This particular post has been a long time coming.
For about a year and half I have been reading and studying California’s “Water Wars” and a natural outgrowth from that research directed me to want to know more about other natural resources.
Los Angeles County sits on huge oil reserves. Just how huge? I’m only now beginning to understand.
Recently I shared with you about the La Brea Tar Pits and while I was doing some reading, I came upon a few curious stories that really caught my attention.
In 1925, not long after the La Brea Tar Pits were recognized as a source of fossil fuel, California supplied half of the world’s oil and much of it came from Southern California. Currently Los Angeles County has about 30,000 active oil wells.
The Tar Pits are on the southern edge of the Salt Lake Oil Field, and with a careful eye, as you navigate the busy city you can easily spy evidence of active oil production. Oil rigs, or in some cases just a maze of pipes and low to the ground valves, share space with the Beverly Center Shopping Complex, the historic original Farmer’s Market and even CBS Studios.
But it’s the oil field adjacent the Salt Lake Oil Field I find most intriguing.
I presume that everyone has at least some impression of Beverly Hills? Let’s first take a very quick drive by Rodeo Drive.
Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, is best recognized for its 90210 zip code. Of course it IS home to many celebrity addresses, but only a fraction of the city’s population lives in the “hills,” with the remainder in the “flats”–which includes four more zip codes.
At another time I’d love to share more from Beverly Hills which has a very interesting history; today I want to talk about what’s flowing beneath the famous streets.
Meet the Veneco Flower Tower
This is an oil derrick…or at least it houses the mechanics responsible for a substantial amount of oil drilling.
Beyond its unusual design and fabric wrapped covering its claim to fame is the location on the grounds of Beverly Hills High School.
Photo taken from Beverly Hills High School Track and Athletic Field
Thirty to forty wells pump about 150,000 barrels of oil a year from the Beverly Hills Oil Field.
And not without its controversy!
In 2006 the court dismissed 12 lawsuits brought by Erin Brockovich on behalf of former Beverly Hills High School students, claiming there were unusually high levels of benzene and other toxic substances related to oil production, contributing to a suspiciously large Cancer cluster among Beverly Hills High alumni.
The city and school district had previously spent more than a million dollars to determine the area as safe, but for a time there was a great deal of worry and concern for the students.
Brokovich was later accused of participating in what may have been a rush to judgment in a grab for publicity, however, controversies still linger.
As a matter of general concern, not simply related to the high school, the city of Beverly Hills voted to ban all oil drilling after 2016.
Will they? Should they?
It’s such an interesting conundrum.
Oil drilling is a continual revenue stream.
This 150 foot tower represents between $300,000 and $700,000 annually in royalties to the school, covering 85% of teacher salaries.
Beverly Hills left an option open in their decision to “revisit later.”
I’ll let you know what they decide.
For more pictures of the oil fields of the Los Angeles Basin, including other well-disguised buildings, click HERE. I highly recommend looking at Westside & Downtown and Harbor & Long Beach.
Love it or hate it, it drives (pun intended) our economy and we are in a tremendously interesting crossroads as California begins switching over to more environmentally friendly fuel sources.
As the debate rolls on, my head just spins faster!
Stay tuned…I can’t get enough of this stuff!
breathelighter 
We’ve been enjoying Aerial America on the Smithsonian Channel ~ but some of the environmental devastation caused by man’s desire to chase the $$$ is sad, including whole mountaintops removed in West Virginia and Kentucky to access “black gold.” I do wonder what life on earth will be like in 100 years. ❓
I wonder, too, Nancy. I read books that talk about decisions made 100 years ago, and shake my head at the “ignorance” and observe the consequences from the lack of information and short-sightedness, and then i wonder the same thing…what will “they” say about us? It won’t all be good, that I know! The television series you mention sounds really interesting. I’m going to see if I can find it!
And I was worried about cellphone antennas.
To do those things were you normally live, I wouldnt feel comfortable.
Twenty years ago where I live, gasoline was spilled to the sewers and many blocks exploded later, houses, people, cars, dogs, everything.
I guess things work better in california though.
Honestly, we’ve had our problems, too. There are many safeguards in California and we pay very high taxes on our gasoline to offset some of the environmental damage. But there are still accidents and problems. A few years ago there was a terrible accident in Northern California that sounds very much like you describe. Many people were killed and a couple of square blocks of homes were leveled. We really don’t like to think about what is “flowing” underneath us, do we? I try not to think of it, too.
