Freedom From Oil
Welcome Declarers! Thanks for taking part in this effort to bring an oil free future to America! An important part of this will be the discussion around how we can continue convincing American automakers, like Ford, to building more fuel efficient vehicles. We here at RAN think that you, the American public, are the only force behind this movment to change our energy practices. For hundreds of years citizens have been the impetus behind social and environmental change. Whether it was Shay’s Rebellion in 1786 where American farmers revolted against the mercantile elite of Boston, or the students of Tianamen Square in 1989, citizens have always had the power to change their world. So how can we guarantee that we, the citizens, be the force behind this effort? How can we move our culture away from an oil economy?
Stay tuned for more on this in the coming days and thanks again for being a voice for change!
18 Responses to “Freedom From Oil”
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June 16th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
While I appreciate RAN’s efforts to reduce America’s dependence on (mostly) foreign oil, I think RAN’s efforts would be more effective if they were directed at reducing our dependence on motor vehicles themselves. I believe that if every car in America were emission-free, the greatest challenge facing our cities would still be automobile dependence.
The environmental impacts associated with traditional internal combustion engines are certainly worthy of concern. But they are only one (and a very small one in my opinion!) part of the environmental, public health, and social devastation that America’s automobile culture has become responsible for.
Parking is the lowest possible form of urban land use, yet it eats up huge amounts of urban space that could otherwise support housing, open space, or any number of commercial uses. Parking requirements built into our cities’ zoning codes prevent innovative development from occurring. Sadly, in the Bay Area, which prides itself on being environmentally-conscious, 70% of commuters drive to work alone. At the national level nearly 90% of all person-miles occur via trips made in cars.
Children are increasingly isolated in cars as they are chauffeured from place to place by their parents – they miss out on a myriad of opportunities to get to know their communities and to learn to interact with other humans.
Motor vehicles account for nearly 50,000 fatalities and 4 million injuries nationwide each year!
Driving costs well over 50% per mile…
Obesity rates are rising, activity levels are falling…
I could go on and on. My point is: oil dependence is the result, rather than the root of the problem. The root of the problem is our convenience-oriented society in which Americans choose to drive everywhere.
June 16th, 2005 at 9:24 pm
Dustin,
I couldn’t agree with you more. I often arrive at similar conclusions that the root of the problems we face are grounded in our society and daily routines.
Although, I do think that the culture of the car is more a piece of our heritage and American routine rather than just a convenience-oriented society. For instance, I don’t think that all people who drive to work in SF think its a better convenience to sit in traffic for an hour or two everything morning than on the bus. For me the real issue is also how we design our cities and living spaces. I think that this has been a huge failure for American cities, especially Atlanta, and will force many to perform dramatic changes in their residential, commerical, open space and transportation structures.
That being said, I do agree that the problems we face environmentally are mainly tied to the American lifestyle that is centered around the selfish consumer slogan, “the customer is always right,” which removes any responsibility from the customer altogether and gives a business carte blanche to please their patrons with whatever they can to keep their business rolling.
I also know that bringing about vast changes in society does take time. As much as i would like to change things overnight, it seems the rest of the world moves at a different pace.
June 16th, 2005 at 9:58 pm
An Idea Whose Time Has Come?
Everything you say is true, Dustin. What I think we need to do is to convince the American masses that more limited use of automobiles, and flying for frivolous purposes, is in not only in all of our best interests, but it is also in each of our own personal best interest as well. To convince the American masses to accept that, our government needs provide the needed incentives to people (not just to business interests), to get away from auto and flying dependence. We need to tell our government that this is what we want them to do. Establish programs that offer all Americans public “monetary rebates” provided they can demonstrate they drove (or flew) significantly fewer miles during the year than the average American drives (or flys) today.
After a year, if they can prove (with odometer mileage reading on their vehicles and FAA record keeping, or whatever), than they would be eligible for a FINANCIAL REBATE from the government, paid with money from the transportation fund – the same fund that is used to build newer and more highways and that is funded by federal and state fuel taxes at the pump.
The money obtained this way could be used to supplement the incomes of the poor, disabled and elderly; it could also be used by middle income families trying to make ends meet, or for holiday gifts, donations, education or savings.
This would also reduce the need for parking and other ugly pavement, such as driveways and multiple lane highways, which end up destroying many of the very resources that are necessary to sustain a sane and heathy society.
It is a fact that paved surfaces currently takes up well over half the land surface of most major metropolitan areas. This adds significantly to the heat wave island effect in summer in most U.S. metropolitan areas, which is then made worse by too much fuel burning in automobiles, trucks, airports, and other forms of fossil fuel combustion, causing ozone pollution, unhealthy levels of fine soot in the air, which are both linked to increasing asthma, heat attack, stroke and cancer in the population, as found in numerous scientific studies published in leading health journals.
