Posted 10 days ago in 
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Our senators should back the bipartisan Energy Security Through Transparency Act.
Gas prices have jumped about 23 cents since the beginning of October, reaching a high for the year last Friday. Energy traders are pointing a finger at rising violence in Nigeria’s oil region, where militants have warned oil companies about more bombings and attacks on their production and exporting facilities. Since Shell began oil production in Nigeria, an estimated 1.5 million tons of oil has spilled in the Niger Delta ecosystem — an amount equal to one “Exxon Valdez” spill every year.
The fighting demonstrates how seemingly far-removed struggles over natural resources can have dramatic impacts on Americans as they fill up at the pump. Luckily, America also has an export that can help: freedom of information. The track record is that when local people learn what corporations are paying for these natural resources, they are more likely to exercise their democratic rights to get their fair share and less likely to attack the supply chain with violence and vandalism.
WAYNE FLICK
Grand Junction
One Response to “Energy security through transparency”
Posted November 10th, 2009 at 2:45 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Nigeria. Isn’t that the African Country that finally abolished slavery about 5 years ago?? And the slave ‘owners’ haven’t exactly got around to posting that memo on the bulletin board??
I anticipate the the Senate will pass no such bill. NOR would environmentalists want time to. It is perceived by “NIMBY’s” as ‘better’ to outsource our pollution to someone else’s backyard. We dont have to see it, deal with it or care.
FACT. We would be better off drilling oil 5 miles off the coast of Florida & California than destroying Nigeria. At least here there IS a regulatory environment. There is some degree of EPA compliance. Were OSHA, and workplace safety mean something. Where the Sierra Club, Greenpeace and EarthJustice will be keeping a much closer eye on whats going on. Also.. a manilla envelope stuffed with cash doesn’t go as far, the ‘exchange rate’ aint even close to what it is in Nigeria. So why arent we drilling 5 miles off the coast???
Why is it OK to make Government subsidized solar panels in China?? Why cant they mine and process Nickel for Prius batteries in Boulder County??? Why are those sainted CFL bulbs not made in a factory in Berkley?? And Silicon valley… whats so bad about making computer chips?? And why is the process better if its done in China or India??
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