I remember being amazed when I read this post last year at the sight of an oil derrick next to a school in a built-up area. Over here in the UK all our oil so far has come from off-shore wells and I can imagine there being a huge protest at the thought of onshore drilling. I suppose that’s because we’re such a very small country in area.
There are many oil “rigs” in very highly populated areas here, Perpetua, but most don’t look like anything in particular. My favorite is in a really exclusive area of Los Angeles and it looks like a very “elaborate” high-rise building. It’s just a shell! I think most people want to use all the oil they can get, but don’t want to be reminded of how it all works. No eye-sores! Here there are more protests about off-shore drilling. LOL! We are funny people, aren’t we? We want the benefits without any of the problems. I wish it worked that way! 🙂
My brother worked for a company that made some of the equipment that allowed an oil well to be in one location but enabled the drilling in another location through cameras, etc. so it doesn’t surprise me about an oil well in Beverly Hills.
I think it’s very easy to be critical of oil companies these days. And when we see some of the horrible off-shore accidents, we all jump on that. I do, too. But until we stop using so much oil and petroleum products we need the oil companies. I find the whole topic and debate really interesting. The company your brother worked for probably did have some presence here in California. There are hundreds of oil rigs all over the Southland but many are not at all visible. I guess you can tell I find it interesting. Thank you for sharing, Karen. 🙂
Hi Debra. I remember this post… doesn’t time fly?! I wonder if anything further has been decided, or are they still planning to stop drilling in 2016?
Have a good week!
I think all the problems and questions are probably being just kicked on down the line, Cathy. This is the centennial year for Beverly Hills and I think it’s been “all party” and celebration. Maybe next year they’ll get back to business. 🙂 I will be watching to see what they decide about the oil production. I would bet they are not going to pass on all the revenue. I’ll be shocked if they do!
me too … it is a conundrum … the oil and income … or a cleaner environment? thanks for reminding us 🙂
I think most Californians have no idea how much fossil fuel we are sitting on, Christine. And most of the production is very well hidden. I land very firmly in the “cleaner environment” camp, but I see very little evidence that we are doing a good job of cutting back our oil and petroleum usage. I can hardly wrap my brain around it sometimes, but I suppose I do what I can on my own end. And that, at times, feels like very little! But the “Eiffel Tower” just fits so well in Los Angeles. I often wonder how many thousands of people pass it every day and have NO idea it’s an oil derrick. I do live in fantasy land, you know! 🙂
ha ha!
I remember this post, Debra. 🙂 We’re all living on borrowed time……I often feel that way when I read about what we do to our earth.
I think we would have to take a giant step backwards to make any significant shift towards less oil and petroleum use, and I don’t think most people are willing to do that. We want more, and we want to pay less. It’s like so many things in our world that make me a little crazy. Until we use a lot of the earth’s resources, we aren’t going to reverse or halt any of the problems. I, too, often feel great sadness at our short-sightedness, Andra. ox
Memory seems to tell me that we’ve seen this oil structure before on your pages. As we know, decisions commonly face positive and negative aspects with every choice … so I know you’ll keep us informed.
That’s right, Frank. This was a repost put out in “honor” of big centennial celebrations taking place in Beverly Hills this weekend. And yes, the unintended consequences of almost every big decision keeps me riveted to the headlines! 🙂
See … your posts are memorable!
Ha! Thank you, Frank. 🙂
I remember that oil derrick. And I’ll be curious to see if it really ‘goes’ away. I too shudder at what we do to our earth.
Yet we continue to use oil like there’s no consequence, right? That’s what really gets to me the most, Colleen. It’s so easy to vilify the oil companies (and I, too, get very critical), but we don’t want to use less and pay more. I have no answers! I just report odd looking oil derricks and do a lot of wondering. 🙂
Booo to the cliffhanger. 😀 And it’s a surprise seeing Erin Brokovich into the mix. Boy, you do know how to spin our heads thinking. You’re reeling us in with your obsessions … ehem … curiouty. 😀
And I have so many little obsessions, Rommel! You, my favorite bloggers, are so polite to indulge me. Can you imagine what my life would be like with my friends if you weren’t here to listen to me? I think I already bore most of them with the topics that most interest me. I’m not very good with cocktail party chatter. LOL!
