Relying on oil has led to huge rises in bills, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The answer is of course an oil-free economy, as then we no longer have to rely on foreign countries to heat and feed us.
Relying on oil, also leaves the big companies like supermarkets and energy companies able to ‘blame others’ for price hikes, when we know that these companies operate solely for profit, unlike say community energy panels and zero waste non-profit food co-operatives.
What would mostly help to reduce oil is for town planners to create walkable communities (so no oil needed for petrol to reach supermarkets that use oil en-masse to power central distribution houses that house imported food that is often covered in chemicals made with oil).
Not relying on foreign oil also helps to create world peace. If Russia had not got so rich on selling oil, it would not now have the money to bomb Ukraine. Its power has been on the back of other countries not being energy-independent. Nearly all wars on earth are caused by oil (proven as they are all oil-producing countries, Russia is only one example).
One country that is around 99% energy-independent (using renewables) is Iceland. And we never hear about this country going to war, do we?
If we wait for MPs to create an oil-free economy, we’ll be waiting a very long time. It’s far more empowering and effective to use less oil en-masse as people and companies. Together we can then create less demand for oil. Here are a few basic ideas to help:
Fortunately, it looks like the proposed Rosebank new oil and gas field in the North Sea (near the Shetland Islands) is now not going ahead, due to a change of government. It would have kept us locked into fossil fuels for decades.
Switch to a Green Energy Company
Ecotricity only uses vegan-friendly energy (so not energy from abattoirs etc) and also is making grass from gas!
Drive Less and Fly Less
Driving cars and flying aeroplanes are two of the world’s biggest users of oil. If you are not planning on going car-free (and never flying again), read tips to be a greener driver and airport traveller.
Use a Waterless Car Wash
Driveway and supermarket car washes cause ‘mini oil spills’ as oily untreated water goes down storm drains. Either use a car wash that recycles the water, or switch to a waterless car wash brand. Same for boats. Read tips to be a sustainable sailor.
Eat Organic
Pesticides on fresh fruits and vegetables are usually made from oil. So by eating fresh produce that is organic (from the box scheme, market or farm shop) is a great way to use less oil.
Switch to Natural Fabrics
When you replace clothing, switch to organic cotton, hemp or linen fabrics (synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester are made from oil). Launder these (and fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles) in a microplastic catcher, to stop fibres escaping the washing machine, into the sea.
Choose Biodegradable Everyday Brands
Choose organic and biodegradable beauty, cleaning and laundry products (to avoid oil-based products like petroleum jelly. Choose unscented for pregnancy/nursing, affected medical conditions and for pet/baby bedding/bowls/cleaning.
Go Plastic-Free
Easier said than done. But aim for it! Plastic is made from oil. So if you buy things, go for items made from recycled plastic.
Use Your Vote
You don’t have to vote for Green MPs. Just find independent or party candidates who are on a mission to take us out of the fossil fuel age, and are making clear plans to do it.
Even in 2023, President Biden (the so-called ‘green choice’) approved an $8bn drilling project on Alaska’s North Slope, which local environmentalists, wilderness campaigners and native communities were appalled at.
What We Can Learn from Alaska’s Oil Spill
Alaska is a small state (that used to be part of Russia and is now in the US) that sits in the far northwest corner of the country. It’s home to most of the country’s tallest mountains and has over 100 volcanoes and volcanic fields, along with 30,000 rivers and a whopping 3 million lakes.
It has more coast than all the US combined (over 30,000 miles) and is home to many Arctic creatures including polar bears.
Back in 1989, the state suffered an absolute tragedy, when the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground and spewed billions of gallons of crude oil into the sea, leading to a massive clean-up operation that was pretty futile.
Even one drop of oil spilled in the ocean spreads (why never to use driveway or supermarket car washs, as untreated oily water goes down drains and into the sea – use a waterless car wash instead, or a car wash company that recycles the water).
As well as causing $300 million of economic harm to local people, it was catastophic for wildlife. The spill killed around 2800 sea otters, 300 harbour seals, 900 bald eagles and 250,000 seabirds in the following days.
Along with 1000 harlequin ducks, many pink salmon embryos (and even today, many species including cormorants, common loons, Pacific herrings and pigeon guillemot have not yet recovered to original numbers).
Of course there have been numerous investigations. The spill was caused by the tanker hitting a Bligh Reef. It’s now believed the main cause was simple: the crew were absolutely knackered from lack of sleep.
This echoes many other massive accidents including some aeroplane crashes and even the Space Shuttle accident, when warnings were not heeded by staff who had only had 2 hours of sleep.
We Have Oil Spills in England, Too
You think this couldn’t happen here? There have been many oil spills from ships, with Greenpeace stating that over half the oil acccidentally spilled by offshore oil and gas operations in UK waters over the last 10 years has ended up in marine protected areas.
In 1967, the worst environmental disaster of our times happened (like England’s version of the Exxon Valdex oil spill) when a tanker struck Pollard’s Rock. The Torrey Canyon oil spill spilled around 25 to 36 million gallons of crude oil, which also affected hundreds of miles of coast in France, Guernsey and Spain.
In recent years, something even more surreal happened down the coast. On a Cornish Beach on Lizard Peninsula, 4,500 containers of Vanish stain remover washed up, after they fell off a container ship (over 18,000 went missing, meaning the rest are still in the sea somewhere). It finally solved the issue of why the local sea had turned pink.
The happy story was many volunteers went to clean up the mess, to help local wildlife. The sad thing was that many others faced fines, as they visited the beach literally to pick up free bottles of Vanish, and drive them home.