The Politics of Energy

I never intended to dive into politics with this blog, but as I watch more and more GOP debates, and see more and more blame being put on the President for our rising gas prices, I'm feeling more and more like this topic is unavoidable.

In general, I consider myself towards the middle. I like common sense, and find that neither political extreme really has it right. But when it comes to energy and energy production, I am definitely on the democratic side. A fact that's continually proven to me every time I see the dozens of "Clean Coal" and "Energy for America" ads that sponsor the GOP debates, AND their campaigns.

I'm writing this blog now, for a couple reasons.

Firstly, I just purchased a new vehicle. I had set my mind on a Chevy Cruze Eco, for the gas mileage alone. But it proved to be slightly out of my price range. What I did get, though, was a Chevy Sonic Sedan. A nice, small car.. that will give me approximately 10 more mpg than my 2010 Mustang did; which I traded in.

The truth is, I never planned to buy another vehicle so soon... but it had become glaringly apparent that I couldn't talk about how important the environment was, and how we need to be less reliant on oil, if I was driving a car that only got 14-15 mpg. Sure, the Mustang was fun to drive. I enjoyed the envious looks and comments. But I feel much better, with my decision to go smaller and more efficient.

So, why not a hybrid or electric? Well, I considered them. But they, too, are often in the upper price range. And though they'll save you a lot in gas down the road, if you don't have the money up front, it's hard to make a reality.

And there were a few other issues on my mind...

I'm not sure the technology is up to par yet. No, I'm not a driving enthusiast, so acceleration and speed aren't huge concerns for me, but they might be for some. My concerns come into play with the battery itself. Some are only guaranteed for 8-10 years, and may cost thousands to replace. A bigger concern, though, on an environmental front, is the nickel that is being mined for all these batteries. It is not a clean process. It's mining, after all. And then, after the batteries are no longer functional, where do they go? In theory, they're supposed to be recycled. But we all know that doesn't happen as much as it should.

And as far as purely electric, I just don't see it as feasible right now. There aren't enough charging stations, yet. And you can't travel long distances on one charge, and unlike gasoline, you can't "refill" in a couple minutes. You'd have to charge for hours before taking off again.

So, for me, I'm most interested in hybrids (assuming proper recycling of battery components), and even more excited about the possibilities of bio-fuels.

That leads me to the second reason I'm writing this blog right now. I was just watching Piers Morgan, as he was interviewing Newt Gingrich; someone who claims that he could single-handedly get gas prices down to $2.50 per gallon if he were elected as President.

Nevermind the fact that any legitimate economist will tell you that the President has very little influence over the price of gas. Nevermind that production is actually up under Obama, and demand is down. Prices are going up for various reasons, but none are solely in the hands of the President. Nor would they be no matter who is elected.

What bugged me about this interview, though, was the fact that Gingrich kept talking about how we need to build and open the Keystone Pipeline, and then flat out mocked Obama for mentioning algae and pushing bio-fuels. Gingrich actually referred to it as, "along the lines of a Saturday Night Live skit," as if the idea were completely implausible, unrealistic, and funny. Really? I don't think so.

Algae fuel (biodiesel) is an awesome thing. It's a realistic thing. It's a smart thing.

First, the fact that it's algae, it negates the CO2 that's released when it burns.. by absorbing the CO2 when it grows. Then, it can be grown using waste water. It's safe if spilled (clearly not true for oil/gas). And here's a fun statistic for you:

"The United States Department of Energy estimates that if algae fuel replaced all the petroleum fuel in the United States, it would require 15,000 square miles (39,000 km²) which is only 0.42% of the U.S. map, or about half of the land area of Maine." - Wikepedia

If that doesn't sound promising, I don't know what does. Nothing about that seems comical. Frankly, it gives me hope that innovation will get us out of this mess; if we let it.

No matter where you stand on politics, here are some truths:

1) Oil won't last forever.
2) Oil drilling is not good for our planet, or our health.
3) Oil use/emissions are not good for our planet, or our health.
4) No amount of added pipelines or drilling, will magically get rid of these truths.