Don’t worry about that with me. 😉 It’s nice to follow a hard headed instigator. 😀
This is fascinating, Debra. I had no idea about the oil. Thank you for sharing such an informative and interesting piece!
The most interesting thing to me is that most Southern Californians don’t have any idea they are surrounded by oil derricks. Many are very elaborately disguised. Oil in California, like everywhere I think, is very political. I am glad you enjoyed the little bit I could share. This “Eiffel Tower” right in the middle of Beverly Hills really intrigues me. 🙂
Great share Debra… I had not known of this till reading your post… man is so busy with deciding if progress and income should surpass natures way and human health that some times one wonders on what is known as progress… I wonder if anyone has the real answers,,….???
I know that I am really quite strong in my ability to identify problems–and at the same time I don’t have any answers! LOL! But it does seem to me we play “fast and loose” with our future through decisions to put economic concerns above a consistent interest in making hard choices that might better serve our overall health. I do think the issues are complex and complicated! Thank you for your perspective, Rob. I always enjoy it!
Interesting facts, Debra. To say something in general (without stats), California – especially southern California – must have some of the highest concentrations of “alternative” cars… Ones that run on natural gas, electricity, etc. Yet, California has the highest price per gallon for gasoline. Why is that, first of all? I paid close to $4.50 per gallon for premium unleaded. It’s taxed up the ying-yang. Yet, I understand that California, as you somewhat mentioned, has an extremely large oil reserve that is not tapped. I’m thinking its politics once again – and where the civilians like us suffer?
We recently purchases a Prius, Koji, and in the end it’s really saving us on all fronts. We are averaging 50 MPG which is taking a huge bite out of that gasoline bottom line. I don’t understand the politics of why we pay for what they refer to as “seasonal” gasoline prices. And you’re right, with the refineries in our state, it’s sure unclear to me why we pay more. It’s very frustrating, I agree!
Fabulous and enlightening post Debra,,,such weird and crazy decisions going on down there. As an ex high school teacher I would have voted to take a cut in pay rather than subject my students to any possible environmental hazard. We really need to push hard and harder to release ourselves from our addiction to oil…thank you for this…
You have it completely right, John–our addiction to oil! And believe me, in Southern California we are “wedded” to our gas guzzling vehicles. I don’t know what the tipping point is going to be, but I do think it’s a bit dishonest to go to such lengths to disguise oil production right in the middle of very large metropolitan areas. We ought to at least be repeatedly reminded that environmental hazards are right under our noses, and then if we continue to buy huge vehicles that aren’t in the least efficient, we can own that decision, too. Thank you for offering your point of view. I tend towards agreement with you!
Is Beverly Hills High the school 90210 was based on? That has to be the most famous zip code in the US. I first became aware of Rodeo Drive in the movie, ‘Pretty Woman’. I haven’t been there yet but I’d love to visit one day soon. Maybe it’s time I went to see my sister! And I’d love to have a coffee with you if that’s possible! xx
Exactly, Charlie. That is the high school, and Pretty Woman is a good representation of Rodeo Drive. I definitely vote for you coming to see your sister. I would just love to have the chance to meet you. You come and I’ll make it happen. 🙂 ox
I remember seeing a lot of oil wells around L A when growing up as a kid; especially in the Baldwin Hills area.
There are a lot of oil derricks in the Long Beach, Seal Beach and Signal Hill areas that look just exactly like what you remember as a child. I’m sure they’re all over the place and I just don’t see them any more! But in the “high rent” districts they go to great lengths to hide them, including constructing entire buildings that look like high-rise commercial buildings that are simply shells for the oil production inside the “walls.” I think that’s just fascinating. So much illusion. LOL!
I remember visiting southern California in the 60s and seeing oil derricks all over the towns. Haven’t been back much since then. I’m surprised they are still productive! Sorry I have missed your posts this past month. Boy I have been goofing off!
Not all the oil derricks are disguised, Tom, but many are. And very creatively. I’m glad you’ve had some time to goof off! LOL! I hope you have been well!
Fascinating. It seems like we are at a crossroads that requires some new types of decision making versus health and environmental safety, but not quite ready from our current economic way of life. I didn’t know that about the Beverly Hills high school, so strange how the oil business has dominated our lives for the last century or so. I hope renewable energy sources start becoming more common. Love to read your stories, Debra, and learn something each time.
