Offshore Drilling?

A question posed in my collage class with my answer:

President Bush has recently proposed that we begin to explore for oil off of the U.S. coast. Is this a viable solution? If it is looked at from the perspective of reducing fuel costs, then I would say no. If from the perspective of ensuring long term reserves while we continue to investigate alternative fuel supplies, then I would say yes.

Here is a nice fresh article on the topic; it flows well with your statements: http://offsur-drill.notlong.com. I have to agree with both of your statements. It wouldn’t bring down gas prices any time soon; probably long after it reached $12 a gallon. It wouldn’t be substantial enough to make a difference in price or dependence for a while. Too little too late: http://To-little.notlong.com. We also need to remember that ½ of the price we pay for gas is taxes.

We as a country have allowed our selves to become too dependent on other countries for oil and business. I think the idea behind it all is that it secures us when other countries become dependent on the US influx of money – (break America and you break yourself). However, this action has only painted the US into a corner of dependence on other countries policies, politics, and hidden agendas; none of which is good for our environment.

Here is another political perspective, http://the-Pledge.notlong.com. We are caught between a rock and a hard place: “Protect US interests” or “Protect US coasts”. I just feel the longer we drag out alternative energy interests, the bigger the ditch we dig no matter what we do concerning drilling.

America’s dependency on foreign oil?

A question posed in my collage class with my answer:

To decrease dependence on foreign oil, should the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be open to exploration as an interim solution?

Absolutely and unequivocally not. I believe it would be a step in the continually (same old, same old) wrong direction. Here is an analogy:

An American parent as been feeding their family hamburgers everyday for 25 years at a restaurant over the Mexican border. In the last 5 years, a doctor has discovered that the whole family will only live another 8 years if they continue to be fed in that way. The parent is now given the choice: (a) Farm vegetables out of there own garden which would mean a change in lifestyle and adding 30 more years of life to the family. Or: (b) Spend valuable time looking for a restaurant locally to buy more hamburgers, before getting serious planting the garden.

Question: Do we really think the parent will start the garden in a timely fashion (if start at all), once they find a restaurant to supply all the family’s burger needs? More likely, the parent and family will not change their lifestyle out of convenience and financial stability; and, will die in 8 years.

If America does not make a lifestyle change by harvesting healthier, renewable energy resources within her own borders, she will waste her time, life, and money looking to consume herself out of existence within her own nationhood.

God is the definer of all things...

Your actions may define who you are before others, but God knows your heart. Therefore, if you truly belong to God (John 3:3); Completeness only comes when your faith is followed by your actions (James 2:24).

Green Chemistry Initiative

A question posed in my collage class with my answer:

Has anyone heard of the Green Chemistry Initiative?

I haven’t heard of it before today; however, I know it is a step in the right direction. So much of our lives involve chemicals, and this is only one aspect of the possible danger we encounter daily. I believe that the years of exposure to numerous elements contribute to health and environmental problems. From petroleum based products, plastics, chemicals, insecticides, including all the natural things we encounter, over time will rob us of life.

Plastics and other petroleum based chemicals are most likely the cause of many reproductive problems in humans and animals; not to mention neurological development.

http://plastic-bottles.notlong.com

http://CleaningSupplies.notlong.com

http://petro-chem.notlong.com

http://HealthHarms.notlong.com

Personally, I don’t feel enough is being said in order to educate the public. Many people feel that environmentalist are radicals (or tree huggers) more concerned for animals than people. Perhaps this is true in some cases, but the fact is that we can only survive in an environment that is well managed. People worldwide should be taught the essentials about our connection to our surroundings (our environment), and not have it sound like some mystical type of religiosity (May the force be with you in our oneness).

Acid Rain

A question posed in my collage class with my answer:

Acid rain is a problem affecting many cities in the United States and other countries. What are the impacts of acid rain and what should we do to minimize its impact if any?

As we continue to spew toxins and chemicals into the air, what goes up eventually comes down. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are pumped into the air by way of fossil fuel emissions (Vehicle=Fuel and smokestack=coal), which travel miles away where precipitation brings it back to earth. Acid is a corrosive breaking down things in its path (metals, rocks, trees, plants, etc… http://epa-acid.notlong.com). It eats away at everything from buildings to life-forms. It breaks down minerals and other food sources which affect those life-forms that depend on them. Everything from birds, fish, insects, animals, and people are all affected by its destruction.

I just thought of something profound about humans that animals are smart enough not to do (in most cases); “Bite the hand that feeds them.” In essence, we are trashing the environment that supports our lives. Not too smart!

Here are things we can do to improve our world:

1. Reduce the amount of pollutants we propel into our air http://acid-rain.notlong.com

2. Create fines that are reasonable and that directly finance environmental restoration

3. Develop alternative, renewable energy sources

4. Develop better ways to trap and dispose of the toxins we generate from burning

Disposal of nuclear waste?

A question posed in my collage class and my answer:

We are just recently realizing the impacts of improper disposal of hazardous waste as well as overuse of certain insecticides on the environment as well as the ecosystem. We are now looking at how and where to begin disposal of nuclear waste. What should be considered when identifying disposal methods and/or disposal sites?

After reading chapter 12, the sound of the statement, “We are now looking at how and where to begin disposal of nuclear waste.” causes me total disgust. It is so hard to comprehend that the disposal of waste with the most toxic proportions was not set in stone before building the first nuclear power plant. This is clear insanity! Moreover, some of what the chapter expresses is that we have come a long way in precautionary measures since “Three Mile Island” http://T-M-I.notlong.com and “Chernobyl” http://cbc-nws.notlong.com; however, how can this be justified with the evidence in the Environews clip stating what Russia is continuing to do? I just have to rant and say it is appalling.

Obviously, when considering methods of disposal, the least destructive to the environment needs to be the answer (no matter what the cost). It sure would be nice to blast it off into the sun or some foreign star but that would be near imposable and too dangerous. So, apart from that idea; deep underground disposal seems the most promising (on the path to decommissioning/dismantling every plant that exists – my comment). However, it must be contained in the best possible way, to reduce radiation leakage and contamination of the environment.

One thing to consider here class is the log-term accumulation of long-term (half-life) radiant nuclear waste. The more we create, the more we have to manage over long periods of time. Are the generations that follow us (thousands of years down the road) going to be able to handle the mess we are creating for them? Do we even care? Sometimes I really don’t believe we are smarter than the animals. No animal alive or dead has left our human generation with the type of problems we are creating for the life-forms that come after us.