Peace and energy are linked. Currently much of the United States’ petroleum-based energy is dependent on foreign countries that are unstable and unfriendly to us. The largest reserves of oil are in the Middle East, an increasingly undesirable source due to the internal civil unrest and conflicts not only with their neighboring states, but also with the US and its allies. War drags on as our dependency on oil continues. As secure energy is required for a strong economy and thus national security, it is inherently practical to shift our sources of energy to inside the US. According to the Institute for Analysis of Global Security, we must take action immediately. http://www.iags.org/strategy.htm
Controversy erupts over how to shift our energy sources, but an immediate action to mitigate our dependence on foreign oil is to conserve energy now. Turn off lights when you leave the room; put on a sweater and turn down your thermostat; and walk, take the bus, or ride your bike instead of driving your car. If you drive a car, it should be fuel efficient, like hybrids.
Additionally, we can as quickly as possible move to alternative energy. According to Mark Z. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford, “The best ways to improve energy security, mitigate global warming and reduce the number of deaths caused by air pollution are blowing in the wind …” http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2009/january7/power-010709.html
If we truly want peace, we must become energy self-sufficient. Do your part. Conserve energy, choose energy from renewable sources, and contact your legislators to support renewable energy in the US. And do it today.
Submitted by: Marta Turnbull 11/22/10
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Where are Deficit Hawks When It Comes to Wars
The United States has enough money to fund two seemingly endless wars (Afghanistan and Iraq), but not enough to properly fund basic health care, sponsor unemployment-slashing efforts or finance other high priority domestic programs.
The estimated cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars since 2001 totals $932 billion (Iraq $700B and Afghanistan $232B) http://www.costofwar.com/
Allocating this huge amount to war efforts moves funds from the pots of money available for domestic programs (e.g., healthcare, jobs, education) to military operations. It is time to re-prioritize the use of our tax dollars.
Things you can do:
- Contact your legislators tell them to stop funding the wars.
To find out who your legislators are click below:
- Contact President Barack Obama and tell him to bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Phone: (202) 456-1414
Fax: (202) 456-2461
- Write a letter to the editor (keep it short and succinct)
Submitted by: Marta Turnbull 11/16/09
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