Oil Pipelines and the Courage to Change: Why We Must Choose Cleaner Alternatives

Pipelines, Pipelines, Oil Pipelines! To What End?

Do oil pipelines across the heart of a nation make the world a better place - or do they make us worse off?

If we follow the medical dictum “Do no harm,” then we have a dilemma. An oil pipeline may be good for business or politics, but does it make the world a healthier, safer, or more sustainable place? The answer is no.

The Illusion of Necessity

The argument that business keeps society functioning is accurate. But must that business depend on such clearly destructive practices as the continued use of petroleum?

The truth is, it doesn’t have to. We already have cleaner, renewable technologies that can achieve the same ends without poisoning our atmosphere and water.

Yes, it will require restructuring parts of society - transitioning from gasoline-powered cars, reducing our dependence on plastics, and rethinking industrial agriculture. But these challenges are not insurmountable.

Plastics, after all, are only about a hundred years old. Before that, humanity managed perfectly well. Now, new materials made from bacteria and fungi can replace many forms of plastic. Electric vehicles and renewable energy have already proven that fossil fuels are not the only option. Even petroleum-based fertilizers can be replaced with modern permaculture practices that restore soil health instead of depleting it.

The point is simple: cleaner alternatives exist - we just have to choose them.

The Real Obstacle: Resistance to Change

The biggest problem with petroleum isn’t the product itself - it’s the people who profit from it.

Oil companies and investors don’t want their nest egg threatened. Workers, too, grow comfortable with familiar routines and resist retraining. That’s human nature. But learning new skills adds resilience to individuals and societies alike. The transition to clean energy is not a punishment; it’s an opportunity to build something better.

Leadership and Courage

Government must find the courage to lead the transition away from oil pipelines and toward sustainable energy systems. Protecting today's citizens and future generations - their health, their air, their climate - is government’s first responsibility in a democracy.