Re:NEW

Contact: loganct@gmail.com

No matter where you stand on the questions of why we're at war in the Middle East, how to manage that war, and what to do to reduce or eliminate the terrorist threat, keep in mind that much of the money used to supply the terrorists who are killing U.S. troops and thousands of innocent civilians comes, directly or indirectly, from the sale of oil. Of the 21,000,000 barrels of petroleum burned in the U.S. every day, about a quarter of it comes from OPEC (Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, Kuwait, Libya, Angola, Nigeria, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela). It's infuriating and unacceptable that the United States should need to buy a single drop of oil from those who support terror, or condone it through inaction. Never mind that the same oil might be bought anyway by China or India or other developing countries -- that's a different matter, requiring different responses and policies. If the struggle to preserve our freedom in the face of terrorists and petro-dictators is truly grave and dangerous, it's bewildering that the U.S. government since 9/11/01 has not made a single meaningful demand of the American people to reduce our demand for oil. Millions want to make an effort, but there isn't enough political wisdom or unity even to begin to galvanize the nation, much less throw the country's full strength behind alternative energy development on one hand and serious conservation of energy on the other. Dependence on oil from OPEC is without doubt a national security matter, and it needs to be approached with the same seriousness and verve as Eisenhower's interstate highway system, Kennedy's man-on-the-moon project, and Roosevelt's New Deal employment programs. The results of real action from the top down will be positive across the board -- new jobs, new industries, new science and engineering, and widespread economic benefit. The river of oil connects terrorism to the other major battlefront of our time -- the fight to save the environment. Again, this need not and should not be a political issue -- it should be a problem that unites people instead of dividing them. No one likes pollution, litter, diminished resources, threatened species, and other problems that most certainly come from the burgeoning human population. As for carbon dioxide emissions and global warming, the vast majority of the world's environmental scientists stand shoulder to shoulder in saying that the human race is at least partially responsible. But even those who vehemently deny man's influence should realize that the consequences will be worse if we are part of the cause and don't take action than they will be if we aren't part of the cause and do take action. When we replace barrels of oil and magawatts of electricity with energy derived from sustainable resources, and when we reduce the need for energy in the first place by conservation, we can... undermine the enemy and disentangle our foreign policy interests from our energy needs help reduce pollution and global warming encourage economic growth through new industries, including manufacturing jobs The energy revolution isn't going to succeed on the basis of one technology or one type of product. It's going to take all sorts of good inventions and good intentions, and it won't go forward unless a lot of people put their shoulders behind it. Today it's a fad. Tomorrow it has to be a movement. And the next day it has to be a habit. The process won't begin in earnest until people realize that it's not an all-or-nothing proposition. It doesn't have to mean greater expense, greater discomfort, and fewer conveniences. We don't have to do much in order to make a significant difference, if we all act together. It's a gallon at a time; a hundred watts here and there, one less bag of trash a week. We'd probably be halfway there if everyone tried these five things: Turn off lights if you're not using them. Lights are huge energy hogs. Replace a few incandecent bulbs with fluorescents or LEDs. Don't run hot water unless you or a dish are in the stream. Drive a vehicle that really fits your needs. If you need a huge SUV, fine. Most people who ferry kids and groceries around in SUVs would be happier, safer, and wealthier in the long run with a minivan or station wagon. Lower the heat or the air-conditioning when you're not home. New Energy Watch is run by Doug Logan, former editor of Practical Sailor, a newsletter started in 1973, dedicated to testing boats and boat gear. The equipment that provides and regulates energy for boats offshore, including batteries, solar panels, and wind generators, forms much of the backbone of the alternative energy revolution at the personal and home level. Other habits practiced on boats -- conservation, thoughtful use of materials, system maintenance, and adaptability -- also come into play. The "small boat in the middle of the ocean with limited resources" analogy could be worked a bit more, but we'll hold off for now. Enjoy the site. Copyright © 2009 by New Energy Watch. All rights reserved. Links are welcome, but original material may not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of New Energy Watch.

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