Oil independence now

America needs an intervention. Addiction to foreign oil intensifies national security, constricts America’s influence in the international community and threatens the prosperity of its economy and the stability of its environment.

Oil independence will encourage the private sector to move toward sustainable and less environmentally hazardous forms of energy production. By transitioning to alternative methods of transportation such as electric plug-in vehicles, America can demonstrate the economic benefits of reducing oil consumption. This country can become the leader in sustainable energy production, which will become critical as the world population increases and oil no longer continues to be a feasible method of energy production.

Oil independence will allow for the security of our economy as energy is produced in the United States, creating jobs and keeping revenue in the American economy. In 2008, the United States spent $475 billion on oil imports alone – revenue that is sent overseas. A green economy may provide jobs to approximately two million Americans while providing environmentally safe and efficient energy to millions more. Rather than continuing inefficient and environmentally harmful energy production by the use of fossil fuels, green sources can keep energy revenues in the United States, create jobs and thus bolster our economy.

While Canada and Mexico are the largest exporters of oil to the United States, Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia contribute 25 percent of U.S. oil imports. Many countries that depend upon oil as a primary export are more susceptible to political instability and violence, which threatens U.S. interests abroad.
Also, oil revenues may be used by hostile nations to develop their own military programs to use against us. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries member Iran is currently developing nuclear weapons and may have an operational nuclear missile within the next 10 years.

The Department of Defense has cited that Iran might train and finance insurgents in Iraq, providing Improvised Explosive Devices and weapons for militias who fight against Coalition forces. Iran is also rumored to fund Hezbollah and Hamas, terrorist groups that threaten political stability in the Middle East.

American oil independence will decrease Iran’s influence and provide more options in U.S. foreign policy to address national security threats. Our economy, our environment, our national security and our interests abroad can all benefit from oil independence.

The Student Foreign Policy Initiative, Student Alliance for National Security, Union Board, College Democrats and Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales invite you to take part in reducing America’s dependence upon foreign oil. The “Declaration of Oil Independence,” a project co-sponsored by 2020 Vision and the Clinton Global Initiative, is a way for young Americans to express their support for oil independence.

You can make your mark by signing the declaration on our Web site, www.oildeclaration.org. We hope to get 100,000 signatures by summer 2010, and your signatures will be presented to the 2020 Vision annual conference on energy security, where we will present the Declaration to government officials constructing energy security policy.

We will use your signature to advocate for a national energy infrastructure that protects the environment, stabilizes our economy and ensures our national security interests.