Mileage Quest

Sometimes people look at me funny. I drive a funny looking little car. And I'm passionate most days, about using less fuel. And yeah, I'm a little negative when the subject of Big Oil, (and Big Pharma, and Big Business in general) come up. I guess I'm a little jaded. My trust in the system has waned as I age. But what the hell? How could you be aware of the things that go on at the top and not be moved by them? Upset by them. How could you not want to change them? I mean, you ARE aware, right?

Why then, when the topic of simply using less oil comes up, do so many people blow it off? How is it not a good thing to use less fuel?

Well, it's not better if you're in the oil business. And it's easy for many to simply let things roll as they have for decades, trusting Big Oil, trusting our governments, and not taking the time to learn about what we're doing to our planet and its future. Life just goes on, right? I mean, we couldn't possibly screw this all up, could we?

Here's a simple challenge. I challenge you to take 45 minutes out of your busy schedule and watch a documentary titled "Black Wave". Watch it through to the end. It's a documentary on the fallout and results from the Exxon Valdez disaster. Remember? The oil spill? Drunken tanker captain? Images of dieing wildlife covered in oil? Images of beach cleanup? It was twenty years ago. Take some time to figure out how the wheels really get greased.

Watch the documentary. And encourage someone else to do the same -- someone who doesn't seem to care about their MPG. Learn about failed corporate promises that things will be OK and will be "made whole" for the people in Cordova Alaska. It's sad. But the remaining environmental effects to the area and wildlife in the area -- to this day -- are flat sickening. All the while, Exxon is enjoying record profits in recent years. I'm willing to bet the Exxon execs are not vacationing in Cordova Alaska.

"Black Wave - The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez" reports that in the final judgment, some 18 years later, Exxon paid the equivalent of 4 days profit.

Just watch the documentary. Discovery has been airing it lately. Then decide where and how much gas YOU want to buy in the future. I hope it's somehow less than you're using now. Yeah, it's negative, but in my opinion this is never going to be fixed at the top.

MQ