After the anniversary of 9/11, I’ve been contemplating the civil unrest in our world and, like many of you, I have asked myself what I could possibly do as one person to make a difference in the world.
Because the planet we live on is so large, I find it hard to believe that one individual could ever bring about change. I realize that throughout history there have been individuals that did make a difference, but I think in many circumstances, the individual simply represents the beliefs of the majority. The one that gets remembered is the one that speaks out first. So what can we do to make a difference in our world?
I do not want to turn this into a discussion about the Middle East. I hate discussing the war, and furthermore, who is right and who is wrong has become a question that has no answer. I wish the different ethnic groups there could put their differences aside, but I fear it is too late for that. Our leaders need to understand that we need not run to the rescue of all the needy citizens in other countries. The best course of action, in my opinion, is to become independent of them in every way. We do not need to export or import goods there, we do not need to send our soldiers there as peacekeepers and, most of all, we need to find a way to become self-sufficient for our fuel needs.
I certainly care about what is happening in Iraq, but I don’t think the answer is to go there and try to change their culture.
Our country is definitely a great one, but we are still far from perfect. It is unfair to think that if Iraq were more like America, the citizens there would be happier. It is unfortunate that they cannot find peace by themselves, but I do not think it is our responsibility to fix their problems.
So what can one person do? I was hoping that hydrogen fuel-cell technology might be an answer to some of our problems that stem from our dependence on petroleum products, but that is not the case, according to http://www.motherjones.com.
The site is self-described as “an independent nonprofit whose roots lie in a commitment to social justice implemented through first rate investigative reporting.” They claim as much as 90 percent of the hydrogen used to power the cars will be derived from oil.
What’s even funnier is that the method used to extract the hydrogen from the fossil fuels requires energy derived from burning oil, coal and natural gas. So that means not only will we need the hydrogen atoms contained inside the oil, but also oil will be used to physically extract it. I still haven’t figured out why they can’t extract hydrogen from water. Obviously, I was wrong to think that the hydrogen fuel-cell car was the answer to the world’s fuel problems. There are, however, other technological advances that could significantly lessen our need for imported oil. One good candidate seems to be deriving oil from plants. In Australia, scientists are attempting to genetically alter plants to produce a type of oil that could possibly be refined into fuel. This means that we could actually farm oil. This would be a great replacement for all the farmers currently growing tobacco who are feeling the effects of the anti-tobacco movement.
Another similar candidate for replacing Middle Eastern oil is the use of industrial hemp. Activists everywhere are talking about the hemp-oil powered Mercedes that toured the United States and Canada in 2001. One estimate states that if six percent of U.S. farmland was devoted to growing hemp to make bio-fuel, our need for imported oil would become a thing of the past.
Actress Daryl Hannah talked about her bio-fuel car and solar powered home on Regis and Kelly last week. I think she has the right idea. She explained how the gas from her car is recycled cooking oil from fast food restaurants. Imagine the convenience of getting a Big Mac and fuel for your car in the same stop.
Hopefully, in the near future, these alternative fuel sources will become reliable and inexpensive.
Now, it is up to you and I to make sure our voices are heard. If you want a more eco-friendly car, vote for candidates that support them. Remember, however, that your voice is often the only way you have to express your desires so do not be afraid to use it. Don’t ever be afraid to speak out first, you might just be the one remembered in history.

Author