Western Oregon Journal

[Click to enlarge]

Let me begin with a quotation from I Heart Huckabees:

Mrs. Hooten: So Tommy, what do you do?
Tommy Corn: I'm a firefighter.
Mrs. Hooten: Congratulations, you're a hero.
Tommy Corn: I'm no hero. We'd all be heroes if we stopped using petroleum!

For anybody who’s seen the film, Tommy is a firefighter who refuses to use any petroleum, which is problematic, because whenever there is a fire, he will not use the truck. Instead, he opts to use his bicycle. Whenever he encounters anyone driving SUVs, he is sure to lecture them until their ears hurt.

Today, we have so many environmental issues to worry about—forest fires, endangered species, suburban sprawl, dams and global warming. Many, if not all, of these issues are directly related to the expansion of the human species. Global warming, however, is one of the most dangerous issues that we have to deal with on a daily basis.

We all know what global warming is—an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere, especially a sustained increase sufficient to cause climatic change. Now, a huge change overnight, like in The Day After Tomorrow, is quite unlikely. However, the melting of the polar ice caps and the introduction of exotic diseases are not only feasible, but has already begun to happen—the sea level has risen, and the West Nile Virus, which began in the Middle East, has already affected the United States. Moreover, the depletion of the ozone layer could be partially responsible for the increase in skin cancer cases.

Most of us also know how the depletion of the ozone layer occurs—largely through the emission of carbon dioxide into the air. Common forms of this pollution are factory emissions and exhaust from gas-burning vehicles.

Now, growing up in a city where having a car is a must, I have rarely given any thought to my personal pollution, or the pollution of others; the problems were more removed, and didn’t affect me—out of sight, out of mind. However, in high school, I used Tri-Met (Portland’s public transportation system) to get downtown every day. Today, I use my car to drive to-and-from Monmouth almost every week.

Lately, there has been much talk about not only pollution, but about our petroleum resources. We’ve all felt the effects in some way—about a year ago, it cost me about $20 to fill my tank; today, it costs almost $40—a price which definitely adds up if I get gas each week. I remember a time when a gallon of premium gas was $1.50. This summer, gas is projected to cost well over $2 per gallon, a price we’ve already begun to face, according to The Associated Press. Some can blame it on the economy—that the industry wants to get richer. Or others can look at where the oil is coming from.

Petroleum is a type of fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable—when they’re gone, they’re gone. At our rate of consumption, we will have completely depleted our resources within our (the average Western student’s) lifetimes, and if not within our lifetimes, then surely within our children’s. Currently, the government is in dispute over whether or not they should drill for oil in Alaska. The Senate has already approved drilling, and there are only a few short steps to take before the drilling will become a reality. There is conflicting evidence as to its effects, and as to how much oil drilling would produce.

Drilling would destroy habitat. Drilling pipelines and platforms may harm polar bears, caribou, migrating birds and other animals, according to a CNN story. If this isn’t enough to be in opposition, then think about how much petroleum we’d really gain if we drilled—Two years? One year? Six months? Less? Is it really worth destroying something beautiful and natural, when the drilling would not benefit us in the long term? What this whole situation and dispute tells me is that we are too dependent upon oil. If we are willing to risk losing part of Alaska and its wildlife in an oil-drilling rage, what does that tell us about our society?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what I’d do if I was completely cut off gas. And to tell the truth, I really don’t know. I’m not sure if I would be able to survive without a car, especially since I travel so often.

I believe, though, that if everyone realized what sort of grave predicament we’re in—not only with pollution and global warming, but in the sheer jeopardization of losing modes of transportation—that we’d be able to figure out a way to survive. We’ve already figured out more fuel-efficient hybrid cars and electric vehicles. Why couldn’t we make solar-powered cars? This is our future, and we’ve got to take a hold of it.

In the end, I’m not going to tell anyone to stop using petrol, because to many of us, it’s near impossible. But let’s all be aware of not only how gas is affecting our wallets, but how it’s affecting the ozone, wildlife, our future and our health.

Article Tools