Necessity is the mother of invention. Atleast we have started talking about bio-diesels and fuel cells to minimisse petroleum products consumption. Battery run road vehicles are also being tried. Alternate to oil is still in R&D stage only.
Ramachandran V.
2006-07-03 23:13:56
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answer #1
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answered by sarayu 7
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What are you going to use instead? Our entire global society depends upon oil at the moment. It is the only source of energy that is cheap, available in large (but diminishing) amounts and can easily be charged for. Wind is too weak, nuclear to complex and too expensive. Solar is not powerful enough for our needs. Oil still gives the best bang-per-buck. so what is the alternative? and whay cannot we use that?
Some people believe that we can tap energy from a zero point within a quantum flux, or some such thing. That would give us free, clean energy.
Problem is, according to the theory, the source of that energy is everywhere and you can't put a meter on it. It would grant every village in Africa, India, South America the same access to energy generation as the first world nations. Purely from a financial point of view, that would destroy a multi-TRILLIAN dollar industry and put it in the bin overnight.
In addition to this, it would cause such a cataclysmic reorganisation of geo-political power, the likes of which have never before been seen, in speed and scale. The first world could not then use energy as a bargaining chip, and would have to resort to weaponry to maintain any advantage over the second and third world.
This brings me to the final reason that won't happen just yet. Mankind (kind? yeah, since when?) has not evolved spiritually as fast as technologically. The free energy would provide every person with a grudge, or spurned lover, or fired employee, or any nutcase, or every terrorist, with more potential firepower than ever before.
Do you want children to play with nukes? That is a metaphor for what could potentially be unleashed.
That is why we don't stop using oil. We cannot afford to yet, in terms of finance or security or responsibility.
Finally, I don't believe that there is a good enough link between our use of oil and global warming. for we did not use oil 600 years ago, and the climate then was as warm as it is now. ut then cooled, and has warmed again, naturally. The correlation between the sun's distance, and it's intensity and global warming is far greater, than that of our use of and emmisions of carbon.
Climate change is a natural phenomena. Yes we should stop harming and poluting our environment, but climate change is a different issue. besides, why does everyone single out the car? Air travel is far more damaging than car travel. 1 transatlantic flight is the equivilent of 100,000 commutes in a standard car.
2006-07-03 23:23:30
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answer #2
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answered by kenhallonthenet 5
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Just tried to test out this feature in Yahoo. Give a shot here...
Well, looking at the evolution of energy consumption from firewoods, coal and to oil; petrol or oil is the most widely used energy in human history, partly thanks to commonization of transport vehicles by Henry Ford in 19th century. Ever since then, human beings stepped up the usage of oil at exponential rate in consistent manner; as it was the most cost effective method to convert useful energy for most people.
My understanding is that, once the oil is expensive enough to allow the evolution of another more cost effective energy (and sustainable one); the governments and companies around the world would pour enough money to ensure the alternatives do work, and work well. Currently, there're efforts to derive alternative bio-fuel, wind energy, solar energy and etc. but they are no way near the cost effeciveness of oil at present moment (albeit the rise of oil to USD70 / barrel).
So, hopefully, things will improve much better before the Antartica polar cap melts. The most pressing concern should be global warming and the lack of crisis minded-ness from governments around the world on this issue.
2006-07-03 23:33:51
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answer #3
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answered by Anthony Lau 1
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Humanity simply can't stop using oil for energy because our technology evolved hand in hand with oil, and with no concept of it ever running out.
Second, no politician wants to harm their country's economy, and any significant attempt to cut oil consumption will cause unemployment and price rises in just about every area of the economy. World leaders want to hang on to their jobs and causing problems in the economy is the best way to get booted out of a job, What they are all doing is pretending it is not as serious as it is and leaving it for the next guy in the job to deal with.
Third, many countries, and I'm particularly thinking of the U.S.A, have governments that are basically in the pockets of big business - and which is one of the biggest, yup, those good ole' boys in the oil business.
Fourth, China is expanding economically at an exponential rate using 20th century resources because they absolutely do not care about the rest of the world, or even the long term future of their citizens.
2006-07-03 23:26:02
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answer #4
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answered by cobra 7
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Because they don't know proper grammer: "Why doesn't humanity stop using oil for energy?" would make more sense.
Anyway, to answer the question, not all of humanity uses oil for energy. Some places use wind and some use water. There are a couple more different sources of energy. I just think it's the most cost effective and I think most profitable for the government of america.
2006-07-03 23:11:44
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answer #5
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answered by unisecks_cow 1
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Until a cheap, easily available alternative source of energy is found, oil will always top the list as the main source of energy.
2006-07-04 01:40:35
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answer #6
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answered by thelordparadox 4
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because its very cheap comparative with another source of energy like nuclear or other or the other alternative is not available to all
2006-07-03 23:15:23
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Because the government enjoys the tax revenue too much!
2006-07-05 08:28:18
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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It is always easier to continue the convenience of what is rather than experiencing the pain of change.
2006-07-03 23:10:12
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answer #9
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answered by quikzip7 6
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Because they are stupid, lazy and apathetic!
2006-07-10 12:31:06
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answer #10
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answered by citizen ex 2
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