Should We Switch to an Alternative Fuel Source?
There are many energy sources in the world, why did we chose to use fossil fuels? More importantly why haven’t we switched to solar power?
“Global Warming is too serious for the world any longer to ignore its danger or spilt into opposing factions on it.” States Tony Blair, an ecologist. In the early 20th century, there was no such thing as “Global Warming” or “Ozone Layer Depletion”. Our earth is in a grave situation, one that might end in utter destruction. Well who’s to blame? Over the last 50 years, America’s industry has consumed billions of fossil fuels which resulted in a negative effect by releasing vast amounts of greenhouse gases as their byproduct. These greenhouse gases increased the temperature of earth’s atmosphere and also had a negative impact on the atmosphere layers. If we don’t switch to an alternative energy source, our environment will be demolished, our heath will detonate, and our economy will suffer.
To begin with, our health will be immensely damaged because of all the toxic gases in the air, the result of the millions of cars and factories worldwide. Inhaling these fumes will damage the lungs which can result into other respiratory infections and diseases. The toxins in the greenhouse gases contain many chemicals such as haemyglobin and myoglobin. These chemicals can cause poisoning of organs such as the heart and spleen and also cause Blood Toxemia, or blood poisoning. Chemicals from the factories would transmit through the air into the circulatory system. If the world doesn’t switch to an alternative fuel source, the toxic gases in the air such as Carbon Monoxide will infinitely increase, damaging every organism on earth. Having too much pollution in the air can be hazardous, especially to people with asthma which would trigger a life-threatening reaction. Many people think that breathing smoke won’t have a significant effect on our health because their bodies can handle it, but the amount of oxygen in air will get overwhelmed by toxic gases which can cause death. Many people in Third World Countries cannot afford to go to the doctor, so toxic gases will create a critical epidemic there.
Furthermore, if we don’t switch to an alternative fuel source, our economy will have an even more cataclysmic downfall. Because fossil fuels (our current energy source) are a non-renewable resource, the amount of fossil fuels in our earth will diminish, vastly increasing the prices of fossil fuels such as gasoline, making it unsustainable. Ecologists estimate by 2020, gas prices may be as high as $7.00 per gallon if we continue with fossil fuels. Also, since most of our “precious” fossil fuels are located in countries Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan, demanding massive amounts of fossil fuels may spark wars against them. Unfortunately, we are currently waging wars with countries such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia so the predicament would become even worse. Some people believe that if we switch to fossil fuels located within United States to prevent the wars, however, more than 90 percent of the world’s fossil fuels are located in the Middle East. That would only supply less than 20 percent of what the United States demands. We could switch to cheaper and more efficient energy sources such as hydrogen, solar, wind that are renewable resources.
Last, but definitely not least, fossil fuels have rampaged and annihilated our once wondrous planet. The worst dilemma our earth has faced is global warming. Because the byproducts of burning fossil fuels are greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, much of the heat from the sun would retain in the earth’s atmosphere. Well, how could this minuscule amount of heat damage our planet so much? Just a temperature increase of 0.10 degrees Celsius can completely raze over 40 percent of the earth’s coral reefs would vanish. Furthermore, coral reefs provide a habitat for thousands of species of fish and organisms, what would happen to them once their habitat is gone? The world will also face an infectious disease epidemic because when the planet becomes warmer, many parasites will migrate north to America and Europe. There will also be more hurricanes because they tend to appear more in warmer waters. Global warming is not the only environmental effect fossil fuels has done, there are several more. Ozone Layer depletion is taking its toll on the human population. The ozone layer is a part of the atmosphere that helps prevent the sun’s harmful UV radiation into the earth. But, that layer of the atmosphere is slowly degrading because of the excess amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This results in an increased risk of skin cancer. Already, skin cancer kills 8500 people in the United States annually; just imagine it in another 30 years. Also, the ice caps are melting because of the UV radiation. All of this could be changed if we just switch to an alternative fuel source.
