I drive a fuel-efficient car. I walk or ride my bike whenever I can. I recycle or compost almost everything possible. I try and be a responsible citizen of our nation and our planet. That is why a year ago I changed my mind about off shore oil exploration in United States waters. How did I come to this decision? One radio report:
http://www.npr.org/...
Listen to this report, explore the story’s web page, and do a little more research. You will see that we Americans are guilty of the kind of actions that many of our ancestors took in the name of manifest destiny. We will do anything and kill anyone to maintain our way of life. The Nigerian’s are the 21st century’s invisible people. In the 1990’s I had colleagues from Nigeria who would tell me to boycott Shell gas. Hesitant to say too much, they said the oil industry was killing their nation and people. But when I heard this NPR Climate Connections report last year I was stunned. Gas flares that burn 24/7/365 and belch out noxious fumes that loom over homes, farms and shops! Gas flares that leave a strange smell and an audible hiss in the air. Gas flares that can be seen from space. Acid rain that ruins these people’s tin roofs, destroying their homes. Imagine what it is doing to their health! Are Americans so much better than any other human beings that we can protect our waters while our energy use kills other people around the world? Maybe if we saw firsthand what we are doing to our planet we might change our way of life.
If seeing oil platforms off my beloved Jersey Shore is what it takes to help bring an end to the last 125 years of oils destruction of our planet and its people, I am OK with it. If a compromise on off shore drilling is what it takes to bring us a sane and responsible energy policy than I am willing to sign on to that compromise.