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Oil Storm: Reality or Fiction?

Does the TV Movie hit closer to the truth than most would like to admit?

Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) June 9, 2005 -- The FX Network aired the TV movie “Oil Storm” this past Sunday night. “America’s lifeline has been severed” sets up the over all theme of this fictional movie that was shot in a documentary style.

It begins with a tropical storm that rips through the gulf coast and destroys not only homes and businesses of New Orleans, but also the drilling rigs just off of the coast, the refineries and the pipelines that oil tankers dock with to pump millions of barrels of oil. This destruction causes oil prices to immediately jump to $70 a barrel, then other problems occur, and eventually oil reaches $130 a barrel. This wreaks havoc on the stock market. Long lines of panic stricken people vie for gasoline as the trucking industry begins to shut down with gas prices rising above $7 per gallon. Store shelves empty as costs of transporting products and food are too high. Winter sets in and heating homes is far too expensive for many. Elderly and homeless deaths rise. Farmers loose subsidies to the cost of the military while nationwide frustration turns to riots and chaos.

Could events like these actually happen, or is this just another Hollywood production? The Energy Advocates, a grass roots organization that has been educating the public about the energy industry since 1974, believe that the movie definitely is comprised of some reality. “We are now over 60% dependent upon foreign sources of our energy. “This is a crisis, but many either are not aware, or not acknowledging it.” Energy Advocates President, Mark Stansberry states.

Stansberry has traveled across the United States, speaking about some of the very possibilities that the movie scenario constructs. He and other members of the Energy Advocates take on this and many other topics and questions through forums and luncheon events. “Oil is more than the gasoline at the pump. It is needed to produce more than 3000 products that Americans use every day!” states Stansberry. “Oil, though very prevalent, is not our only concern. We have an electrical grid that is outdated, shown to us by the rolling blackouts of 2003. We have abundant natural gas that not only heats homes, but produces everything from electricity to fertilizer for the very foods our farmers produce. The natural gas industry needs our support and should play a key role. The solution to this is not just enough oil or other resources, but is having a comprehensive energy strategy!”

Developing alternative sources of energy is needed, but not a magic bullet. The cost of producing the alternative sources can be very expensive bottom-line to the common consumer. Opening more drilling within our own borders could help, but America cannot produce enough to make us self sufficient.

Other factors to consider: reliance upon unstable nations as Venezuela and Saudi Arabia is not a viable solution.--China is America’s biggest competitor in the economic picture when it comes to demand for these natural resources. China has both the demand as well as the finances.

What is the solution? Unfortunately there is no clear cut, easy solution. We have to look to the long term as well as our immediate needs. This can only come in the form of a concise energy strategy. There is no greater time than now. This has got to be addressed. But there are those in government, media and consumers who continue to dismiss this as not prevalent until it becomes newsworthy. Will it take a tragedy like “Oil Storm” presents for us to develop a strategy? Will it take another, larger blackout throughout the nation for this to be a topic of concern? “Sometimes we as Americans are complacent until our standard of living is disrupted. Then it is headline news and finger pointing begins.” says Stansberry. “Preemptive action is what is required. Problems like this do not just go away, or can be pushed off to the next generation any longer. It is time to stand up and take positive action. Energy education is greatly needed”

“Our responsibility at The Energy Advocates is to provide energy education”, Stansberry states. Education is a great part of the needed solution. The understanding of energy and the industry that creates it can help America make the right decisions and action steps to gaining a true solution. The Energy Advocates are pushing to help with educating America on this very topic.

For more information on the Energy Advocates and how you can become informed and involved, please go to www.energyadvocates.org. You may also email the organization at e-mail protected from spam bots or you can call the Tulsa Headquarters at (918) 599-7767.

The Energy Advocates is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) Oklahoma corporation with a primary focus of raising public awareness and changing the public's perception on the importance of America’s energy industry and how it directly effects the nations way of life. The Advocates are fast becoming a viable and authoritative voice on energy related topics.

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Source :  http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb248814.htm