African oil curse

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Posted on September 29, 2006
Filed Under Justice, Deep ecology, Ecological hope, Consumer culture, Fossil fuel dependency, Environmental disasters, Earth spirituality

Fostering Ecological Hope

Today from Margaret Swedish:

There are many ugly sides to the oil business, but perhaps none as ugly as the exploitation of Africa’s oil wealth by energy corporations who rake in obscene profits while leaving the people and the land in abject misery.

Here is a look at that nasty underside.  I can only echo the closing reflection in this article — THINK!  THINK! when you are at the oil pump, grousing about high gas prices, or celebrating when they come down (conveniently right before the elections).  Think about how oil comes from countries that violate human rights, degrade women, create elaborate wealth for a tiny elite, as in Saudi Arabia, or compound the misery of some of the world’s poorest people, as in Africa.

The price of oil has nearly tripled since President George W. Bush took office in 2001, yet the majority of the people who live in the countries from which the fuel flows still experience grinding poverty. Viewed side by side, the $10 billion quarterly profits of Exxon Mobil, Chevron, BP, or Shell and the $1.15 per acre compensation paid (every four years) to some farmers in oil producing zones show just how unfair the global oil industry has become.

The next time you pull up to the pump, stop a moment and remember that the thick black crude is extracted from the earth’s crust at great social, political, and environmental cost. Then do whatever it is in your power to demand dignity and proper compensation for those whose land or sea may be cursed with the blessing of this natural resource.

This is why some of us in the deep ecology world insist that whatever we do to address global warming, resource depletion, peak oil, etc., must be done with a commitment to equity.  It is not just about how to keep our cars running.  It is also about justice — and that is more important than maintaining our insupportable lifestyles, or driving up the profits of the oil companies. 

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