Which insights on Implications of Alternative Energy best illuminate the irrational quest for oil ? What was surprising?
Ben P -- http://snack.to/5ef8lC
Annalee -- http://snack.to/5Lf8lC
Dottie --- http://snack.to/5Pnkt1
James -- http://snack.to/oaJzSp
Please provide useful feedback to your classmates by November 18.
Comment for Annalee--
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting that you talk about the possibility of wind power being able to operate 20 percent of energy in the U.S. by 2030. Right now there are so many individuals in opposition to wind and hydropower because they seem to work on such a small scale. Because individuals are so used to being reliant on one source of energy, they do not consider the option of using a combination. (Margot Young)
Comment for Annalee--
ReplyDeleteIt is relieving to hear other people who have the same view as I do about alternative energy. I was very shocked at the fact that the United States produces the second largest amount of wind energy. I was always very pessimistic about the United States views on alternative energy, but I now know that they are taking steps in the right direction. I realize now that it is going to be a slow process, but at least it is getting done. (Grant Troester)
Dottie -
ReplyDeleteI thought you did a great job of stressing the importance of taking action and committing to going green. The graph you used was perfectly suited to your topic, and it provided interesting data. I was surprised that the majority of countries use 2% or less of the world's total oil while the U.S. uses 22.6%! I also liked that you included a point about how a social movement towards going green will lead to mass production and lower costs of efficient products. (Layne Whitted)
Rabs-
ReplyDeleteI love the fact your essay started with a quote directly relating whale oil to petroleum. I never considered the idea that we as humans didn't learn anything from the 1970s Energy Crisis, but you bring up a good point that human nature goes back to its bad habits if the cost decreases. It's ironic that we didn't change our ways when we should have, because gas prices went down, but now because of that we'll pay in the future. (Molly Morrison)
Dan V-
ReplyDeleteWhile I totally agree with you that alternative energy need to be used more, especially in the US. There are also times when we cannot be using wind energy. Right now many Environmental Activists are protesting against wind farms, because they are destroying beautiful rigelines for these wind turbines, and Vermont is not a very good place for wind farms anyway. Just something to think about.
Ben P-
ReplyDeleteI thought you had an interesting article explaining what the oil dilemma is doing to our economy. It is true that history does and will repeat itself so it was nice seeing the connections from the past economic/oil issues tied to today. I did though, want to see what would possibly happen to our economy AFTER we run out of oil to see where we are headed. Aside from that, nice job!
(Allie Koplan)
James
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was interesting how you talked about how the United States is in denial. The detrimental process of our goal to fuel our nation on petroleum is an important topic that you did a great job addressing. Your pictures also did a good job portraying what you were talking about.
(Brett)
James
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job with connecting the use of petroleum to the use and exhaustion of whale oil, bravo! When you talked about how we are now exhausting the resource of oil while doing nothing to stop that obsession we have, it made me wonder if there really are any alternatives to oil that we can use that will not run out. Sustainable sources are being looked for and experimented with every day, but will these really provide us with a resource that we will not destroy ourselves with? Ourselves or the environment in which we live?
Sarah G
James
ReplyDeleteI quite like your comparison of Ahab's monomaniacal pursuit of Moby Dick versus 21st century humanity and its monomaniacal pursuit of petroleum. I really like how you described the numbing effect that has occurred in America's quest for oil and power, and how our dependence on Foreign Oil has the potential (and has proven itself once already) to bring America to it's knees. It begs the question: What's stopping OPEC from doing it again? How low will America fall to its addiction before it realizes we cannot continue this trend? (Kamin Vassilos)
To Benny P,
ReplyDeleteI like how you were able to link petroleum not only to whale oil, but to the stock market, and its effects on the average day consumer. It was interesting to read your opinion that (with evidence, of course) America's quest for oil is a "ticking time bomb," and that we must learn from our mistakes made in whaling in order to stop the inevitable explosion. Another subject I found thought provoking was the question of whether the US should be fiscally trusted by other nations. It makes one wonder: Should we trust our governments at all? (Kamin Vassilos)
Dottie,
ReplyDeleteIt's puzzling that we will spend $1000 more on items that provide 10% more efficiency, yet we are so resistant to use alternative forms of energy, or cut down on oil use. I guess were not so interested in the efficiency of the earth? It's terrible! I think people don't realize how easy it is to cut down on activities that harm the earth. Transportation for example: carpooling with your co-workers is a great way to cut down on gas usage. (Annalee Soskin)