{"id":3279,"date":"2008-08-08T11:21:05","date_gmt":"2008-08-08T17:21:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=3279"},"modified":"2015-10-26T13:30:15","modified_gmt":"2015-10-26T17:30:15","slug":"petroleum-based-products-shape-our-lives-does-that-mean-we-are-irreversibly-dependent-on-oil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/petroleum-based-products-shape-our-lives-does-that-mean-we-are-irreversibly-dependent-on-oil\/","title":{"rendered":"Petroleum-Based Products Shape Our Lives: Does that Mean We Are Irreversibly Dependent on Oil?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"barrel<\/a><\/p>\n

If oil is so ingrained in the modern world we all know — ubiquitous in the manufacturing and transporting of countless consumer products — does that mean we are hopelessly dependent upon it?<\/p>\n

The question came to mind after receiving a comment from Morris (no last name given) on a previous post of mine here at sustainablog.org, World Naked Bike Ride: Is Anything Gained by Protesting Oil Dependency in the Buff?<\/a><\/p>\n

Not to put words in Morris’s mouth, but he seems to suggest that oil cannot be escaped. Is he right? Even if he is, does that mean we should abandon efforts to break our addiction to crude?<\/p>\n

Sure, he makes a valid point in reminding us that oil has been used to make the very bicycles naked riders use in their World Naked Bike Ride<\/a> protests around the world.<\/p>\n

To quote a portion of his comment:<\/p>\n

“If it weren\u2019t for oil they wouldn\u2019t be riding those bikes, they\u2019d be walking, barefoot, naked with no glasses! Not to mention the streets would be dirt, not paved. There would be no electric lights, no drinks at the end of the ride, no music. Should I go on?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yes, let’s go just a little further. I did a quick Internet search for more oil-based products. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge publishes a list of oil uses<\/a> on its Web site.<\/p>\n

Here is a brief excerpt:<\/p>\n