Nine Real Ways You Can Stand Up To BP

We are all responsible for the BP oil spill. While BP might have cut corners to compromise safety standards, there’s one undeniable reason the company was drilling miles below the Gulf: To satisfy our insatiable desire for oil. For each time we chose to drive one-quarter mile instead of walk, BP was drilling away to make our lives a little more convenient. Until we live in a solar energy paradise, those passionate among us should strive to give up a few conveniences for the chance to stop rapid global warming, prevent future oil spills and leave the Earth just slightly more intact for future generations.
Simply put, protesting at a BP gas station won’t change our oil addiction.

Here’s a list of simple ways to cut your own oil use. I live in a car mecca known as Los Angeles, so I can attest that it’s not always easy. But, to start, you can make your changes incrementally rather than drastically. Before you realize it, you’ll be walking or biking everywhere and your gas-guzzling days will be a distant memory. And you’ll be much better prepared for the inevitable era when we really do run out of oil.

1. Drive less. Americans burn 20 million barrels of oil a day, mostly to transport ourselves around. Try taking public transit, telecommuting or carpooling. Or use the most energy efficient option—yourself. Simply walk or bike (and don’t forget your bike helmet).

2. Still driving? Keep your car looking its best -- and I don't mean frequent trips to the car wash. Take fuel-saving measures such as fully inflating your tires, getting your tune-up, emptying your trunk, and driving more slowly.

3. Observe Meatless Monday. Raising one cow on a factory farm uses 35 gallons of oil. If you cut down your meat consumption once a week, that's equivalent to not driving 1,000 miles annually.

4. Eat local. The average meal travels a whopping 1,500 miles to get to your plate. By eating locally, you’ll support farmers in your community, eat fresh and delicious seasonal food, and cut your oil consumption all in one go.

5. Eat organic. Conventional foods are covered in toxic oil-derived pesticides and agro-chemicals. By opting for organic foods, you’re cutting your oil use, helping keep our air a bit cleaner, and protecting the health of farm workers.

6. Use less plastic. Plastic production represents 8 percent of the world’s total oil use, and every single plastic item will be with us anywhere from 1,000 to 1 million years.

7. Choose green energy. Support clean, green options like wind and solar. You can often choose to purchase green power in your home state.

8. Support national climate change legislation. We can all do our part to cut our oil use, but Congress needs to do its part. Support policies that will provide genuine, long-term solutions to reduce our oil use and address global warming. In many states, oil groups are fighting to overturn existing state-level policies or block new ones. State legislators need to hear your voice too.

9. Say 'NO' to offshore oil drilling. We can’t afford another Gulf tragedy. Tell the Obama Administration to end all new offshore oil drilling.