Name: The political chemistry of oil
Uploaded: 2010-08-26T08:50:00Z
Duration: 17 min 17 s
Description: Speaking one month after the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Lisa Margonelli shows how drilling moratoriums and executive ousters make for good theater, but distract us from the issue at heart: our unrestrained oil consumption. She shares her bold plan to wean America off oil -- by confronting consumers with its real cost.

Speaking one month after the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Lisa Margonelli shows how drilling moratoriums and executive ousters make for good theater, but distract us from the issue at heart: our unrestrained oil consumption. She shares her bold plan to wean America off oil -- by confronting consumers with its real cost.

The political chemistry of oil

Dramatic oil spills grab public attention, but the root problem lies in relentless consumption and a system built to obscure true costs. Americans, just 4% of the world's population, use 25% of its oil, often feeling helpless and disconnected at the gas pump. The focus on morality, blame, and executive drama makes for cathartic theater but misses opportunities for real change. Only by recognizing the hidden costs and shifting policies can society reduce dependence on oil and its global consequences.