The Military Is Weaning Itself Off Of Oil

They Should Know

Last week, a Marine company from California arrived in the rugged outback of Helmand Province bearing novel equipment: portable solar panels that fold up into boxes; energy-conserving lights; solar tent shields that provide shade and electricity; solar chargers for computers and communications equipment.

Fossil fuel accounts for 30 to 80 percent of the load in convoys into Afghanistan. While the military buys gas for just over $1 a gallon, to get each gallon to some forward operating bases costs $400. The U. S. military is the worlds oil companies number one costumer. It is estimated that we burn $400,000,000.00 worth of fuel a day in Afghanistan alone. Our military is doing something about this excessive waste of dwindling oil supplies.

For an example; The Air Force will have its entire fleet certified to fly on biofuels by 2011. More story HERE.

Local Industry

My dining area transformed into CD manufacturing. 10/4/10

One of the many enjoyable gifts that I have received is the ability to record, mix, burn, design graphics, print, and assemble CD's in jewel cases. This has been particularly helpful with recordings of the LMP Trio that we give in exchange for donations to restore the Red Oak Victory Ship. The ship is a part of the Richmond Museum of History, and we have been raising money for the Red Oak with our CD's for more than 10 years. By being able to do these CD's ourselves we save a considerable amount of money that would have been spent on production expenses.

The Red Oak is the last of the Victory ships that were launched at a rate of one every 24 hours from the Kaiser shipyards during world war two. They ran on petroleum based fuel, but the Navy has been changing to algae based fuels and electric powered ships, like the U.S.S. Makin Island.

Alternate Filling Station

I eat in the living room while my dining area is a CD factory. 10/4/10

Bio Fuel

Chicken, noodles, and broccoli from Trader Joe's. 10/4/10

I am glad to know that the military has already moved forward with renewable energy. Maybe this will awaken some of our political leaders who have been sleeping on pillows of petro-dollars while the rest of the world has been moving away from oil dependency.

Power Enhancement

A warm blueberry bran muffin with ice cream and whipped cream. 10/4/10

If BP's number one customer is abandoning petroleum based fuels, you know we are running out faster than we thought. It's too bad we won't be leaving any for future people, but we have been trained to consume mindlessly until everything is gone, poisoned, or destroyed.

It's not all doom and gloom, however. On 10/10/10, people around the world are putting on conservation events; 6174 Events in 184 Countries. They will celebrate climate solutions and send our politicians a clear message: "We're getting to work—what about you?" Learn more HERE.

Cairo, Egypt 2009 event. More photos worldwide, HERE.

Be sure to check this out. When you see the pictures of millions of people in countries all around the world caring about our planet's future it will make your heart sing with hope and determination to do what you can to try and preserve as much of this good life we have been blessed with, so that life on earth can be good in the future too.

Change a lightbulb to a CFL. Plant something on October 10th. Feel connected to a world of people who care. Find an event near you at 350.org.

Today's Relatively Appropriate Song;



One World