And I do give Obama credit for some things. I applaud him not allowing the pipeline, or at least delaying it. I applaud him for working with car companies to dramatically improve fuel efficiency in new cars. You see, gas prices hurt a lot less, when you need a lot less of it.

There is no doubt that there's been a few missteps, but at least Obama believes in investing more in natural energy (solar, wind, biofuel). Cause the truth is, we need to transition, sooner rather than later. The more automakers are pushed to make alternatives, the sooner they become affordable to the average American, the sooner we become less dependent on oil; which means less pollution here, and fewer military conflicts worldwide.

For more information on biofuels, the true costs of crude oil, and the future of transportion, I urge you to get a copy of Fuel, and read my previous review of the film.

And remember to at least consider these realities when electing both your local and national officials. This stuff matters, and it matters right now.

The Convenience of Animals

This post is going to be a little more philosophical than the others, so if you're just here for product reviews, you can skip this one. But as I sit with my beloved dog, Bristow, tonight.. I feel compelled to write this post.

The question is.. Why do we protect our pets, but ignore the cruelty of animals around the world?

Most people, especially in western society, that read this blog, will have a pet of some kind. A dog, cat, bunny, pig, snake, or gerbil. And chances are, you love that animal. You probably treat it like a member of your family. You very well might let it sleep in your bed, or you sneak it 'people food' as an occasional treat. You've probably spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars (or would be willing to) in medical expenses, safety measures, and comfort items; like toys, vaccines, microchipping, treats, beds, and blankets.

Now, what if someone came into your home and said they were going to slaughter your pet for food. Really, think about that for a moment.. Would you be okay with it?

What if they said they wanted to take your animal, and to confine it within a small habitat, purely for humans to watch?

What if they said your pet needed to be used to test cosmetics or household cleaners, and that your beloved friend would have chemicals rubbed in their eyes or forced down their throat; while living out their years in tiny cages?

What if they said they were going to skin your pet alive; because someone halfway around the world thought it would make a fashionable shawl?

My guess is that you would beg, plead, bribe, cry, and fight to keep your pet away from any of those scenarios. And yet, we allow it. Every day. Everywhere.

Some say, it's a cultural thing. Okay. But the fact that it's so different and reliant on 'tradition' tells you it's not based on any solid criteria. In some places, eating cat or dog is fairly normal. Here, it makes us cringe. In some places, cattle are considered sacred. Here, we can't eat enough cheeseburgers. Such polar opposite opinions clearly show it's not based on science or sound reasoning. It's based on belief; or more accurately.. emotion. And your honest, emotional, response to someone harming your animal.. then.. should be your emotional response to all animals. So, why isn't it?

Because we disconnect.

We have the luxury, and curse, of being disconnected. So we get to prioritize animals in whichever way feels most convenient to us.

We no longer have to hunt and clean our own food. We can happily eat our chicken nuggets or bacon cheeseburgers, and never give the animals from which they came a single thought. We seldom ponder the living conditions, or the pain they endured. If you can't witness an animal being slaughtered, and still want to eat it, you probably shouldn't be eating meat at all.

We can purchase fur or exotic leathers without ever thinking about the alligator, snake, or mink. And what's worse, we don't bother to realize that many things sold to us as 'exotic fur' are often cats and dogs from other countries.

We buy our cosmetics, hairspray, and shampoo.. without thinking about the animals that had to be repeatedly exposed to harsh chemicals. I understand the need to find a middle ground on animal testing. As I've said before, it's led to profound discoveries in science, genetics, psychology, and so on. But there is literally no need, whatsoever, to test cosmetics or household goods on caged and de-barked beagles. Human volunteers could clearly try cosmetics, or test cleaners, without any real harm to themselves. And eventually, humans have to be testing subjects anyway, as reactions in other species aren't conclusive about what will happen to us. Testing such products is cruel and unnecessary.

