While we work to find new forms of energy, we will STILL NEED OIL. So ask yourself these two very important questions:
**If we are going to be using oil for energy for the next however many years, would you rather get it from our own land- where environmental groups can oversee the procedure and make sure the earth is taken care of in the process and where we have the best technology to get it out safely and carefully,
OR would you rather get it from other small countries where nobody oversees anything, where they have old technology and where those who care about the environment are likely to be sent to jail if they protest shoddy oil collection methods?
**Would you rather it be shipped to the gas companies over a short trip by land (stable, predictable) OR by a long trip by sea (dangerous, very unpredictable). Also keep into account that by land if there were a spill, it could quickly be contained (and would eventually work its way back into the soil it came from) whereas that oil from other countries can spill in the ocean and take forever to clean, damaging so much marine life in the process.
I once read of a boy who used junk items to create wind power for his home in Africa; and I applaud that effort- that spirit of discovery and action- and that spirit is alive and well in America as well... but it takes time! In the meantime, shouldn't we be the ones getting the oil we need for energy so that we can make sure it is done safely and with concern for Mother Earth? Or do those other little countries who get the oil for us now not matter? If land is destroyed on another continent, is it not still land destroyed? Because let me tell you, land IS destroyed on those other lands. Whereas the land we bring oil out of in America is taken care of (I am not talking about the old school methods- I mean new technology methods that exist). And now with all eyes on the process, even better environmental standards would be in place.
If you are worried about natural grasses and trees being flattened for oil extraction- think about this:
the richest area of shale oil in America is in the desert. That is right- the desert. Tell me, who lives in the deep desert? What animals live there? Nobody and None. Because it is uninhabitable. So let's get to that oil and shut down the cruddy extraction plants overseas who ARE actually damaging the earth. Let's do the oil extraction in new ways that will not cause huge damage. And while we are doing that- those Americans who are capable will find new forms of energy. Not because it is what people are crying for- because the American spirit is one of industry and capitalism. Americans see a way to make a living by creating and selling products that others want. Look at TBone Pickens- he is huge in oil, yet he sees an opportunity to make buck on new energy, so he is going there- not because the masses cry "we are addicted to oil and it must change to make us feel better!" but because he knows there are things out there that will create energy at a lower production cost and he knows those things will make him richer than he already is. God Bless the American Spirit.
so- think about it and tell me- do you still oppose drilling in America?



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Actually, the big oil companies are more into exploring West Africa and are in talks toward PSA's in Iraq.
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I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure
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