I've just read that the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline that will bring tar sand oil down to the US for processing has been denied from the Obama administration. I (personally) think this is an important issue and the right decision for many reasons (including the facts that it's very 'dirty' oil, that it is wrecking the environment where it is 'mined', that we need to generally use LESS oil and not feed our addiction, etc.). I wish it were once and for all, but it's a decision that is likely to be revisited (just wait till Iran blocks the Straits of Hormuz!).
However, to take a different perspective getting less oil from a stable neighbor does make us rely more (in the short term) for overseas oil which can be quite volatile and has (arguably) led to wars over oil. I believe that we must wean ourselves from oil (and other fossil fuels) much sooner rather than later to try to reduce the magnitude of catastrophic climate change.
Discussion question
How will we bridge the gap and work towards true energy security where much of energy comes from clean and sustainable sources? What changes will you need to make in your life to facilitate this? What are the benefits of doing it sooner rather than later?
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