Finally, A Light At the End of the Oil Tunnel

PHEW, what a sigh of relief! Everything is lookin up. The oil shortage crisis seems to be imporving just after we had already hit rock bottom. I am still on the fence and about it completely going back noramal. However, I do have high hopes but I do not want to be overconfident and continue taking the precious oil we have left for granted. I will no longer go back to my old ways, this has taught me to grow as a person and be considerate not only for me but for the planet. I witness the many struggles each individual faced. From business owners shutting down once popular restaurants to people going ballistic over food. Food that before was thrown out because of abundance.
Not even in my craziest dreams would I have thought that oil would affect me so dramatically. I must be honest, at some point I thought oil was mostly used for gasoline. How naive and uninformed was I! As a student I feel horrible to know that I did not know oil is practically used in and for everything. Most products everyone uses oil was involved somehow. It is not only products but FOOD! Probably not to make it but to transport it from one place to the other. Much of our food comes from around the country and the world. Without oil to transport food, we would be so limited.
After what I have experienced with the oil spill and the shortage, I have changed. I HAD to change but I am glad because I know I contributed to saving our planet. If everyone stands together I hope we NEVER go back to this!

Source: greatgreensolutions

Source: bangov

BP Oil Company Insight

I am utterly dumbfounded with the information that has risen these past weeks. It all began with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Since I have been working for British Petroleum (BP Oil Company) I am aware of the economic effects our nation is and will be facing. It is reasonable that the law passed in response to the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill will make this company responsible for clean-up costs. However, having a limit set at $75 million and then because of this unfortunate oil spill raised to $10 billion on damages is outrageous. These large amounts of money helped me become conscious of how costly this will be compared to a natural disaster. Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans was devastating but the oil spill is capable to do more damage and it has already begun to do so. It is because it will not take years to clean-up but decades! It has affected everyone from animals and wildlife to humans and lifestyles.

In fact, my best friend and roommate has been terribly affected by this devastating oil spill. He was let go at his job of three years as a manager of a hotel. No one would have imagined that since tourism was very popular here due to the beaches. As to be expected, no one wants to visit these contaminated beaches now. For the company it is of great worry and urgency to have a solution, having so many millions of gallons spilled into the Gulf daily. To be exact 200,000 gallons spilled and at least another million gallons to be spilled.

Paying rent has become challenging because I no longer have the economic support from my roommate and with these sky rocketing costs for food my financial status is in the negatives. For now I hardly have money to spend for my actual necessities. This time of day, I must be serene and understandable with everyone including my self. I will not let this oil spill and oil shortage get in the way my friendship between my roommate. For now my salary is enough to support both but I truly do not know how long this will go for. I need and must keep positive!

Source: BP.com

Source: thebsreport

Taking a Toll on EVERYTHING!

Waking up this morning ready to devour a good breakfast dish at my favorite restaurant here around the corner I discovered my worst nightmare. It has CLOSED! Yeah, closed. How is that possible. I knew this oil shortage was bad but that restaurant always had a waiting list. Well, it should probably be in past tense, it used to have a waiting list before the oil shortage had completely gone downhill. I too, recently started paying fewer visits since I thought the prices for some dishes were ridiculous. Instead, today I went to a nearby restaurant a few blocks away. I, of course had to take my bike since the reason for going to the other place was to save money and oil.

Later that day I met up with the manager of the restaurant that had closed. He confirmed my suspicions, shipping the ingredients was nearly impossible. Not enough profit was being made with ingredients being shipped internationally and all. Competition was also a challenge since the dishes being made at the other restaurant were simpler because of the local ingredients used. He told me the restaurant could not lower its prices which left no other option but to close. That made me realize that places that offer economical prices while still offering the same satisfaction to combat hunger, will likely thrive. At the end of the day is not delicacy what many lean for but for many it is simple tasty food. Still, I will find it hard to wrap my mind around the idea of not going there anymore since it has been there since I first moved here and opened for 30 years. Wow 30 years in the making! This oil shortage is taking quite a toll on my life!

Source: foxnomad

Deprivation is Now our Present.