Although many people chose not to, we should switch from fossil fuel burning into a better method of obtaining energy such as solar power. Burning coal and other non-renewable resources has atrocious effects on our health, demolishes our environment, will further damage our economy. Why don’t people change? Many people decide that going to an alternative energy source is not economical and would raise their bills. However, solar energy can significantly decrease electricity bills and is a whole lot better to the environment. So, let’s make a difference by using less water, switching to fuel-efficient cars such as hybrid, and take other methods of transportation such as using buses and carpooling.
Liked it
User Comments
Mythili Kannan
On February 22, 2009 at 7:58 am
Nice article and food for thought…. Need a look by all
S A JOHNSON
On February 22, 2009 at 8:26 am
I completely agree this is a great article. Everyone can help even in small ways.
Rana Sinha
On February 22, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Very important points raised here in this good article. But how does Tony Blair become an ecologist?
I also have problems with this sentence “So, let’s make a difference by using less water” In our city they said recently that the water pipes have to be flushed with clean water to wash them regularly as people use too little water and deposits collect on pipe walls. In the end we end up paying more for consuming less.
rutherfranc
On February 22, 2009 at 12:34 pm
good to know you are concerned about the environment. and I like your suggestion of using the sun as the main source of energy. I just would like to share that the most state governments in the US protects those who invest in installing solar panels in their homes.. it took millions of years for the planet to bury these carbon dioxide by evolving plant life to suck it in, the plant to be eaten by animals and animals to be fossilized to make the earth habitable, but humans dug it up and is bringing it back into the athmosphere..
Katien
On February 22, 2009 at 1:00 pm
An article with very good intentions, but you should take more care with your facts. For instance we are not currently at war with Iraq and Saudi Arabia. I saw a TV program recently about the way farming relies so much on fossil fuels that we are not going to be able to produce enough food, so we have to change very quickly.
M A Bhanpurwala
On February 22, 2009 at 1:05 pm
good points to be noted , deep concerned with environment issues, every one should think about it.
Peter Cimino
On February 22, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Excellent work and information. Well done. Thanks.
Sharona
On February 22, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Good ideas! We all need to take a deeper look at what is going on with our fuel sources. It looks like you have encouraged an on going dialogue. These kinds of comments can lead to break throughs
and solutions to very serious problems. Thanks for the heads up.
Suppee XX
On February 22, 2009 at 1:54 pm
All valid and an important subject. I heard today that companies are beginning to invest in Carbon Fuels. The economies of the world go with whatever is the chaepest option at the moment. Cost is a very subjective thing.
Hein Marais
On February 22, 2009 at 2:00 pm
The sooner everyone realizes that global warming is not a myth the better.
Joni Keith
On February 22, 2009 at 2:19 pm
You made some good points in your article. Sadly, three are still people that don’t believe global warming is real, and that climate change is a natural phenomenon and not a result of human activity. I agree that we need to seek out alternative energy sources. Aside from being good for the planet, it would create countless jobs which would in turn be good for the economy. I commend you on a very well written article.
papaleng
On February 22, 2009 at 5:32 pm
good to hear that you too is concern about Global warming. pretty good suggestion too.
Majic
On February 22, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Good points. It seems you wanted to talk about every little detail. It shows, of course, that you truly care for the environment.
I think you need some work with your sentence structuring though as well as paragraph arrangements. I have the same problems and it takes me alot of time editing my own works before publishing
Sarah Elizabeth Hume
On February 22, 2009 at 7:13 pm
good article, an introspective read, got me thinking…
MariaArte
On February 22, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Very good! we must do something… all can protect the earth. We must think how are behaving in our world…and do the better for our home…
Athlyn Green
On February 22, 2009 at 7:49 pm
This is an excellent and timely article. YouTube has some frightening videos about the melting polar icecaps.
In our area, some people are switching to geo-thermal energy, which is non-polluting.
It appears that life is going to get harder.
woody15
On February 22, 2009 at 7:58 pm
DEfinately an informative and must read piece. Well done, lets hope something is done about it!
CHAN LEE PENG
On February 22, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Interesting read! Keep it up!
