What we do is important

I was reading a book, "Our Endangered Values", by Jimmy Carter, this morning and was reminded that there is more than just my pleasure involved in my action, small but action nonetheless, of wanting to promote energy conservation through this blog.

People may differ but I'll maintain the obvious. The war in Iraq is about one thing and one thing only, OIL. Huge surprise eh? We'd have no concern for Iraq if the bulk of the world's oil wasn't there. Maybe the most immediate contribution we all can make is to reduce our dependence on mideast oil. Conservation is a viable alternative.

This "war" in Iraq is both unnecessary and immoral. We have one of the highest standards of living in the world. It is well within our reach to both explore new forms of energy production and to reduce the disproportionate amount of energy we consume. Not easy, by any means, but is the current approach working?

What was our budget surplus last year? Nothing. You know why? We're financing a war to destabilize the oil producing nations to justify our continued military presence and influence in the region. There are options. The current political leadership exists to promote an environment of domination and to fill the pockets of their corporate cronies.

Possibly the most disturbing issue I discovered in this book was the issue of torture. According to Mr. Carter's book, the following is an official declaration of the Department of Defense

"The President, despite domestic and international laws constraining the use of torture, has the authority as Commander in Chief to approve almost any physical or psychological actions during interrogation, up to and including torture."

Mr. Carter follows with a quote from Alberto Gonzales, then White House Chief Counsel and now Attorney General on the Geneva Convention provisions on torture.

"In my judgment, this new [post 9/11] paradigm renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning enemy prisoners and renders quaint some of its provisions"

In my opinion, the vast majority of the American people would not condone the use of torture. I don't. History is bound to mark this period of time as a particularly shameful time for our country. I don't think many consider Mr. Carter to be a voice from the extreme left. I don't agree with everything he has to say. I have no doubt as to the accuracy of what he has said in his book. What I am promoting is not radical. However, I believe that the current state of affairs has been shaped by a determined radical minority.

So. What is the point of my little diatribe?

1. Get on your bike and ride. Exercise some control over the oil market by curbing your demand.
2. Encourage others to do so and remember that some will be able to do more than others.
3. Cultivate an awareness in yourself that even small actions have an impact. If we fail to act because our impact is too insignificant, we fail. Our moral outrage accomplishes nothing by itself.

Plenty of other ways to respond, act, and to make a difference. Let's talk.