Controversy Surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline To build or not to build, this choice will impact the relationship between the US and Canada and determine the level of dependence the US will have on countries that are not so friendly. “TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL Pipeline would transport oil sands crude from Canada and shale oil produced in North Dakota and Montana to a market hub in Nebraska for delivery to Gulf Coast refineries. The pipeline would consist of 875 miles of 36-inch pipe with the capacity to transport 830,000 barrels per day” (Parfomak, Pirog, Luther and Vann 4). The construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline would strengthen the United States economy, provide energy security and have minimal environmental impact. “The Keystone XL project would create $1.1 trillion in private capital investment at no
Bill McKibben is considered to be America’s first environmentalist activist. His project 350.org works to spread awareness of climate change around the world. Without his push to end projects such as the Keystone Pipeline, the planet would quickly reach the uninhabitable state he fears. While it’s too late to reverse the damages already done, he encourages everyone to do their part to keep the world from getting any worse. His efforts, along with activists around the world, have successfully divested $2.6 trillion in oil drilling funds, and while the few oil companies are still hanging on by a thread with support from large private businesses or people like the Koch family, clean sources of energy are becoming increasingly popular in the
Wilder’s essay introduces every possible issue that can arise from Keystone XL pipeline, but my focus is towards climate change. She argues that the construction and refining the dirty oil will increases climates change effect. Why should Americans shoot an arrow that will be a harm to them? We risk reaching higher atmospheric temperature, serious droughts, and floods due to the changing climate. That is not the only way climate change will affect communities, but it will also have an impact on oil spills near communities.
The energy crisis began after OPEC seized oil production because of the, “anger at the United States for aiding Israel.” (Farber, 22) This caused a mass panic amongst Americans and resulted in long waits to get gas and constant fuel outages. Carter was extremely adamant that Americans reduce their consumption of fuel in order to reduce the extent of the energy crisis, at one point suggesting putting heavy penalizing taxes on non-fuel efficient vehicles. Political journalist Nicholas Lemann recalled, “[The energy crisis was] the automotive equivalent to the Depression’s bank runs.”
As Foster (2006) analyzed, on account that the transitional government were not entitled to sign any long term oil contracts, the US government had to strengthen its geopolitical influence in the region. Expectedly, the US’ privatization of the Iraqi oil enterprises after a year denotes the promulgation of neoliberal economic model in Iraq, which guarantees the US’ economic benefit acquired from the oil trade (Foster, 2006). Seeing that the war in Iraq and the privatization of Iraqi oil corporates occurred chronologically, one cannot help but wonder if the US plotted to disguise its bona fide, yet unscrupulous, conspiracy by waging its war on terrorism in the Middle East. As priorly mentioned, detailing the military to maneuver the other country for economic benefits is one of the perquisites to imperialist regime.
In 1972, domestic oil production peaked and began its inexorable, irreversible decline, The year before, the perrogative of setting
Pollan explains this situation in the quote, “ What 's involved in absorbing all this excess biomass goes a long way toward explaining several seemingly unconnected phenomena, from the rise of factory farms and the industrialization of our food, to the epidemic of obesity and prevalence of food poisoning in America…”, portrays the waste of vital resources being inputted into a larger issue. Because most people in America are unaware of these problems being directly correlated from the waste of oils and assets, we become blind to how it will affect us as a whole. However, Eisenhower expressed his concern with our excessive use of resources when he stated, “ As we peer into society’s future, we-- you andI, and our government-- must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for our own ease and convenience the precious resources of tomorrow.” Truly, we need to find a solution to this epidemic so our resources of today do not become a history of
Charles R. Morris uses logos throughout Comeback in order to convey that America has four key parts that fueled the oil boom alongside the American economy to grow faster and safer than ever before; however, many people feared a steady decline was coming. These fears were driven because of what happened throughout the 1980’s when America lost control of oil prices in 1979. Charles R. Morris writes “But there is now a very different and much more compelling growth narrative. It has four main elements: the energy bonanza; the resurgence of manufacturing; an infrastructure build; and a vibrant healthcare industry” (Morris 145-146). These four aspects of America’s growth contributed to the expansion of the oil industry despite the narrative of
The state government's approach on Australia’s energy policy has provoked much debate in recent media. The Australian opinion piece, titled ‘Energy policy has become a racket and the madness must stop’ (November 7, 2016) was written by an Australian economist, Judith Sloan, in response to this debate. Sloan presents a mocking and skeptical tone where she argues that ‘it’s time for the federal government to intervene to stop this madness’. She attacks the Australian state governments by portraying its management techniques which are contrary to her ideals as foolish, uncaring and deceitful. This creates distrust of this section of the government in the audience and further supports her view by using evidence and appeals to hip pocket nerve to gain approval of ‘the Australian taxpayer’.
If people do not know where their energy is coming from, they may encounter questions about its source. As Leopold says, “If one has cut, split, hauled, and piled his own good oak, and let his mind work the while, he will remember much about where the heat comes from.” If people prepare their own sources of energy, there is no question whether it was acquired in a way that matches their values (Leopold 7). With so many companies using unethical and environmentally destructive methods to prepare food and other needed goods, people can find it difficult to trust
The United States in the early 1930s saw nearly ninety percent of its urban population with access to electricity, which allowed them more efficient uses of machines like electric stoves, coffee makers, waffle irons, hot plates, electric roasters, and Waring Blenders. At that time, it was financially difficult for private companies to supply urban areas with electricity for numerous reasons, primarily because farmers were often too poor, too widespread, and too few to actually produce a real profit from. Still, rural life without electricity was hard. Farmers had to rely on dim kerosene lanterns just to do their work, the absence of electricity in opposition to cities aided in their isolation, and the general standard of living was dangerously
In the weeks following 9/11, George Bush made a series of encapsulating speeches directed towards U.S. officials as well as the American people. In these speeches, he makes several bold assertions. In addition to declaring a “war on terrorism” he proclaims the U.S. to be an international protector of freedom. This, as well as his declaration of terrorism as a tangible threat transforms the events of 9/11 into a war on terror. The way in which he constructs these speeches sets the stage for a war that will captivate the world for the foreseeable future.
Have you ever wondered what our children, and grandchildren’s lives will be like? We Screwed Up; A Letter of Apology to my Granddaughter (Ward, 2012) is a letter written by Chip Ward to his four year old granddaughter and her possible unborn siblings. He speaks clearly about the devastation that past generations have caused to the planet we all call home, although he fails to provide any evidence concerning what he claims, as well as majorly lacks appreciation for the organizations already working towards a better tomorrow. Chip Ward begins his letter with an apology to his granddaughter and her siblings for using up all of the oil. He claims that, “We are all gas-hogs, plain and simple” (Ward, 2012), in regards to his generation and those
Petroleum is a natural resource abundant in Middle Eastern countries which became imperative to the U.S. and England. England and the British Petroleum (BP) had control over the oil fields in Iran and did not distribute the benefits among the people. In 1940s, popular politician, Mosaddegh led a strike in favor of the poor Iranians. In 1951, Mosaddegh was appointed as Prime Minister of Iran and attempted to nationalize the oil fields. In 1953, the British and U.S. spy agencies released Operation Ajax on the Iranian government.
For the citizens, “fracking will give them jobs so they can make money and support their families” (Rogowsky). Furthermore, with the addition of fracking “the United States can get about 1.8 trillion barrels of shale (“sedimentary rocks that have rich sources of petroleum and natural gas” (Rogowsky)) a year compared to Saudi