Mervin
On February 22, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Kepp Up the good work.
malcom
On February 22, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I think one of the main things holding us back today is our dependence on fossil fuels. Toyota says they are “moving forward”
but all they are doing is coming out with bigger trucks that guzzle even more gas than before.
Great article! Keep writing.
Monica Sappleton
On February 22, 2009 at 9:19 pm
This is a very well written article, that makes some valid points.Remember too that this has to get the support of the legislators. So get them involved.
Monica
Denise Kawaii
On February 22, 2009 at 11:24 pm
If everyone just changes one thing, there will be a global impact for the better. Making small changes can make a big impact!
James DeVere
On February 22, 2009 at 11:58 pm
I am going alternative this year – timely article. I think a tipping point will come where the world converts, “en masse,” to alternatives.
Thank-you, Rohan . j
denus
On February 23, 2009 at 12:04 am
good article, more people should switch!
macon
On February 23, 2009 at 1:18 am
nice article. good to know you are concerned with the environment. i am much an environmentalist myself, trying to conserve in my little ways to help save our planet. this is an eye opener for all of us. thank you for writing this.
Abhin
On February 23, 2009 at 3:19 am
Great work!
Wylrhyss Terrado
On February 23, 2009 at 4:34 am
Yes. A splendid work. Thanks for sharing…
Ranveer Singh Battu
On February 23, 2009 at 4:58 am
very true and informative!!!! keep it up!!!
CutestPrincess
On February 23, 2009 at 5:09 am
very informative piece… very helpful too!
Johanan Rakkav
On February 23, 2009 at 8:28 am
Rohan, I’d written a pretty lengthy reply, but something caused my browser to close while trying to post it. I’d taken my usual precaution of saving the text to my clipboard, but that got erased too. I can’t take the time to write it all over again, alas!
My main point is that this is potentially a very good op-ed piece, but so far it’s only a rough draft of one. You need to research your facts more carefully in many spots (e.g., hemoglobin and myoglobin aren’t pollutants, they’re vital proteins in our bodies), and you need to take in the opposing point of view more.
For example, a solid case can be made that solar flux, not human activity, is by far the chief driver of climate change. It’s been true prehistorically and historically, and it is certainly true now. In fact the earth’s been cooling off these last few years, completely erasing the last century’s entire rise in average temperature. On the other hand, Mars and Jupiter have been heating up on average, and no humans live on those planets. So the cooling trend here is likely a short-term matter; similar drops have been recorded before. But the fault is not primarily man’s — what he contributes to greenhouse gases is very small compared to what nature can and does contribute.
That doesn’t mean that we humans should just do as we please. We do need to start making our lifestyles sustainable, while we still can.
top victor
On February 23, 2009 at 9:01 am
“did we chose to use fossil fuel?” please add a “o” in the word “chose”. most youth like you don’t care our environment but you are special. you are a promising kid.
Kalaiselvan
On February 23, 2009 at 9:16 am
nice article Rohan.. Its the need of the hour..
lovely honey
On February 23, 2009 at 4:13 pm
being a scientist, and a great believer in the aspects of
heredity,
genetics and
theENVIRONMENT
i have always wondered why these bty makers ,of ni cd btys cannot think in wider terms, so as to save solar power which is abs free. i think solar panels is not the answer, being expensive and cumbersome , but if you could tap solar energy to charge recharge bigger btys and then use them ,
i think u will be doing a yeoman service.
for the present i have written many poems ,if only you could spread ur message through poetry ,i could write some as per ur desire and requirement .
pl do let me know.
thanks.
lh
Quarterback 13
On February 23, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Great insight!!
Likha
On February 23, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Great advocacy. I’m one with you.
Lauren Axelrod
On February 24, 2009 at 7:47 am
This was an excellent article Rohan. You seemed very informed on the subject. We do still need to remember that humans are only about 10% of the problem. We have neglected the earth for far to long, I feel as the the Earth is now biting back.
C LEBLANC
On February 24, 2009 at 11:35 am
we all need to think about the things we are doing to ourselves and to others. i liked this. great piece.
