America’s Dysfunctional Relationship with Fossil Fuels

By JP Leous

I was recently a guest on the Progressive Radio Network’s Dr. Molly Barrow Show to talk about climate change, the oil disaster in the gulf, and other environmental issues. I’ll be the first to admit that this seemed like a stretch but Dr. Barrow, like many people, was curious about climate policy and what the prospects are for Congress acting to help fix our abusive relationship with coal and oil.

Being on Dr. Barrow’s show was more like a normal conversation than the sparring and “gotcha” questions that you hear on other shows. We discussed at length two of the most important issues arising out of the BP oil spill disaster: America’s energy future and the role citizens must play if we have any hope of changing course.

Make no mistake – if Big Oil has its way, the day after the gusher at the bottom of the Gulf is fixed they’ll go right back to keeping us in our dangerous relationship with oil.

Fortunately, the President has his eye on this prize—and is pushing the Senate to do its part by passing a strong, comprehensive clean energy and climate bill this year. He’ll be sitting down with Senate leaders next week to map out a strategy for the bill.

In the mean time, take a listen to Dr. Barrow’s show and check out www.wilderness.org for ways that you can help end our abusive relationship with fossil fuels.

Read more: global warming

Department of Energy

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Beng Kiat L.

9:08PM PDT on Jul 22, 2010

thanks

July 22
send a green star

jeanie j.

10:14AM PDT on Jul 13, 2010

Thank you very much for this. Just the article title is unfortunately good to read because it is honest. To address this, like any addiction, we must be able to see what is happening to us because of our illness.

July 13
send a green star

Amina T.

7:37AM PDT on Jul 13, 2010

noted

Linda M.

1:20PM PDT on Jul 7, 2010

July 7
send a green star

Ann H.

10:54PM PDT on Jul 1, 2010

THIS NEEDS to STOP. Read my solution at RosezellasWay.com/blog big oil, big problems. We CAN solve this- We didn't FLY the first time we tried either, but that didn't stop the Wright brothers!

July 1
send a green star

Glenn A.

2:00PM PDT on Jul 1, 2010

I still think Hemp can help save the world...everything else aside..it grows very easily..(It IS after all..a weed)..and in the right areas, can actually give two mature crops a year, ..and the 300 gallons of hemp-oil PER ACRE, is an oil that is pretty well "Ready-to-use" bio-deisel..and it can be used in making of plastic too..the other uses for Hemp are, in my mind, a bonus..we could all still drive cars, fuel homes etc..using Hemp oil everywhere we use "Dirty-oil" ..(And use it for food!)..And if it spills...it is 100% natural and bio-degradable...And for those who conjure up the need for expensive lights and irrigation etc...c'mon up thru the Fraser-canyon and into B.C.'s desert..there ain't no irrigation in the open desert..but there is all kinds of the stuff just-a-growin' wild up here..just from folks tossing seeds out the windows...TOSS seeds..walk away and ignore...can't get much cheaper than that!!!

Lois K.

3:39PM PDT on Jun 29, 2010

We have an abusive relationship with the EARTH, not just with oil. Our demand for coal, lumber, water, gold, silver, and a host of other natural "commodities" is proving to be our downfall. We cannot plunder the Earth forever, always taking and never giving, and expect there to be no repercussions. The human race is reaping what it has spent thousands of years sowing.