If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
photo from www.howthingswork.com
I heard on NPR yesterday that Exxon/Mobil posted the highest second quarter profit of any corporation in history. ANY corporation EVER! Somehow this seems crazy when the cost of fuel keeps rising and the average consumer is struggling in a failing economy. They posted nearly a $12 BILLION profit in the second quarter alone.
I do not know what can be done to speak out for the average person, but I want to at least call to action anyone willing to speak up about such imbalance in our World. I drive my vehicles on BioDiesel. I purchase it in bulk to try and save money. I purchased my last order about a month ago and I paid over $5.25 per gallon. The cost of diesel in my local market is roughly $4.89 per gallon. I am not sure about the cost of gasoline as I don’t use it for anything in large quantities. I believe it is about $4.39 per gallon for 89 octane. All this with talk of shortages, refinery closures, etc.. all the while that Exxon rakes in the billions. My understanding is that the cost of fuel in Europe and other parts of the World is even higher.
The silver lining: people are feeling the effects of high gas prices. Necessity drives innovation. I believe that the high fuel prices are a good thing in the long run. I believe that we as a nation and as a World need this wake up call. Perhaps it will allow us to create the technologies that have been sleeping for so long.
On July 17, 2008 Vice President Al Gore (or President Gore depending on your point of view) challenged the United States to produce 100% of its energy from renewable resources like wind and solar within 10 years. Some people think this is crazy and unattainable. I disagree. People thought that JFK was crazy about landing on the moon in the time frame he offered. We did that. Why can’t we do this? I believe that old saying that “things sometimes have to get worse before they can get better.” I believe we are in the middle of the “worse” and are about to move into the “better.” If we don’t move and move quickly, all may be lost.
On October 16, 2007 I wrote a post about the record high price of oil when it first hit $88/barrel. Today, that price stands around $124 per barrel. Again, I think this is ultimately a good thing; however, I want to see some accountability from the oil companies. I read and hear daily about the energy crisis in the United States. It is not a crisis because company officials are getting wealthy. It is something much more devilish than a crisis. I believe the companies should be brought to task on how they can post such huge profits while we the people are struggling to make ends meet. I know many people who cannot afford to drive to work anymore. Again, ultimately a good thing, and yet, the oil companies get away scott free in the meantime.
Getting back to Al Gore’s challenge. I hope that such a move can be made here and abroad. I yearn for the day when our human footprint is not so large and our ability to leave a clean and healthy planet to our children is a reality. For those of you who have not seen this incredibly moving speech at the United Nations by a thirteen year old Canadian girl, I hope you choose to watch it now. In all the darkness currently surrounding us, it is the smallest pillars of light that shine the brightest.
As a friend of mine said every day as he signed off of his radio show: “”Do what you can do.” That is all one can ask.
“Kindness will find you when darkness is falling around your bend.” -Beck
About the Author
Andrew Morison is a specialist in straw bale and green construction. He has shown thousands of peple how to build their own straw bale projects through his comprehensive series of instructional straw bale, concrete foundation, and plastering DVDs. You can chck these out at http://www.LearnStrawBale.com.com.
Like this? Click here to buy me a Wolaver's Organic Oat Meal Stout!Email Updates
To be notified of new entries and to get our "7 Essential Steps to Straw Bale Success e-course" absolutely free, enter your email address below then check your inbox to confirm. More Info>>
August 12th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Who is the most green? Check out Bush’s home vs. Al Gore’s
August 12th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Richard,
I could live in a grass hut and do more damage to the World than if I lived in a hotel all to myself. I get your point that we all need to do our part: Think Globally, Act Locally; but dismissing a great challenge like the one Gore made based on the size of his house seems to mis the point. Bush has done more damage to the environment than any president in recent history, He has turned back initiative after initiate behind closed doors and continues to wage war on both foreign countries and the planet. I bring the wars into into it because such conflicts have a HUGE toll on the environment. I don’t care if you or other folks in this forum are Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent or anything else under the sun. What I care about is that we all move forward towards a healthy planet. If that challenge comes from a man you don’t personally like, leave the man and take action towards a better future.