Karen
I also assume the majority of people want to be environmentally responsible, but the idea that sacrifice of current comforts might need to be challenged in order to achieve ecological harmony is a whole other shift in awareness, and is going to take time. I, too, hope that renewable energy will become more and more the first choice we make. Isn’t it interesting the lengths that people go to disguise the oil derricks? I find that really fascinating. So many people have no idea we are even pumping! Thank you for your thoughtful remarks, Karen.
That’s right up there with the oil rigs on the capitol grounds of OK City! If I were just driving by Beverly Hills High, I might not realize what I was looking at.
On-the-other-hand, an average of one half million dollars in revenue for a school district would be hard to turn down, especially with a good sales pitch. It’s interesting what we say yes to in one era, only to wonder “what were we/they thinking?” the next, isn’t it? I’m sure, at the time, at least, the environmental hazards weren’t as well known, or explained if they were.
Another fascinating post, Debra. Keep them coming, my friend.
You have completely captured why this subject in Beverly Hills is of so much interest to me, Penny. I am as concerned with health safety factors and environmental dangers as much as anyone, but we aren’t consistent. When you look at the number of really huge vehicles driving all over Los Angeles and guzzling gasoline, it seems disingenuous to me to turn our noses up at oil drilling. And Beverly Hills high is not the high school of the rich and powerful. It’s a good school, but funded just like every other high school. So I really don’t know what would happen if the funding were completely “turned off” at the pump. It’s going to be interesting. This is my birds-eye view of one issue like this, but don’t we see this same thing being played out all over the world. The choices we make for good often have such unintended consequences we don’t see coming. I’m often very glad I am not in a position of any power to even vote on some of these issues. I’d be twisted into a knot! 🙂
Your detective work is fascinating and here is another story to think about. Good post Debra!
Thank you for indicating some interest, Meg. You just never know who to trust. I really don’t know which way the Beverly Hills City Council is going to vote–future revenue, or take seriously some of the claims, which haven’t yet stood up in court, but who really knows? I do find these conflicts of interest very fascinating. 🙂
sounds like the situation in the oil sands in western Canada; a revenue generating natural resource or a pathological nightmare??
You’ve summed up the conundrum that seems to drive so many decisions today. Do we sacrifice the future for today’s economic security? That seems to be the more popular route, but many of us are certainly questioning that this makes any sense. I sometimes vacillate myself, and that’s in part why I read so many different sources to try to understand. People need to live, too…in California there are a lot of jobs tied to the petroleum industry. It’s tremendously complicated. My head often spins…I don’t think I’m alone in that. 🙂 Thanks for mentioning the situation in western Canada, Lorie. It’s good to be reminded these questions are being considered worldwide!
Dear Debra, whenever I think of oil in the ground, I think of Gerard Manley Hopkins sonnet “God’s Grandeur.” The first eight lines are as follows: “The world is charged with the grandeur of God./It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;/It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil/Crushed. Why do men then now not reek his rod?/Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;/ And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;/And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil/Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.”
The poem then goes on for six more lines and the next two really touch me with awe: “And for all this, nature is never spent;/There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;” Then there are four more lines and they always inspire me. And Hopkins wrote in the 19th century! Peace.
Wow, Dee! What an absolutely incredible poem, and you’re right, written in the 19th century? I think it’s so powerful I’ll need to really spend some time absorbing it, but I am grateful you shared it. I think in some ways it may capture for me what roils around in me much of the time. I despair that we ever take for granted the resources we’ve been given, and it’s very easy to become cynical and feel a little “doomed” when we hear so much negativity–continual negativity, really, but at the same time, there are amazing people committed to caring for Mother Earth and I tend towards being hopeful. I know that you, too, have a deep respect for the natural world, and yet you don’t seem to run to extremes in any direction, but instead display a steady forward motion that I admire. This poem is a small piece of that. Thank you, Dee.
Dear Debra, I’m pleased that this poem by Hopkins spoke to you. He is one of my favorite poets and I have his collection nearby because so often I need to reread his words.
Thank you for your belief that I “display a steady forward motion.” I like to think that I do but there are moments of real panic and sometimes a little despair. But my friends of many years tell me that when I “fall off the wagon” into pessimism, I usually need about 15 minutes before I’m climbing out of the deep pit and turning my face to the sun and finding a way to enjoy the good that comes with every event and person in our lives. I’m glad that comes through in my writing and comments. Thank you. Peace.