This kind of living (overdependence on cars), when multiplied by the hundreds of millions of people living in the U.S. today (and many more to come), is simply unsustainable. People ought be provided truthful information upon which to base their decisions in a democratic society such as we once had in the U.S. but no longer have. So as a result, most Americans remain in an unconscious state of denial about what is perhaps the greatest infliction of harm to them and their families of the modern era.
We should not allow our governing officials (in particular, those who we elected into office) to get away with helping to promote (or not stop) this kind of propaganda over the mass media airwaves any longer. It is terribly unhealthy for our country, and especially for those of us who are still interested in pursuing life, freedom (from suffering) and the pursuit happiness for ourselves, our friends, our family members and other members of our community, both now and into the future.
June 17th, 2005 at 1:12 pm
Carmakers are crushing their own zero emission highway-capable battery electric vehicles (BEVs) now. GM’s EV1 BEV, never offered for sale, is now gone from private lessees’ driveways. Hundreds have been trucked to Mesa, AZ to be crushed; two people were arrested trying to stop GM from destroying cars that people are willing to buy. Only a few Honda EV Plus BEVs remain in private hands. Toyota is refusing to sell its RAV4 EVs to their lessees. Ford only agreed to let lessees buy their Ranger EVs after weeks of public picketing at their dealerships. Nissan never even leased its lithium-battery Altra to individuals.
None of these BEVs were promoted as all other new models are. Only five thousand were built by six major automakers; only a few hundred of one of eight models, the RAV4 EV, were ever offered for sale; they sold out at premium prices in a quarter of the time Toyota envisaged.
Zero emission cars.
Energy independence; these vehicles use no oil.
Carmakers say that there was no demand for BEVs, when they built too few, failed to promote them and stopped production as soon as they’d sued their way out of California’s requirements to produce BEVs.
Thanks, RAN, for the help with the EV1 Vigil. We lost that battle but will surely win the war against greedy Oilies, lying automakers and dealerships who stand to lose 90% of their auto-service revenue.
June 18th, 2005 at 3:06 pm
Hi, Im biologist from Portugal. I appreciate that You prestigious organization make a new effort to inform and spread in many ways that our arrogants leadres must STOP OIL AND PROMTE CLEAN AIR,CLEAN SKIES, CLEAN WATER NOW!!
Best wishes
June 21st, 2005 at 9:12 pm
As we learned last summer, one day of carpooling and finding other means of transportation did nothing to get gas companies attention.
However, when people curtailed their driving for one week. The Oil Companies got the message. Instead of gasoline prices going over $3.00 a gallon….the went below $2.00 a gallon!
Why don’t we really get their attention and call for a Month-Long Boycott of Gasoline…….Prices COULD go to a dollar or less per gallon!
Any way you could organize that Month-Long Gasoline Boycott?
Your’s Truly,
Fred
June 22nd, 2005 at 12:06 am
Instead of being fractured groups heading in the same direction why not join up with the Energy Independence Day Campaign (www.EnergyIndependenceDay.org and nativewind.org), which already has momentum and some municipal government support; add your 949 names to our Declaration of Energy Independence.
Environmentally yours,
Billy Connelly
June 22nd, 2005 at 12:27 pm
Fred,
That sounds like a good idea. I don’t think RAN could organize it right now BUT we would def think about jumping on board in support if someone like yourself pulls it together. It doesn’t need to be big either. TO make an impact all you need to do is choose one town, one city or even county (heck pick one gas station) and start from there. Granted, its always nice to have some hardworking, like-minded buddies around to help you out. Keep us posted on this and we’ll see where it can go. Obviously, loads of targets out there as far as who to start boycotting first.
June 26th, 2005 at 4:07 pm
I believe it was at the last Posttcarbon.org meeting I went to in Santa Cruz where Ron Swenson explained in his talk that the technology of solar electric panels has vastly improved in the last few years. It used to be that your typical silicon solar cell with aluminum frame solar-electric panel would take 8 years to produce the same amount of energy in the form of electricity as was required to create it in the first place. This would not bode well for us if we were suddenly faced with no more oil but wanted to convert to solar power. Today, however, the situation has changed. The latest solar panels now require as little as 120 days to generate the same amount of energy as was required to create them. This does not include such incidental items such as batteries and inverters, but it is a vast improvement over the older technology. There would still be a big bump in the economic road if we ran out of oil before converting to solar. But at least now it would not be impossible to overcome this barrier.
June 27th, 2005 at 4:38 am
It’s time to ration oil. Conservatives agree that dependence on oil is a problem for national security. Liberals agree that dependence on oil is bad for the environment. This is something we all agree on.
