Blowout Prevention?

Post #66

With the hopeful news that the BP oil leak off the Gulf Coast has finally been contained, we need to take a moment to evaluate its causes and impact.  This is yet another disaster in that region that will affect its economy and people for untold years to come.  Unlike after Hurricane Katrina, when we could send contributions to the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, or other charities of our choice, most of us were fairly helpless in responding to this catastrophe.  But we’re far from helpless in preventing the next one from happening.

During the crisis, the media carried several stories about people trying to assist.  They collected pantyhose or got haircuts in order to donate their locks that might create organic “sponges” to absorb the gushing oil.  Many women (and men) rushed out to cut inches off their tresses in order to provide some support for the Gulf region. 

Mostly though, we continue to have to do our part at home.  And that means reducing our demand for oil that forces exploration into ever deeper and more dangerous waters. There are the basics of using less energy: turn off and unplug your appliances (I love the name “Wall Warts” to describe the modest but constant use of energy by anything plugged in at home or work).  Carpool and combine errands to minimize your trips.  Don't fill your gas tank in the heat of the day (I understand that it also costs you approximately 5% more because of expansion of the gas in the stations’ tanks.) 

Put your PC or laptop on the energy-conserving “standby” setting if you're going to be away from it for a couple of hours.  Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible, thereby saving the energy of heating the water.  Run the dishwasher only when it's totally full.  And power your home and/or business with wind or solar energy.  (Our home uses 100% wind power from Clean Currents.  You can learn more at www.CleanCurrents.com.)

Whether or not you got a haircut to help BP in its clean-up efforts, I hope you'll be conscious of selecting at least one additional conservation activity to reduce the demand for oil-- because that’s ultimately the most effective “blow-out preventer” of all.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  Do you have any ideas you've put into practice that might help alleviate the environmental damage done by this latest oil spill-- or to prevent the next one by reducing demand for oil? Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#66) you're addressing. 

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.