LBA
On February 24, 2009 at 1:23 pm
great information, we will all have to make decision that will make a difference.
Adam Sugden
On February 24, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Wonderful article.
Dialga
On February 25, 2009 at 3:19 am
The same question applies to automobiles. We have the technology to build cars completely reliant on solar and hydrogen power. Why aren’t we already in the process of building the refueling stations?
It all has to do with the big oil giants. They’re pissed because once everyone switches over to solar and hydrogen, they’ll be losing money, even though they already make billions upon billions of dollars every day.
As far as I’m concerned, to heck with them. We should start creating electrical and hydrogen refueling stations right now so that in 10-15 years, we won’t need to rely on gasoline.
Sakuragi
On February 25, 2009 at 4:41 am
Boy can you write! I can sense in your article that you truly care about other people. It’s a shame there’s not many like you.
maranatha
On February 25, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Many good points. Not entirely factual, but still a good read. Write on!
Emma Turton
On February 27, 2009 at 9:14 am
A really nice, informative article with some really good points.
eddiego65
On March 1, 2009 at 6:34 am
A very timely article with excellent points. Alternative energy is certainly the way to go.
Shellie
On March 3, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I never thought about it in that way. I am really glad I read this… Thank you for your thoughts and knowledge… meant alot
KittenKitty5
On March 5, 2009 at 11:33 am
Wow. Great job on the article. I found it to be very informative. Thanks.
KittenKitty5
On March 5, 2009 at 11:35 am
Wow. Great job on the article. I found it to be very informative. Thanks.
Maybe Another Time
On March 5, 2009 at 11:36 am
Good job. Though I would say the article needs to go a little deeper into detail, but overall I applaud your effort.
Ronnie Johnston
On March 13, 2009 at 5:22 pm
i agree!! good job…
17659983
On May 10, 2009 at 9:45 am
wow i will post this on my site, more people need to know
Erik Sivertsen
On July 6, 2009 at 10:21 pm
I like the article and this subject enrages me.I feel the government is not doing enough to help us move on from fossil fuel slavery.Does anyone here not believe that members of our own government care first about what benefits the individual?They are too worried about lining their own pockets first.There is plenty of technology today to replace fossil fuel reliance.The government is what is slowing down the alternative fuel revolution.Why are not all public transportation such as buses and trains,government vehicles,including police and town vehicles already using some alternative fuel such as Hydrogen?Why are not all government buildings being heated with some other source such as geothermal heat?They keep telling us what’s wrong,but what are they really doing about it?They need to get the ball rolling.Also,I’d like to add something else that rarely gets brought up.The problem we are now running into with global warming is not only caused by fossil fuels,but it is definitely part of it.Another factor is the destruction of the rain forest and other wooded areas.As this article stated.Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels.It just so happens that plants breathe CO2.We are basicly powerless.What can the average man afford to do to actually make a change and a difference when it comes to changing over to alternative fuels?We are the most taxed people on this planet.It’s time for the government to invest our own money to benefit the country and its people.Instead of being greedy and looking out for themselves.This is not the way our Forefathers intended it to be.I know plenty of people I talk to are angry and our losing faith in our leaders.
Erik Sivertsen
On July 26, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Every marked police cruiser and public tansportation vehicle,such as buses,should all be running on some alternative fuel source.
Holly J. Yarrington
On November 15, 2009 at 5:10 pm
I agree about solar energy it has its ups and downs but its the most abundant source of energy we have and every day every micron second we let more light be wasted.
We need to find the most economical, commonsensical way to harness this– Great Giant Beautiful Orb we call Sun.
We are just wasteful when it comes down to it. Maybe we could find a way to stabalize this planet once we get away from sucking the other natural fuels from the planet which wont last that long.
90 years for natural gas–Hello! Its time to think this through.
Im sure it all has to do with the money and the break down of economy etc. Well we phase out old systems and move to a better one.
Im sure eventually it will have to come someday but hopefully not at a price for any of us.
Post Comment