Presidential legacies keep washing ashore.

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oilgusher.jpgOil from BP's blunder keeps pumping into the Gulf of Mexico, causing all sorts of collateral damage, and there's no prospect of it ending soon. It clearly illustrates the direct risks from oil drilling as locations get more extreme, and it matters to Scotland.

In particular, deep-water drilling is due off Shetland, and the industry's record in the North Sea has long been problematic, with another major incident last week. The last administration's proposals for drilling in the Moray Firth will no doubt still go ahead too.

Anyone in their right mind looking at the risks and long-term viability of various energy sources surely has to conclude it's time to start phasing oil out altogether and switching to renewables. That's relatively easy for power generation and demand reduction while admittedly harder for transport, but there are some enormous opportunities going untaken.

American Presidents from Reagan onwards have been committed to empty rhetoric on oil, and have an abject history of failure. They bear the responsibility for the disaster unfolding endlessly in the Gulf of Mexico, along with BP, just as government after government here will do if and when something like this comes to our shores.

4 Comments

I think you got a sentence slightly wrong, it should read as follows;

Anyone in their right mind looking at the risks and long-term viability of various energy sources surely has to conclude it's time to start phasing oil out altogether and switching to nuclear.

Dear Two Doctors,

I just have a quick question for you but couldn't find an email so had to resort to this. I am an progressive political blogger. Please email me back at barbaraobrien@maacenter.org when you get a chance. Thanks.

Barbara

good Information

We must stop using fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy resources like wind, solar, etc. The damage caused to marine life and environment due to BP oil spill can not be recovered. The ban on drilling has not been taken seriously. There should be strict governing policies to ensure that an already imposed ban is not overlooked by government authorities. Also such ban on offshore drilling should only be lifted if all the necessary precautions are taken with regards to Environment and Human life, as neglecting the same has already caused serious damage to marine environment and human life.

I think it is high time we started taking nature and our planet earth seriously and do our bit about environment, sustainability, climate change, biodiversity, clean energy, green living and so on. One great place to start would be http://www.elpis.com. Elpis is an online community focused on responsible living and sustainable growth. You can measure, reduce and offset your carbon footprint; set up petitions, volunteering and fundraising projects for your favorite causes; help create action plans for sustainable communities; buy a range of eco friendly products and services; and network with other people who share a common interest in a low carbon, responsible lifestyle.

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This page was published on June 1, 2010 5:12 PM.

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