The Danger or Fossil Fuel Independence

THE DANGER OF FOSSIL FUEL INDEPENDENCE
by Rev. Robert Emerick & Rev. David Rommereim 

     IMAGINE THIS – 150, or maybe just 80, years from now:  the fossil fuel sources in the U.S. are almost entirely gone because, back in 2013, we chose to pursue a policy of “energy independence,” and in the years following 2013, we drilled and mined and hydro-fracked everywhere we possibly could.  But, the good news - and the bad news - is that, even though our country’s fossil fuels are almost gone, there are still productive fossil fuel sources in other nations.  What choices will the U.S. face then?
     At that point in time, Americans will face a horrible choice: either allow our economy to completely collapse, or send our armed forces to seize and occupy the fossil fuel sources in other countries.  Certainly, other major military powers will try to seize the same sources.  If we are not willing to have our economy collapse, we will sacrifice the lives of young Americans (and the lives of those fighting against us in the defense of their own nation), who will be sent to seize and occupy fossil fuel sources in other countries - indefinitely.  Americans will be sending our children and grandchildren to injury and death so that that we can keep the heat and AC going in our homes. 
     Both of these choices are catastrophic – and avoidable.  Clearly, we must find a way to spare future Americans this horrifying choice.  The only way to spare our descendants this horrible choice is to establish a rational and moral energy policy - remaining in the world energy market while we use and develop clean, infinite, and safe sources of energy that do not poison our land, air, and water, and do not raise the price of food.       
     NOW IMAGINE THIS – 150, or maybe just 80, years from now:  American armed forces will not have to sacrifice their lives just to heat and cool their parents’ and grandparents’ homes because, back in 2013, the U.S. decided to achieve energy independence by making the necessary investment in the research and use of infinite and clean energy sources.  Can you imagine solar panels on every roof in America?  Can you imagine wind, solar, geo-thermal, and yet undiscovered or undeveloped sources of infinite and clean energy powering our nation?  
     The policy of fossil fuel independence in the U.S. sets the stage for perpetual wars of unimaginable dimensions.  Are we willing to put our descendants in such great danger?  Let’s not exchange the lives and well-being of our great-great-great grandchildren for our own short-term financial gain.  Instead, let’s invest in our descendants’ security. 

Rev. Robert Emerick, Pastor, Bay Ridge United Methodist Church, Brookyn
Rev. David Rommereim, Pastor, Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn  

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