An American in London: A Wake-Up Call About Our Addiction to Oil
Reflecting on some readings about the oil and energy industries, I was shocked to learn the sheer scale of America's oil consumption. The statistics were alarming, and I couldn't help but feel a bit naive. How is it that America consumes more oil than any other country in the world, and yet there's so little public discussion about the effects of drilling on the earth and animals?
A recent trip abroad brought this question into sharp focus.
A Surprising Scene in London
I happened to be walking through central London when I found myself in the middle of a massive protest. To my surprise, the streets were filled with people protesting the use of fossil fuels and spreading awareness about its environmental impact.
The irony was not lost on me. The UK isn't one of the top 10 oil-producing or oil-consuming countries in the world. This led to the unavoidable and uncomfortable question:
Why is there a visible, public discussion about this in London, but not in a city like Los Angeles, which is at the heart of car culture?
The Path Forward: Cultivating Compassion
Our heavy reliance on oil and other natural resources is detrimental to our civilization, the earth, and the animals we share it with.
Reflecting on this, I believe the only way to truly shift our cultural norms toward more "green choices" is to start on a deeper level. We must cultivate compassion for the earth by first understanding the intimate and essential relationship we all share with nature. When we feel that connection, protecting it becomes a natural and necessary act.