Source: Life.com Source: flickr.com

Never in a million years did I think that grocery stores were going to be out of bananas and mandarin oranges! How is that possible? I've been a local since I first arrived to the city and I definitely had not seen this. What a shocker to see empty boxes when they used to be flooding filled with fresh fruit. When you could just actually pick the ones you wanted, the sweet in season produce. Bananas that were plum and firm and not over ripened. Picking and choosing, yeah, well that's a thing of the past! Now, everyone is out of control, running to find scraps and leftovers. No one is well-behaved and composed, they are wild and just plain mean! Manners no more. I guess necessity has brought us to this. Any fruit that is available is taken. Even if it is not fresh, seasonal produce. Since the fruit is shipped from all over, it makes it hard to have fresh fruit every time. Waste is no longer done this time of day.

Who knew? Most things we buy are shipped from around the country and even the world. I guess that is the reason why the bananas I crave so much are hard to find. They come from Guatemala! Yeah, you heard right, the country. Well of course that is the root of the problem. Greater distances mean more oil use! Obviously with this oil shortage, food shortage had to connect somehow. Now the only solution is to support local farmers' markets instead of consuming frankenfoods. Those that are genetically modified. Going organic brings greater pros. It is better for our health and our pocket! Investing more in farmers' markets and local gardens will help us reduce and hopefully put an end to this crisis called a food shortage. Let us have local organic and natural foods - preservative and chemical free!

Source: Zazzle.com

Not Services, Too!

Oil shortage has brought nothing good upon us! Everything is so limited and shortage still continues. It is affecting the way we live our everyday life. Having to drive shorter distances and sometimes not drive at all is horrifying. I can only take long distance drives when I MUST run my errands. I have already said my farewell to my every so often relaxing getaways. All I have left is hope for improvement. Sometimes I think how possibly can this situation get any worse? Well, it sure can and it just did. Flights have been cancelled! Christmas break is next week and I must get there on time for all the celebrations! Never in my life have I missed Christmas with family but by the looks of it, things can change. The little hope I still have left is diminishing by everyday that passes. I guess it comes to no surprise that oil shortage had to connect to EVERYTHING. Airplanes need fuel and fuel comes from oil. I will have no other choice left but to drive. That is two full state away! I probably should start thinking about getting new gifts since the money I was going to spend on their decent gifts is going to go for gas. Also, everything that I expected to buy for the trip has gone out the window. Scratch those new cute pair of pants and blouses at the mall from the list. Even products that are a necessary like mouth wash and floss will not be bought. I will have to be content with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Hopefully I will not have to cut back on other needs but if I have to I probably will. I will do everying in my hands to visit my family. Even writing this is costing me money and oil, I guess I should start saving now.

Source: washingtonpost.com

Demand and Supply

Prior to today, I was oblivious to the interaction between supply and demand. As I took a quiz today, it was a revalation to know that even if I wanted oil for my everyday use, I would not get it. That simple. Goods and services are only given when there is demand. Demand will not be coming from my part any time soon because I must first possess sufficient wealth or income. As a full time student all I have going for me are endless expenses. My income can only go so far and it will not increase any time soon. Meaning I have no other choice but to cope with limited everything! I must now purchase other goods that still satisfy my needs but are not the 'ideal' ones. However, I must also depend on supply. Sellers only take action when they are willing and able to supply goods. I, as a buyer compared to a seller do not always think alike. When prices increase I get discouraged to purchasde but a seller's willingness and ability to offer goods increases. Complicated, right? However, the interaction between both was made clear. The solution that both need to control the market will be to have equilibrium. The quantity demanded must be equal to the quantity supplied. PHEW, whoever said knowledge could solve problems should be questioned. Living with shortage of oil is just plain complicated! Really.
Source: Tree Hugger

Uses of Oil

This morning on my way to school, the news reporter informed everyone that we are using oil at an alarming rate. Petroleum is practically used in everything and shortage was ineviteble. I really depend on oil especially on my way to school everyday. From the minute I get up to brush my teeth to my transportation to get there. As I think about how much I utilize it in my everyday life, it astonishes me. Ive been using petroleum since I was a child. So just the thought of me, one person in this world and everyone else using petroleum is a scary idea. We are all to dependant and we need to find different ways to use it less. If not we will be left with nothing!

SOURCE: Shutterstock.com