| "America has become a vassal state to OPEC. | | | | not suspend agony -- it saves agony for |
| Our military men and women are offered as a | | | | later. |
| serf army to the OPEC nations. We use | | | | |
| billions of US tax dollars and the blood of | | | | For millions of years the sun has been |
| our soldiers to preserve the power of these | | | | shining down on our planet and will do so for |
| unpopular governments. Wind power and solar | | | | many more eons. With the advances in solar |
| energy could quickly free us from OPEC's | | | | energy starting right now, every electrical |
| shackles." - Hulagu's Web | | | | need could be satisfied with solar power and |
| | | | the grid. What America needs is a federal |
| In the first quarter of 2005, the cost of a | | | | government New Deal that pours billions into |
| gallon of gas climbed to the highest price | | | | renewable energy, instead of subsidizing big |
| ever. In that same period ExxonMobil, the | | | | oil and shoring up corrupt oil producing |
| behemoth global oil company, surged forward | | | | countries. America probably will not get a |
| as the largest and most profitable | | | | deal such as this, because big oil owns too |
| corporation in the world valued at more than | | | | many of their congressmen. |
| $402 billion on Feb. 28th. The American | | | | |
| public funded this success through military | | | | The states themselves are an entirely |
| operations to secure the oil and in turn, pay | | | | different story. New Mexico just announced a |
| for the success with higher and higher prices | | | | $20 million dollar solar energy program to |
| at the pumps. | | | | retrofit government and school building with |
| | | | solar panels proving some legislative |
| While America politicians and businesses | | | | entities actually have the guts to help lead |
| clamor over the dwindling global oil | | | | America to a more energy sustainable |
| reserves, other countries are taking | | | | direction. |
| necessary actions to replace oil as their | | | | |
| principle energy source. Germany and France | | | | Wind is abundant all over the world and in |
| have both implemented successful alternative | | | | the USA it can generate ample energy, if |
| energy programs, dramatically reducing their | | | | promoted and utilized now. Advancements in |
| dependency on oil, and oil rich countries. | | | | technology will continually improve with the |
| This is perhaps one of the principle reasons | | | | right backing, politically and financially. |
| why their governments are labeled as uncaring | | | | Wind turbines are quiet and have an unending |
| towards America's political predicament with | | | | resource to produce energy for any country |
| foreign oil. While America spends billions to | | | | smart enough to use them. The state of |
| secure oil resources with their military, | | | | California and Texas have incorporated wind |
| Germany and France pour their wealth into | | | | energy into their energy programs. Other |
| expanding their alternative energy programs. | | | | states such as Massachusetts have been |
| It's a race that America is losing. | | | | stymied by Senators like Ted Kennedy, who |
| Politically, the American blight in the | | | | claims wind turbines are great but are |
| Middle East is of great advantage to | | | | unsightly and a threat to birds. |
| countries in support of renewable energy, | | | | |
| because these countries are getting a head | | | | In the book "Hulagu's Web," Senator Katherine |
| start on the global race towards the | | | | Laforge expressed that "The death of a bird a |
| technological development of more efficient | | | | day is a much more acceptable price to pay |
| renewable energy systems. Billions spent on | | | | than the life of an American soldier a day to |
| preservation of the status quo of the OPEC | | | | secure our oil from some foreign land. Man is |
| nations assures France and Germany oil for | | | | also part of the ecological system." |
| the immediate future. At the same time, the | | | | |
| money saved from opting out of participation | | | | Laforge's rebuttal in David Hearne's novel is |
| in the Coalition can be used to build many | | | | one of clarity with regards to human |
| alternative energy resources and research new | | | | responsibility for self-determination. |
| methods of securing renewable energy. | | | | |
| Well-orchestrated protests against American | | | | The oil industry and its cronies are famous |
| involvement in Iraq and other Middle East | | | | for deceptive practices and self-serving |
| countries endears Canada, France and Germany | | | | logic. |
| to the world. | | | | |
| | | | "There is no such thing as clean energy," |
| "Implementing alternative energy requires us | | | | Warburg said. "The Cape Wind project will |
| to be motivated; as we know it's much easier | | | | have some adverse environmental impacts. Some |
| to simply hook into the 'grid'." -- David | | | | birds may be killed by windmill rotors - the |
| Suzuki | | | | draft EIS predicts about one bird a day. The |
| | | | wind farm will be visible from some nearby |
| Why is America so dependent on oil and | | | | coastal areas. Some may like the way it |
| unwilling to seriously turn to alternative | | | | looks, some may not." |
| energies to gain freedom from OPEC's | | | | |
| shackles? A principle reason is the naivety | | | | The whole point of alternative energy is to |
| regarding possible options of renewable | | | | provide sustainable, clean, cost effective, |
| energy, coupled with the distorted way big | | | | and localized energy to our communities. |
| oil and their hoard of PR people compare the | | | | Communities must stand up to politicians and |
| cost of oil against the cost of other energy | | | | oil companies that want to hamper our |
| sources. The cost of a barrel of oil is used | | | | emergence from relying on foreign oil. |
| to determine its kilowatt/hour cost. That | | | | Sending jobs overseas does not solve the |
| price is stripped clean of the billions spent | | | | problem -- it puts civilians in a war-zone. |
| each year for securing the oil. The barrel | | | | The tremendous profits that ExxonMobil makes |
