Qin Sun Stubis is a writer, communications consultant, and mother of two living in the New York City area.
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A New Declaration of Independence
This year, as we sit at picnics and cookouts, feast on platefuls of summer foods and dream our American dreams, shore birds, marine animals, and vital wetlands in the Gulf are dressed in a heavy coat of crude oil, glued to sandy beaches, facing death.
Because of our dependence on fossil fuel, thousands of our furried and feathered friends have lost their right to life, while millions of Americans have lost the liberty to enjoy the beaches and their pursuit of a livelihood, much less happiness.
Nearly 100 days ago, a broken BP pipeline on the deep ocean floor began spilling millions of gallons of crude oil into our sea, testing the resolve of this great nation to be independent of a poison that enriches our enemies and multinational companies, and threatens our air, our water, and even our food. As we watched in horror, a large black pillar of oil gushed willfully from five thousand feet below the ocean surface for days, then weeks, and then months. America has a great navy to keep any invaders at bay, but we are defenseless when it comes to a leaking oil pipe in our bays.
Like a drug addict who can’t wait for his next injection, our craving for oil has driven us mad. We jam pipeline after pipeline into the heart of Mother Earth, tapping Nature’s bounty to feed our indulgence.
Though most of us say we are concerned about this disaster, few are worried enough to change our way of life: We still drive when we feel like it, heat or cool our houses just as much as we used to, and, all too rarely, make a real effort to cut back on our national energy orgy. When it comes to this particular disaster, many say, “The government will take care of it,” or “The President should crack down on the violators,” or “BP should pay for the cleanup.” But how about us–every American with a conscience who uses oil and is creating a state of dangerous dependence?
Our nation still stands proud and free, and our purple mountains remain majestic, but our shining seas have been tainted with millions of gallons of oil. This Fourth of July, let all patriotic Americans join together and create a new Declaration of Independence, one that will allow our nation and its wildlife to live, and allow all of us to live free from the tyranny and dangers of oil.
You can always reach me at qstubis@gmail.com.
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