Since we are unable to reduce our consumption voluntarily it looks like legislation is necessary. What was it that Sen. Rick Santorum said about when people couldn’t control their desires? Oil is the opiate of the people. This addiction needs to be legislated.
Gas was rationed during WWII. It is possible.
June 27th, 2005 at 10:36 am
Guys, I hear a lot of ideas but for the most part ZE vehicles aren’t practical as of yet. They are being worked at but there really is no incentive from a car makers point of view. Everyone talks about liberals this and conservatives that. but in the end I sure don’t see Congress and the House of Reps pushing for a better solution. And if the EPA didn’t take the backwards approach we’d be better off too. The let car makers build the engines they want but put all these gadgets on them the help clean the air. Where’s the method to this madness? More efficient technology in lue of ZE is possible but the hand has to be forced. But it’s the whole political ball game and the clowns we keep putting back in office that won’t change anything. Attempts to raise baseline MPG ratings are always met with force.
Just playing devils advocate. I think everyone is trying to kick the wrong a**.
Johnny
June 27th, 2005 at 5:41 pm
I appreciate the comments that others have made, but solutions are not the same for all of us. I was really impressed with the fourth posting (Hugh Webber) because I’m not in a position to use public transportation or walk. I live in the boonies. My neighbors and I are the people who put food on Americas table. I can’t boycott oil. What I need is transportation that doesn’t add to the polution problems, trade deficets, money in the pockets of dictators (or Dick Cheney, George Bush, Kenneth Lay & the likes), or contribute to global warming. Here in Oklahoma, we are increasing our electrical generating capacity in the form of wind energy. Our back up is from relatively clean burning natural gas power plants. I want a car that will take me where I need to go in the local area on electrical power. The kind that the auto makers don’t want to produce and are currently crushing.
June 28th, 2005 at 6:33 am
Whatever happened to the turbine engine that ran at Indy in the 1964 500? My understanding is that it could be fueled by grain alcohol and had very few if any toxic emissions. Where has this technology gone? I really would like to know. Is this another place we could look for a possible even partial solution to our oil addiction?
Internal combustion engines can also be re-fitted to operate on ETOH from what I understand. I would rater pay our farmers for their corn than the middle eastern countries for their oil even if it initially cost me more in the refining process. I believe that somewhere along the line after using and working with a process American innovation would make the process more cost effective and efficient. If I am mistaken can someone please set me straight. Thank you.
Greg
June 28th, 2005 at 11:33 am
Greg,
Great point! Funny you should mention that. Check out this article I just saw a few days back on using ethanol in Indy Car engines. Why might this be big? Traditionally, the Indy Car circuit has led the way on automobile techonology and this latest endeavor is nothing short of “wow.”
http://ilikeracing.com/2005/03/ethanol_fuels_i.html
June 29th, 2005 at 7:56 am
Japhet,
Thanks for the artical, about Indy cars using new fuel technology come 2006. Who knows with proper media coverage to get the message out more people will become aware of the alternatives available to gasoline. I believe thare are some people that are not aware of many of the existing alternatives aside from solar, electrical, or hybrid vehicles.
I was impressed with the Flextek engine technology, being able to convert an existing vehicle instead of having to buy a new one doesn’t put us at the mercy of the car manufactures . This gizmo may not work in all climates but in warm wheather areas at first sight it would seem to be ok if fuel was available. I’ll have to ask my mechanic’s opinion. Once again, thanks.
Greg
July 2nd, 2005 at 10:44 pm
The solutions are already here unfortunately our eyes are covered. Since the 30’s people have had many devices bought up by the oil companies and shelved. Fuel cell technology is not the solution, as only the rich could afford the hydogren powered cars. We need to convert existing cars to run on water as a Filipino has being doing so for 30 years, or compressed air or any other non poluting methods. So as the cars in India, China and other poor countries can easily be fixed too. This requires people power, and mass conversion which can be done simply overnight to shake the oil companies and car manufactures. So get your spanner out !
July 6th, 2005 at 9:23 am
So I guess the bigger question in all of this is how we mobilize business and coporations to get behind what people actually want. I often compare this all to the Kennedy promise of putting a man on the moon within the decade (which we did in 8 years I believe). Granted there were strands of national security tied to the project (beat the Russians to the moon to prove our technological superiority) but most of the impetus for this dedication also came with getting the smartest people into a room and not letting them out until they had a solution or plan on how to get an American on the moon. And why aren’t our leaders of today willing to take that risk, to make a promise that could make American completely independent when it comes to energy production? Frustrating to say the least…
February 6th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
the only way to do this is to find alternative to oil. Even the government doesn’t want any actions being taken, which will harm its economy.