'Black gold' bad investment

The potential U.S. offensive in Iraq is yet another painful reminder that we should decrease our dependency on oil. \nWar against Iraq in order to stave off likely devastating biological or chemical warfare may be justified, but preparing for the economic aspects of such military action is also a necessary consideration.\nAmy Myers Jaffe, senior energy advisor and project coordinator for energy research at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, Houston, said the U.S. will face a tough challenge if it expects to easily get oil from somewhere besides Iraq. Jaffe said, "Even if you just look at the percentage of oil that comes from countries that the U.S. State Department calls 'countries of concern,' you're talking about . . . 10 percent of the market." As far as finding oil in other places, Jaffe adds that both Africa and China will soon become important oil sources for the U.S. and Europe (Oil and Gas Journal Exchange, 9/27/02). \nMeanwhile, if we do import oil from other countries, we must soon get serious about alternative energy sources also. Oil supplies have a short future. In his printed research findings titled, "Sustainable Transport: Principles and Practice (2000)," IU professor of geography William R. Black said, "Assuming there is no growth in the rate of consumption, and the reserves don't increase, the world will deplete its oil reserves in…the year 2036." \nConservation and renewable energy are our best bets for avoiding some of the problems ahead. But where are we to get renewable energy? There is little market incentive for private enterprise to research and develop alternative energy sources. Right now, oil is cheap and plentiful. If private enterprise waits until a market crash before it looks into energy alternatives -- our economy will suffer. \nTo combat this, President Bush's administration has introduced a "Freedom Car" effort which the Energy Department says will lead to "increased research in hydrogen technology to diversify and enhance America's energy security," (Environmental News Network, 1/10/02). Bush is warranted in investing U.S. dollars in alternative energy exploration. If we don't decrease our dependency on oil in the next decade or two, the U.S. can expect to experience energy shortages worse than in the Carter years. \nThere are some private corporations out there, though, that already master fuel cell technology. For example, Daimler Chrysler's Natrium fuel-cell minivan uses soap for power. Eric Evarts, a special correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor, said this vehicle will solve a number of typical energy problems and will become a viable alternative vehicle. \nThere will still be obstacles that alternative energy has yet to jump over. Jan Lundberg of the Sustainable Energy Institute, who holds a pessimistic view of alternative energy, pointed out to www.culturechange.org, that, "One does not get chemicals for agriculture out of solar panels, or asphalt-oil out of windmills, or tires (synthetic rubber) out of fuel cells." In other words, we will still need oil for manufacturing purposes, even if we use the known alternative sources available to us.\nIt seems, then, that there is not an easy solution at our fingertips. For starters, though, we can adopt conservation techniques such as repressing our desire for excessive packaging and using recyclable bags with every purchase instead of plastic ones. For more ideas on adjusting your way of living, visit www.culturechange.org. Let's make changes now before it hurts.