| price only reflects OPEC's asking price. Not | | | | with oil offers little incentive to their |
| considered in the kilowatt/hour cost is the | | | | stockholders to help steer this behemoth to a |
| tax money spent on military mobilization to | | | | more sensible energy sources. However, from |
| assure the resources of companies like | | | | deep within this 400 billion dollar company a |
| ExxonMobil reach American shores. The death | | | | small group formed Campaign ExxonMobil, a |
| of American soldiers and their overwhelming | | | | coalition of concerned shareholders. These |
| sacrifices to keep oil flowing, to power | | | | cash-smart stockholders actually are fighting |
| America, or to squander on SUV's and ATV's, | | | | within this company to make change on the |
| is never considered as a part of the oil cost | | | | issue of global warming and ExxonMobil's |
| in the corporate offices of the energy | | | | disregard for renewable energy, because they |
| titans. | | | | see a huge potential for profit if the |
| | | | company acts now. |
| Some feel adamant that alternative energy | | | | |
| will not only provide cheaper energy but | | | | Alternative energy communities will have a |
| remedy or at least diminish the primary | | | | realized advantage over oil-driven |
| reasons for ongoing global conflict. | | | | communities in the future. Oil proponents are |
| Alternative energy provides the ability to | | | | afraid of advancements in technology that |
| offer a large level of redundancy in sources | | | | could put an end to the oil hegemony, so they |
| so that countries are not dependent on the | | | | fight progress bitterly. Taxpayers, |
| natural resources of another nation. It also | | | | scientists and philanthropists will be the |
| provides a much cleaner energy, reducing the | | | | ones to compel governments to change policy |
| tremendous pollution problem of fossil fuel. | | | | and redirect our collective energies to |
| The profitability of alternative energy is an | | | | beneficial results. We have to work together, |
| investment that starts today and pays off | | | | not just as countries, but as wise |
| tomorrow. | | | | corporations and citizens. |
| | | | |
| Most alternative energy resources are much | | | | Wind turbines spin from the wind and store |
| safer to produce and use. The oil business, | | | | energy at a very impressive rate, while |
| however, has a bad history of subjecting even | | | | Thermal Depolymerization recycles bio-matter |
| their employees to dangers in the production | | | | into usable crude oil and solar power gathers |
| and transportation of the fuel. On March 23, | | | | rays from the sun. Thermal Depolymerization |
| 2005 a huge explosion erupted in an oil | | | | has hit the break-even mark and is |
| refinery in Texas wounding around 70 | | | | continually improving. |
| employees and killing 14. In the Tosco Avon | | | | |
| Refinery in Martinez, California, an | | | | OPEC and big oil is not going away without a |
| explosion in 1999 killed 4 employees. After | | | | fight. |
| an investigation that refinery was closed and | | | | |
| lawsuits are still raging over the accident. | | | | "Propped up against the base of the wind |
| Oil spills are another major hazards unique | | | | turbine was the body of Frank Payne. His |
| to the oil industry. Most are not as infamous | | | | blood soaked clothes glisten under the full |
| as the Exxon Valdez Spill, but they all are | | | | moon as blood still oozed from his slit |
| damaging and happen frequently with ships | | | | throat. A note hung from a knife stabbed into |
| breaking apart and trucks overturning. The | | | | his face. Senator Laforge was overcome with |
| results are death of people, wildlife and | | | | anger and remorse as she stared at the |
| long term environmental damage. | | | | gristly sight of her brutally murdered |
| | | | campaign manager. Why did they kill him? Has |
| How can America embrace alternative energy | | | | the big oil cartel supplemented intimidation, |
| and reduce the dependency on politically | | | | violence and political coercion now with |
| volatile foreign oil? Realize that | | | | murder to stop alternative energy programs? |
| alternative energy is now cheaper for any | | | | She reached for the note." Chapter 10 |
| country than oil. The military expense | | | | Hulagu's Web |
| involved with the procurement of oil is a | | | | |
| hidden fee, paid through taxes and with | | | | Is this vision in Hulagu's Web preposterous? |
| lives. The American working class pays the | | | | Would companies with billions at stake, |
| bulk of this burden as higher taxes than any | | | | political cronies in their pockets and the |
| other group. Education is the answer in the | | | | most powerful army in the world securing |
| US, because the reality of alternative energy | | | | their product, consider assassination an |
| is realized by the simplicity and beauty of | | | | option to stop the takeover of Alternative |
| wind power and solar energy. It is insane to | | | | energy? Let's hope not, but selling oil at |
| continue the ongoing effort, extending the | | | | exorbitant prices and refusing to address the |
| use of a fuel that is so scarce, dangerous, | | | | problem of global warming and simple |
| polluting, monopolized, and produced by | | | | pollution produced by fossil fuels leaves us |
| politically unstable entities. America's | | | | with a bit of doubt. What is the answer to |
| energy crisis can be solved quickly with | | | | the energy crisis? Is it adding more |
| alternative energy. There is no need for | | | | resources to the problem, digging a bigger |
| another soldier to die on foreign soil, | | | | hole, or is it finding a new deal, a new |
| leaving loved ones to grieve. This should be | | | | resource, ample enough for thousands of years |
| America's focus, not finding more oil fields | | | | of technological advancement? |
| or even destroying the Alaskan wildlife | | | | |
| reserve just to squeeze a few more barrels | | | | "The answer, my friend, is blowing in the |
| out of the ground, to face the same problem | | | | wind... |
| in a few more years. Prolonging agony does | | | | |