The Global Oil Crisis
January 16, 2009
Global Oil Crisis – Word Count: 1,823
Global Oil Crisis:
The depleting oil supply and the need for alternatives
Oil is the single most important energy source that drives our economy and makes civilized life as we know it today possible. It is so vital to our life that if the earth’s oil supply were to run out within the next 20 years, it would completely cripple the United States and its economy. We use oil and other fossil fuels for transportation (of goods, food and people), fertilizer, heating, cooling, to create plastics, to run the machines necessary for the production of almost any product that you can think of, such as: lighting, planes, construction equipment, automobiles, concrete, appliances, and almost anything that you use today. This vital piece of our life is found hundreds of feet below the Earth’s surface and is extracted for consumption every minute, but its supply is running out and quicker than many people might think. Our nation’s dependency on oil is not just an issue because of the crisis that will be caused when it runs out, but our national security depends now and in the future on it. Of course, if steps are taken immediately a total economic collapse might be avoided that is otherwise bound to happen when the oil supply dwindles to the point where extraction is no longer able to keep up with the demand. But these plans need to be in progress today, and some experts say that we are not preparing fast enough.
Oil has an abundant amount of uses and applications. The most obvious use of oil is for transportation. Oil is used to make gasoline and lubricant for cars and buses and it is the driving energy source for the world’s transportation system. The United States is the world’s leader in vehicle ownership and use (Povey). Passenger vehicles (not including vehicles used for transportation of goods, or for commercial/industrial use) in the United States alone consume 8.2 million barrels of oil per
Global Oil Crisis – Word Count: 1,823
Global Oil Crisis:
The depleting oil supply and the need for alternatives
Oil is the single most important energy source that drives our economy and makes civilized life as we know it today possible. It is so vital to our life that if the earth’s oil supply were to run out within the next 20 years, it would completely cripple the United States and its economy. We use oil and other fossil fuels for transportation (of goods, food and people), fertilizer, heating, cooling, to create plastics, to run the machines necessary for the production of almost any product that you can think of, such as: lighting, planes, construction equipment, automobiles, concrete, appliances, and almost anything that you use today. This vital piece of our life is found hundreds of feet below the Earth’s surface and is extracted for consumption every minute, but its supply is running out and quicker than many people might think. Our nation’s dependency on oil is not just an issue because of the crisis that will be caused when it runs out, but our national security depends now and in the future on it. Of course, if steps are taken immediately a total economic collapse might be avoided that is otherwise bound to happen when the oil supply dwindles to the point where extraction is no longer able to keep up with the demand. But these plans need to be in progress today, and some experts say that we are not preparing fast enough.
Oil has an abundant amount of uses and applications. The most obvious use of oil is for transportation. Oil is used to make gasoline and lubricant for cars and buses and it is the driving energy source for the world’s transportation system. The United States is the world’s leader in vehicle ownership and use (Povey). Passenger vehicles (not including vehicles used for transportation of goods, or for commercial/industrial use) in the United States alone consume 8.2 million barrels of oil per
Cited: Alternative Energy Sources. Thomas Gale, 2006 “Alternative Fuel Vehicles”, Consumer Energy Center Security Consequences of Oil Dependency. 14 May, 2007. 2 Nov, 2008. Povey, Karen D. Energy Alternatives. Thomas Gale, 2007. Scire, John Dr. “Oil Dependency National Security.” Navada Appeal. 2 Oct, 2008. 4 Nov, 2008