Blog 4 : newspaper article

This article explains to the public of a study done by the German military that leaked onto the internet of what our futures hold for oil and how it will affect the inhabitants of the world. People are having a hard time grasping the fact that we have reached our peak oil and from this point on oil is depleating faster than it is being produced. Evidence of this is all around us, just as anyone who drives a car knows that gas prices are climing at an alarming right. But this isn't the most problematic thing that is going to occur. We can always find different methods of transportation that don't use gasoline and oil, but what about the security of our country, our economy and our government. According to this article, it is estimated that 15 to 30 years after the peak oil (which we are currently in) the impact of security is expected to be felt. Meaning we haven't seen anything yet.

Oil is the foundation of civilization. It is because of oil that the Earth's population has increased at a staggering rate. So, it is common sense that when we take away our foundation, civilization will crumble. This is a scary thought because it is well in our lifetime. This isn't something that is said to happen hundreds of years from now but mearly, decades. Oil determines a nation's power it is what runs our military, our economy and our goverment. The United States of America currently imports approximately 60 % of our oil. Without these imports our country would fall by the side leaving us powerless.

Reflection Questions: What do you think the problems are with importing oils from other countries? Do you think it would benefit the United States to find an alternative fuel source? What do you think will happen if the world continues to consume fuels at the rate it is doing? How do you think life without oil would affect the citizens of the world? Do you think that oil truely determines the power of nations? If we do run out of oil in the estimated time, what types of affects do you think it will have on economy, government, people and relations with other countries?

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,715138,00.html

Schultz, Stefan. "Military Study Warns of a Potentially Drastic Oil Crisis." Energy and Natural Resources 1 Sep. 2010: n. pag. Web. 28 Apr 2011.

Blog 3 : response to magazine article

It is hard to explain the emotions that will rush through your mind after reading about the tragic BP oil spill. You would think that it would have a dramatic impact on our society, our environment and the way that we think. But it seems to have been a thing of the past. "The worst environmental disaster America has ever faced," proclaims our president and we brush it off as though nothing has happened. Experiencing an epoch such as this, should have pushed us to our limit and forced change upon us. Even today we are still recovering from everything that the oil spill has put us through and people have the audacity to say that it was an exaggeration. It cost us the lives of human beings and is continuing to ruthlessly take the lives of species indiginess to the area.


I truely believed that people could not change until they were forced to experience the tramatic and catasrophic happenings for themselves, but even after an event like this, we Americans cannot even push ourselves to make little effort towards a bit of change. Which makes me question, have we seen the worst to come?

"Yes, the spill killed birds — but so far, less than 1% of the number killed by the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska 21 years ago. Yes, we've heard horror stories about oiled dolphins — but so far, wildlife-response teams have collected only three visibly oiled carcasses of mammals. Yes, the spill prompted harsh restrictions on fishing and shrimping, but so far, the region's fish and shrimp have tested clean, and the restrictions are gradually being lifted. And yes, scientists have warned that the oil could accelerate the destruction of Louisiana's disintegrating coastal marshes — a real slow-motion ecological calamity — but so far, assessment teams have found only about 350 acres of oiled marshes, when Louisiana was already losing about 15,000 acres of wetlands every year." This section of the article states evidence of devistation and acts as though they are no big deal becuase it hasn't made as much damage as other catastraphies. But I mean it only distroyed 350 acres of land. This just shows how selfish and reluctent to change people really are and how hard it will be to get people to take steps forward to alternative methods that will ultimitly benefit the world as a whole community, instead of being stubborn and only do what is most convenient for ourselves.


Reflection questions: Do you think that we will be forced to change eventually? what is your opinion on the article? How do you think events like the BP spill affect our daily lives? What are your opinions on alternative methods of fuel and energy? After reading the article do you think that you will make a conscious effort to change? Do you think people will ever bring themsleves to change?


http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2007202,00.html

Grunwald, Michael. "the BP spill: Has the Damage Been Exaggerated." 29 July 2010: n. pag. Web. 20 Apr 2011. <http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2007202,00.html>.

Blog 2 : summary and analysis of website

http://www.3k88.com/
"Peak Oil Crisis." Greedzilla. Giles, n.d. Web. 14 Apr 2011. <http://www.3k88.com/>.

This website talks about where the world is estimated to be in terms of oil and the affects that the reckless oil depletion will have on us when we run out of oil. It also explains how foriegn oil is in control of our economy and how it could affect our population.

It also states the serious side affects that oil has on our society, our lives and the globe. For example, running out of oil would cause a huge energy crisis because we depend almost souly on oil for energy if we were to run out, nations would be in a fight for energy which could cause a World War. It also explains what we can do to help fight the oil crisis, but it leaves out the environmental issues that oil causes and what it is doing to human life which is a big part of the social aspect.

Reflection questions: How do you think running out of oil in 2030 will affect you or your loved ones?
The United States imports about 2/3 of its oil. How does this affect americans and our economy?
How do you think the compitition for oil will affect different nations?
What are the benefits of alternative energy sources?

Blog 1 : overview of topic

The topic that I have chosen to research is the demand for oil and its effects on society. I have decided on this topic because it something that affects every human being on this planet. Today, Americans would not be able to function properly without a steady supply of energy, but as our dependence on foriegn oil increases our nations power is declining. And that is just the beginning of our problems.

The global oil crisis is causing us to deplete the worlds oil supply. We are also failing to developing an alternative supply of energy that we can depend on. If we continue to use up oil at this rate it is estimated that we will be oilless by 2030.

I have decided to chose this topic to inform the people of the world that if we continue to use oil recklessly,  it will cause devestating problems for the entire world during our life time. I truly believe that the only way that humans will change there stuborn ways is if they are forced to experience what is truely happening first hand. People will realize the seriousness of this situation when it has dramatically changed their life and causes them to open their eyes and make a difference.