The One Where I Get All Aggro and Lecture Everyone

I watched this show last night on the Science channel called What If: The Oil Runs Out? I was dead tired and could easily have closed my eyes and fallen asleep but this program had my full attention.

It’s basically a combination of dramatization and documentary illustrating what changes we will experience in America as oil reserves begin to dwindle.

At our current rate of consumption, this could happen as early as 2012. That’s only four years from now. I should clarify that I wasn’t clear on whether this covered only middle eastern oil or ALLoil reserves. In any case, whenever it finally does ALL run out and it WILL, the implications are frightening.

People will begin to function in survival mode and it literally will become, in my estimation, each man for himself, so to speak.

Think about what the world will be like when we can’t move goods around the country via planes and trucks.

Think about how many people will lose their jobs because their company or vocation depends on petroleum in some way, shape or form.

Think about the food shortages as factories begin to shut down because of power rationing and because available food can no longer be distributed.

Think about medication shortages because those can no longer be distributed, either.

I could go on and on but it’s not necessary. The fact is, every aspect of our lives is going to change. Well, unless you’re Amish and have never depended on modern conveniences and even then, you would still have to contend with some degree of climate change.

I know some people will say this scenario is way over the top and that we will just drill for oil in places we currently do not (thanks to those wacky environmentalist types like myself) but hello? Someday THAT will run out, too. We need to accept this as reality.

President George Bush has. His home in Crawford, Texas is completely off the grid. That means his home is completely power and clean water independent from any utilities and of course, from oil. How much do you want to bet he has a basement loaded to the ceiling with food, medical supplies and other necessities?

So what I’m wondering is WHY aren’t we, as a nation, demanding change right now?

Why are we not demanding major tax credits to offset the costs of adopting alternative forms of energy in our homes and workplaces?

Why are we accepting the very weak environmental stances of all the current presidential candidates. I mean it’s great that at least some of them (*cough*Democrats*cough*) are considering these issues but the standards and goals they are supporting are so weak and will, without a doubt, be too little, too late.

I mean 40 mpg cars by 2020? Are you f*cking kidding me? We need 50 mpg within two years, IMO. And I am not so naive as to think there isn’t some industry influence going on there and perhaps some fear of upsetting the economy but come on! We don’t have time for politics here. We don’t have time for lobbyists to weaken these proposed standards even further. Honestly, how do those people even sleep at night?

And then there’s Mitt Romney, who proposes to not do a damned thing about carbon emissions until China and India do. I have a newsflash for you, asswipe — we’re already the only country in the world that has not signed the Kyoto Treaty. And furthermore, what kind of an idiot puts the fate of his country in the hands of China and India anyway? The shortsightedness of these people is maddening.

It’s time we got our heads out of our collective asses and started demanding the change we want from our leaders and working for change in our everyday lives. Even if it’s just baby steps of change each day, we can do it. And we have to — our future really does depend on it.

So what can we do?

Well, we can do practical things like carpool instead of driving alone. I know…carpooling is so quaint, so 1970’s, but if everyone did it, the impact would be huge.

We can also do things like refuse plastic bags at the store and bring our own when we shop. Those plastic bags NEVER degrade and tons of petroleum is used to manufacture them.

We can eat one less meat-based meal a week. Again, if everyone did this, the results would be staggering because meat production is extremely harsh on the environment and uses up massive amounts of water.

We can also do things like call our representatives and ask them to support pro-environmental legislation, pro-alternative energy legislation and anything else that results in less carbon, less oil usage and less plastic crap being manufactured.

We can teach our children that recycling is NOT optional. We can teach them about conserving resources and curbing wasteful or unnecessary consumption. We can set a good example by not littering, not buying disposable things and teaching them to discern between wants and needs.

We can work to elect representatives who support earth-friendly policies instead of representatives who live in a dream world and think we can keep going the way we are with no consequences.

This is just a short list of ideas. There are fabulous sites all over the internet that will tell you how to make small, painless changes that can actually make a difference if enough people work at it.

WE CAN DO THIS.

*high fives the internet*

/end lecture

•••

This month Green Mom Finds and the League of Maternal Justice will be giving away really cool stuff, including some super cool reusable bags in support of the BlogHers Act Canada Eco Moms Challenge. The challenge? Eliminate plastic bags, of course!