We happily patronize circuses, dolphin shows, and the like. We never take the time to think about where those animals came from. Were they in a pack or family? What happened to the others? How are they trained? We just see them performing tricks for food, and we assume all is well. And it's because we never see the situation from the eyes of the animal.

And some will argue that as humans, we're at the top of the food chain. We're the smartest, and we're the best.

I would ask them to ponder this:

We are the only creature on Earth that hunts for fun, kills for sport, murders over theological differences, confines and trains other creatures for our own amusement, drives other creatures to extinction, and continually harms the planet that sustains us. So... are we really smarter? Sometimes more power in incapable hands just leads to more destruction. And that is something we humans have mastered.

Lastly, we are the only creature that causes harm to another for sheer convenience. We confine animals. We train animals. We ignore their pain. We raise them just to slaughter them. Why? Because it's convenient.

I implore everyone to take a moment to respect the animals of this planet.. from the tiny shrew, to the magnificent blue whale. Each and every one has a personality, a brain, a nervous system, a natural way of living, a social structure, a desire for freedom and comfort, and a place in this world that belongs to them. Each of them feels pain, just like your chosen pet; that you take care of when it's sick, that you cuddle with on the couch, and that you spoil with healthy treats.

So tell me, what's the difference?

No animals are OURS. But they are ALL ours to protect.

Big Miracle, A Movie Worth Watching

We live in a time when sequels, prequels, and remakes are the norm. Movies about the love lives of vampires and werewolves are even more common (unfortunately, for my tastes). Movies based on real-life events are a rare thing, indeed.

But that's exactly what Big Miracle offers. Not only is it based on a true story, it's also a timely one. The worry over the environment, animal rights, and trying to find a balance between what we want for our world, while navigating the politics involved, is lightly explored in this flick.

I say "lightly" because this is not a hard-hitting documentary. This is a feel-good movie; intended for uplifting family viewing. It brushes over some of the harsher conflicts and realities of what really occurred.

If you're curious, you can read the true backstory here: Anchorage Daily News

And while the movie leaves out some of the grittier details, it does show how people do come together for this cause, but that each has their own separate motivations for their cooperation. Between the Inupiat tribe that regularly hunts whales, to the oil company that needs the good PR, everyone involved has an angle. And while Big Miracle doesn't dwell on these issues, it at least doesn't ignore them entirely.

Drew Barrymore plays a Greenpeace activist/organizer (Rachel Kramer), a character after my own heart. But Big Miracle even exposes some of the character's well-intentioned naivete, in regards to local customs, whale hunting, and so on. And, I must admit, my husband shot me a glance with a chuckle when Drew's character commented on another woman with, "I'm pretty sure her make-up was tested on animals."

Definitely something I'd say. ;-)

As for my niece, who just turned 5 years old today; she liked it. But she didn't love it. There are two things that made the difference for her. First, she had no interest in the political chit-chat. SPOILER ALERT (if you didn't read the true story, anyway): Secondly, she didn't like that one of the whales didn't make it. But, as anticipated from a young child, she stated her favorite part was when the whales got free and started jumping out of the water.

So, while my niece was a little too young to understand some of the more important global topics, she understood the concept of the whales being trapped, a lot of different people gathering around to help, and found great joy in their freedom. This movie will, quite possibly, be the Free Willy of her generation.

Also, as expected, she spent the ride home telling me how she should build a big pool in her front yard so that whales could stay there and never get frozen in. But she immediately added, "But I can't let them see my fish, cause they'll eat them." Adorable? I think so. (I'll give her a few years before I explain the pitfalls of confinement.)

All in all, we each enjoyed the movie. It explored politics, personal motivations, humanity, and the absolute beauty and dignity of whales. And we all enjoyed it for different reasons; which may be the beauty of it. Perhaps my favorite part was the real footage that played during the credits. It truly brings a sense of awe, when you're reminded that what you had just seen in a glitzy hollywood fashion, actually happened.

If you'd like to know more about helping whales and oceanic wildlife, I'd recommend you visit Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, and Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project.