Time to suck it up, folks, and take a look at the myriad ways we have a hand in our world’s addiction to oil…

Fowl is fouled by BP Spill

I can barely look. For weeks, I’ve avoided news of BP except for snippets here and there, which was all I could stomach. I basically wanted to know one thing only: Have they stopped it. The news, repeatedly, was…no.
But I couldn’t ignore the photo on the front page of Saturday’s Toronto Star. Or today’s.
From all accounts, it’s a mess. It’s hard to get an accurate measure of just how big the Gulf oil spill really is. Though the leak has been somewhat stemmed, it nonetheless bled oil at 200,000 gallons daily, or roughly 5,000 barrels/day from April 20 til mid last week. Most reports simply call it “big”, “unprecedented”, “massive.”
There’s plenty of predictable outrage. Finger pointing. Blame-shifting.
But while Washington dickers over whose fault the initial blow-up is and just how, exactly, to stop it up then mop it up, it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at the role we play in this ecological disaster. Even if you ride your bike and eschew plastic, you’re likely as addicted to oil as the rest of us.
It’s hard to believe but petroleum isn’t just the fuel of choice of our automobiles and airplanes. I confess the multi-tasker in me is incredibly impressed. Less than half of a 42-gallon barrel of oil is used to fuel transportation. Which means that more than half – roughly 22.6 gallons – is used to create an astounding assortment of day-to-day products. Such as? Well, just look at the bizarre places you’ll find oil in your own home…

Your kids’ room: Those crayons that smell like childhood? That’s right. Petroleum.

Your office: The ink you use to sign your name? Uh-huh. (Which finally explains why eco-biz supply companies tout their use of soy-based ink.)

The medicine cabinet: Got a headache? Pop aspirin (with its unique blend of benzene and petroleum) for your pain. If allergies are your issue, petroleum to the rescue again – in the form of antihistamines.

The dresser drawer: Those panty-hose? “Satin” undies? Let’s just call them petro-panties…

The kitchen: Those vitamin capsules pack a lot of synthetic nutrients…er…petroleum.

The bathroom: Keep cavities at bay with a dab of petroleum-slash-toothpaste.

The dining room: Make dinner romantic by lighting a little scented petroleum – in the form of a candle – for ambience.

Your purse: Freshen your mouth with a quick chew of – you guessed it – petroleum-based polymers in your gum.

The stereo: Your CD? You guessed it.

Your makeup bag: You’ll find plenty of petroleum here…starting with your lipstick.

And the list goes on. And on. Just like the oil spewing into the Gulf…