| The oil spill from BP and the Deepwater Horizon | | | | You, the auto owner, pay a price for that fuel |
| started me thinking about the way we people | | | | and drive away. |
| look at things and the perspectives we hold. Yes, | | | | But think a little deeper into the poor economics |
| this is a human and environmental tragedy of still | | | | of this. Your investment is gone by the time your |
| untold proportions, and it's highly unpleasant to run | | | | tank is empty. The amount of money it costs to |
| through the list of effects this event will have. | | | | get the fuel out of the ground and into your car |
| We can begin with the loss of human life in the | | | | is very high compared to how much you actually |
| name of saving an old industry, and then move to | | | | end up paying at the pump. That large amount of |
| the chain of life that has been bitterly abused or | | | | money being spent on securing oil is going to an |
| ended, on down to the long lasting serious | | | | investment that isn't able to replenish or even |
| environmental impacts, and over to the gulf coast | | | | begin to sustain itself. Thus, the money you spent |
| economy that won't soon forget what it's like to | | | | out of your pocket to fill your tank is going to |
| have Katrina #2 sitting at their weary doorsteps | | | | something that doesn't grow, but shrinks. |
| once again. | | | | And following that chain of events, you then have |
| And the list will continue to go on... | | | | several layers of business and industry that now |
| But even as this oil spill is akin to a catastrophe, | | | | face serious consequences should they not either |
| I'd like you to stop for just a moment, and | | | | up-grade their technology or buy carbon credits |
| change perspectives with me. Events like this | | | | to reduce their carbon footprint. They, in turn will |
| often change humanity's course (as long as we | | | | most likely have to raise their prices to cushion |
| are aware enough to see that we have the ability | | | | the cost of saving the environment and humans |
| to change it, of "course"...). | | | | from the pollution caused by fossil fuels...and the |
| Changing perspectives means taking a look at the | | | | drilling of... |
| timing of this. On the surface it appears to be | | | | So as you watch the 'who knows how many' |
| very, very bad because in so many ways it is. | | | | thousands...millions of gallons of oil as it is seeping |
| But it's also an exclamation point bringing attention | | | | from the ocean floor, take a look at what is |
| to something else. Looking deeper clearly shows | | | | REALLY coming up and screaming at you to pay |
| sluggish governmental cooperation in not only | | | | attention to... |
| protecting the environment, but just as | | | | We're smarter humans than this. |
| importantly, applying solid forward movement to | | | | Economically, renewable energy is a no brainer. |
| a sustainable industry we all know is necessary | | | | Wouldn't it have been nice if every time we dug |
| right now. So if anything, this will definitely place | | | | into the ground to get those fossil fuels, that they |
| many politicians right in the middle of the hot seat | | | | immediately replenished themselves? Now that |
| with not only our environmentalists, but really | | | | would be an investment! |
| anyone who either likes eating fish or looking at a | | | | Then just imagine running your car on water or |
| clean ocean. | | | | clean electricity. Your investment doesn't run dry |
| It is also something that can be looked at as a big | | | | when your car does. Your investment is counted |
| white elephant in the room when applying the | | | | because you have just put your hard-earned cash |
| economics of oil production vs. renewable energy | | | | into something that actually helps everyone! |
| production. | | | | You've also just saved yourself the couple |
| Fossil fuels are pumped from the ground, ran | | | | thousand dollars you'd have ended up spending on |
| through their processes, given several additives, | | | | the pollution clean up - either directly or indirectly. |
| transported to filling stations and made available to | | | | It's really an easy choice. |
| be put into your car. | | | | Peace! |