GP Essay Practice

Q17. Examine the claim that the world is too dependent on oil.

The processes of today’s industrialised world are mostly driven by oil as experienced by individuals, corporations and governments. Ever since crude oil was mined during the Industrial Age, the world demand for oil has exceeded supply. Developing countries that used to account for 26% of oil demand in the early 1970s now have a 40% share which is likely to continue growing. Our over-reliance on oil and its various forms has been proven by the ways that this finite resource has been manipulated to serve political or economic interests. Immediate civil needs are also disrupted when oil as an accessible fuel runs low. Although the world is currently fuelled by oil and numerous processes will be halted in the event of a lack of resources, technologically advanced countries are gradually moving away from fossil fuels.

1. It is true that oil is an extremely vital resource, the way it has permeated our lives and basic civil needs will cause the individual great inconvenience

- In the short-term vital public services like ambulances, fire-engines and public transport are all put in jeopardy when fuel supplies run low.

2. Given the overly valuable status of oil, it has been used as a political weapon by governments that have had adverse effects on economies in the world.

- 1973 OPEC 100% oil embargo on the United States and most of its allies in varying degrees (Great Britain, Japan, Canada) to pressure the US to stop military support for Israel in the Arab-Israeli conflict- 1973 World Oil Crisis: The price of oil quadrupled by 1974 to nearly US$12 per barrel - Chaos in the US: New York Stock Exchange shares lost $97 billion in value in six weeks.State governments requested citizens not put up Christmas lights, with Oregon banning Christmas as well as commercial lighting altogether. Politicians called for a national gas rationing program.

Nixon requested gasoline stations to voluntarily not sell gasoline on Saturday nights or Sundays; 90% of owners complied, which resulted in lines on weekdays.- Israeli troops from the 4th war withdraw from the West Side of the Suez Canal- Japanese motor industry gained an advantage over the US’

3. Oil has become so important to the economic success of countries that the possession of this resource has led to the violation of international boundaries.

- US waged the Iraq War in 2003 on the pretext of investigating Iraq’s possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction was actually an attempt to secure possession of oil wells in Iraq to gain more resources without paying the price.

4. More support for non-fossil fuel technology has helped it to recently develop to a practical, useful standard, showing that countries acknowledge their over-reliance on oil and are slowly but gradually reducing the need.

- It was only after the 1973 oil crisis that countries around the world began looking for other alternatives to oil. This led to greater interest in renewable energy and spurred research in solar and wind power.- Sweden’s mandate for a country free of fossil fuels by 2020 puts it in third. A majority of the country’s power is either nuclear or hydroelectric already. Solutions for automobile and flight transport include ethanol and animal waste conversion. Furthermore, the power of waves is in the process of being harnessed as well. Thanks to development at the University of Uppsala, Sweden is developing “wave power” which converts waves into 4x as much energy as solar power in the same amount of time, with no waste and no emissions. - Norway earns a high spot for being first home to the world’s largest solar production plant, owned by REC Group. They have also taken emissions seriously, now planning on becoming carbon neutral by 2030, not 2050 as originally expected, in major part by funding green projects abroad and reducing at home driving and flying.