Goal For The Green

There is no doubt, soaring oil prices could trigger global economic troubles – if it hasn’t already. Add to that, Japan and the U.S. have announced higher unemployment rates recently.

A statement from the five top energy consumers – the U.S., Japan, China, India and South Korea, claimed that “high prices are a menace to the world economy.”  They implied that the outrageous prices are against the better interests of both producers and consumers, and pose a “heavy burden” on developing nations. They agreed upon a solution, that more oil should be produced.  Say WHAT? When are we going to get off of oil in this country? Whatever happened to Project Independence (1974), that has now become Project Dependence?  What is behind this outrageous crisis?

Energy experts argue that most oil producers, do not have the ability to expand. Saudi Arabia, claims that there is “no oil shortage now- or in the future.” They claim they can increase their production by another 2 million barrels a day.  But, for whatever reason they are choosing not to. So, this out of control oil price spiraling, cannot be justified by the so called supply and demand theory.  We can’t blame any one political entity, or China imports, or Mexico and Venezuela for not selling to us. The problem can be blamed, however, on our own government. In particular, the CFTC (Commodities Futures Trading Commission). The government refuses to clamp down on energy futures stock trading. They allow leveraging by wide margins, based on speculation of what the markets are going to do.  It is this leveraging, that had much to do with the banking and real estate problems that have occurred in the last two years.

In the last 5-10 years there has been an influx of one billion more consumers infiltrating new and emerging markets world wide.  They are working, eating and buying more.  Because of this, there is more demand on all commodities.  This will continue to drive prices higher at many levels, no mater what we do.  Anything that can be sold on the global market will cost more. That is a fact.  From here on out, the entire world will determine what we pay for oil, gasoline, commodities and raw materials.  Gone are the days when the U.S led the global economy, and set a shining example for the world to follow. Let’s just hope we can find a way to become a self-sustaining nation once again.

With oil now in excess of $135 a barrel, there seems little likelihood of any kind of quick turnaround. In fact, it appears we may as well get use to it.  After all, many European countries, Ireland and the UK have been seeing prices of $8-$10 a gallon for awhile now. So, by the 4th of July, it will will be $5 a gallon, and by Labor day $6, with no end in sight.

By doing the basic math, we have much to complain about. Yes, oil prices are high, however, paying for gas is still the cheapest cost of operating a car. With the price of everything going up, we should be complaining more about the lack of purchasing power our money has. We want the Feds to “do something.” What good does it do to complain?  They are responsible for degrading our currency.  The dollar falls, oil prices go up and the politicians have a hay-day trying to deflect criticism. They clamor about the “windfall profits” the oil companies are making, but do nothing to decrease our dependency on foreign oil. Let’s face it the pain at the pump and in our wallets is bound to get a lot worse. 

Has public interest waned about the environmental movement?  Have worries about inflation, the high cost of energy, the war, and the general pace of global events, wiped out public concern about the environment?  I doubt it.  But those (the government) we want to take action – AREN’T.

How soon we forget the first Earth Day. It was April 22, 1970. It became the awakening of the Environmental Decade.  We became concerned and aware about the deterorization and crucial issues that affect all life forms on our planet.  We took notice of our mindless disappation of our resources. We paid attention to our wasteful consumption habits, and how those habits affect the natural environment.

Our oil consumption was high in the 70’s. Our own U.S. oil production declined and by 1973 -36% of our energy consumption was in foreign oil. The OPEC cartel was the cause of the rising oil prices then, as it is now.  The Mideast Oil Crisis was the onset of the international oil embargo. It brought panic to our nation. The Mideast oil producing nations, cut off exports of petroleum to many Western Nations, including the U.S. and the Netherlands. They were angry over our involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflicts.

Then as it is now, there were high consumption levels and panic stricken people.  Oil prices skyrocketed to what would equal about $2.80 a gallon today. There were lines at gas stations. People blamed the government, the gas companies, the Arabs and the embargo.  It wasn’t even the price so much. The people were willing to pay the price, but there was an actual “shortage.” Gas stations would run out of gas to pump. Some even went out of business.  The oil embargo lasted six months and was over in March of 1974.  Project Independence was created in hope of freeing the U.S. completely from our dependence on foreign oil by 1980.

For years we have been aware of alternative energy sources.  Still today, we are more dependant on foreign oil than we were in the 70’s.  The oil shortage and embargo of 1973, created an growing awareness, that changed our views on energy useage.  It led people to choose economical solutions and make wiser personal choices about their energy consumption. It became popular to use less fossil- fuel, and pay more attention to how much we consumed.  The difference is today, we have no choice. We are being forced to make changes.

The calendar says it’s Spring , but Winter is still hanging on here in Washington State.  On April 11th, we had one day of eighty degrees. The next day, it was barely above fifty and more rain. We’ve even had Spring snow, twice this month. No, not just a dusting, but inches. Most nights still drop down into the 30’s, and most days have been lucky to see 50 degrees.

Yes it’s true we have always been criticized for our weather here, but it’s usually pretty mild and comfortable. I haven’t seen too many people breaking out their shorts and sandals yet, not here. We haven’t put away our winter clothes yet, or gotten our gardens planted for the most part. It will be no doubt be a short growing season.  The recent snow we had has potentially damaged our apple, cherry, pear, and asparagus crops that are grown in Eastern Washington.  This Winter has brought record snow to our mountains. Two of our ski resorts are still open and it’s almost May. That’s always great news for the skiers, but if we get what we call the Pineapple Express, (warm air  current from Hawaii) like we did in December, we will see more record flooding. 

It is rare that our weather here makes national news. Most recently, it was our snow that made headlines. In December, it was the worst flooding Washington has seen in the last 100 years.  Most areas had 3-5 inches of snow on the ground. The Pineapple Express came through and dumped seventeen inches of rain non-stop in less than twenty-four hours. There are some areas in our state that are still recovering, and locally just last month several road repairs were completed.

It’s not just our weather that is strange though. Over the weekend the Pasadena area had temperatures of 100 degrees and the first wildfire of the season. A couple of months earlier than usual. Today, there were terrible twisters in Virginia. It seems there are few states that haven’t experienced a natural disaster or weather phenomenon, in the last five years. Perhaps Mother Nature is sending us a wake-up call to take better care of our planet. Let’s hope there is still time to change our ways and turn back time. We should have paid more attention thirty years ago to warnings of what could happen. Now our planet is in crisis and Mother Nature is fighting back.