Energy Crisis

Leigh Riordon
August 18, 2006
Soc 202-02
Energy Crisis


Mainly this article consists of bits and pieces concerning how a permanent energy crisis affects us as a whole and the world that surrounds us. Our permanent energy crisis began on New Year’s Day, 2006. Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned natural gas monopoly cut off gas deliveries to the Ukraine. Many people seem to think that oil will disappear in years ahead, but this is very untrue. Natural gas which is the world’s second leading source of energy is also at risk of future shortages. The supply of natural gas is disappearing rapidly in North America. According to Michael T. Klare “The world needs more energy to satisfy rising global demand, and the only way to accomplish this at present is to squeeze out more oil, gas, and coal from the Earth, thereby hastening the onset of catastrophic climate change.” The best way to slow the increase in global carbon emissions is to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. Klare states that all funds for highway construction should go to high speed inter-city rail lines and that all new cars sold in America after the year 2010 should have a minimum average fuel efficincie of 50 MPG or higher. This will be very costly and expensive.
If a matter or subject has power enough to effect the world as a whole I believe it is a very serious matter that should be more than touched on. I think that oil will disappear in years if we aren’t careful. I mean natural gas, our world’s second leading source of energy is running low. That’s scary! I think that Michael T. Klare’s idea about saving the funds from highway construction to go towards high speed inter-city rail lines and the new cars being made after 2010 is a great idea! I think everyone should own a car that consumes less gas, it just makes sense. I understand that it will be more expensive most things are these days, but all in all it is worth it.