Green Options

In 1995, environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed by the Nigerian military government, along with eight other Ogoni activists, for protesting against the devastation of the Niger Delta by oil companies, particularly Royal Dutch Shell. If Shell is convicted, the case will provide precedence for holding transnational companies owned or operated in the United States responsible for human rights atrocities committed overseas.

With $62.2 billion of the latest Economic Stumulus Package slated for environmental initiatives the days of the Big Oil and Big Coal “Fat Cats” are numbered…

“Drill, baby, drill” is not an energy policy, and it will never make us energy independent. US oil production peaked in 1970 at more than 11 million barrels a day, ironically just three years before the oil crisis.

If you live in Alaska for one year, you can expect a check. Thanks to Sarah Palin, this year’s check will be increased by $1200. Each resident receives $3,200; that’s $22,400 for Palin’s family of seven. How did she do it?

For the second quarter of 2008, Exxon Mobil reported a record-breaking profit of $11.68 billion, the largest quarterly profit in U.S. history! That is $1,485.55 a second!

Via: CNN Money

Image:  Greenpeace

Big Oil and some politicians are constantly clamoring to open up more regions for oil exploration, but why?  Look at all the land they are already leasing or have been offered for leasing!

Image and Via: Sierra Club

Senator Obama’s response to the dire economic outlook is an “Emergency Economic Plan” that would take from rich oil companies experiencing record profits and give back to the American people in the form of stimulus checks, as well as invest $50 billion in states and infrastructure.

Big oil has been spending big money in Washington, but it may surprise you that gas and oil companies spend more money on corporate lobbying than individual campaign contributions. Why chose lobbying over campaign contributions? Lobbying is more effective at crushing energy bills, as we have seen this year.

When you spend two terms refuting facts from the world’s top scientists and environmentalists and allow the oil industry to call all the shots in regards to the nation’s energy plan you end up with horrible solutions to huge problems…

Step Right Up And Be Amazed

It struck me today that our fearless leaders, would-be’s, and corporate giants seem to think we’re all a bunch of rubes gathered outside a carnival sideshow, leaning on the barker’s every word.

Urging Congress to lift its ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, our fearless leader, you know, President Bush, told lawmakers, “There is no excuse for delay“.

It got worse, “Families across the country are looking to Washington for a response.”  Gimme a break.

A few thoughts and a cartoon popped into my head last week while reading an article in Grist on oil companies having to clean up contaminated groundwater. The article stated that

“Some of the nation’s largest oil companies will over the next 30 years have to pay to clean up groundwater befouled with gasoline additive MTBE. In settling a suit brought by 153 public water providers in 17 states, a dozen companies — including BP, Shell, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron — will also have to pay a total $423 million cash.”

Thought #1: Finally!
Thought #2: 30 years! How about 3? And how about shipping clean water to homes in the affected areas in the mean time?
The article goes on to state that the estimated cost of the cleanup is $30 billion…
Thought #3: Why $423 million then?! I’m taking that same logic with me next time I fill up my car. “What, the cost is $4 a gallon? I’ll pay $1.50.”
It also mentioned that Exxon Mobile (among others) did not agree to settle…
Cartoon #1: Big Oil’s Mess? It MTBE, It Could Be, It Is!
And,
Thought #4: How can 17 states worth of contaminated groundwater even be cleaned up?
That’s when discovered that a few University of Aberdeen researchers have found that a whiskey bi-product may just do the trick.