I remember seeing something on TV (60 Minutes?) about the school, the oil wells, and safety concerns. It’s been a number of years. Given the sorry state of most municipalities’ finances, I cannot imagine Beverly closing down this cash cow.To be sure, there’ll be more environmental studies to prove the wells harmless but I don’t think they’ll be stopped. One thing’s for certain, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. What will the city do to recoup the lost revenue or will they move the school? With 2016 coming on fast, it looks like busy times ahead for our special interest reporter. 🙂
I agree with you entirely, John, that it is very, very unlikely that Beverly Hills will stop pumping oil. I don’t have any idea what the publicity on this will, or won’t be, but I am going to keep digging to find out. I think like most of us it will indeed be interesting to see what the spin is like. I have had a book sitting on my shelf about the original methane claims associated with the oil drilling on the Beverly Hills campus, but I just haven’t read it yet. I know that the original case was dismissed in court and I’m curious to see how it “feels” to me after reading the book. There are so many similar issues being played out everywhere, I sometimes think my head is in that same spin. 🙂
Here in NSW, Australia, there are a lot of protests about Fracking.
What you show us about Beverly Hills is truly mind boggling. Thank you, Debra, for sharing with us all this information. I really would like to reblog this post of yours. Is this all right?
the debate about tracking is pretty strong here, too, Uta. The other day on a walk I noticed several people had “no tracking” signs posted on their front lawns. I had never noticed that before now, so the debate is continuing to escalate. I am glad you found the Beverly Hills “Eiffel Tower” interesting. I appreciate you stopping by. 🙂
Yes, enjoy your weekend in beautiful sunshine, Debra. I am inclined to stay at home today. We have some sunshine but also very nasty cold south-westerly winds. Much too cold for me! I can’t really complain, for we’ve had a very long and warm summer. 🙂
There are very interesting write-ups about Beverly Hills Oil Field as well as about Fracking to be found in Google, Debra. I believe Fracking can pollute ground water that people depend on. No wonder people resort to protests. However to achieve something by protesting is not always successful if big money is involved.
California is pretty good in developing renewable energy sources, isn’t it?
We do have some very positive efforts towards renewable energy. It’s just so slow, I suppose. And we have absolutely no limits on growth. When 6,000 square foot homes are going up in average neighborhoods, just thinking of the energy and water that accompanies that kind of excess. I think we are so inconsistent. We talk out of both sides of our mouths, but energy is also getting more and more expensive. That may be what finally wakes people up–when we can’t afford it as an unlimited resource! Ah well…let’s enjoy our weekend. I’m going to enjoy some “free” energy. The sun is shining beautifully today. LOL!
Unlike so many others, I don’t remember this, but what fun reading!!!! Thanks for sharing, Debra.
Just a note, don’t know why, but it was hard to get to this post. Finally had to come to your home page and click on the post. However, looks like no one else had that issue, given the number of comments.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
I’m so sorry you had trouble accessing the blogpost, Kathy, and you’re right no one else mentioned it, but you never know. Occasionally I will have the most difficult time myself…in fact, tonight it took me thirty minutes of trying this and that to access WordPress. I don’t know if it was my Internet or the site was just really busy. But thank you for persevering. 🙂 I was eager to “re-share” about the Beverly Hills “Eiffel Tower,” because it just fascinates me! I’m glad you enjoyed the backstory, too! ox
This was quite a thought-provoking post my friend! As necessary as oil drilling is, are there any ways of getting energy without ruining our earth?
Interesting…
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I think it would be a relief to the earth if we didn’t just take quite so much! I think we are making small efforts, slowly, to reduce our oil dependency, and if we ever get to the place where renewable energies are widely accepted, I think that will be a giant step forward! I enjoy sharing the story of the Beverly Hills “Eiffel Tower” to illustrate some very creative architecture. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by, CCU.
Unitl we learn that anything which gives a short-term benefit and leaves a long-term problem should not be done, we will continue to muck up the environment and pay the price.
I think we are unbelievable slow learners when it comes to any environmental responsibility. Just looking at what goes into our land fills is enough to make me despair! 😦
I drove through Beverly Hills to work every working day for over 30 years. And that tower never ceased to amaze me. Looks like others have different issues than I do with WordPress right now. Is something going on. Testing now to see if it works this time.
Yes! You’re no longer in my Spam folder, Inger! 🙂 I don’t know what’s going on with WP for others, but the other night I had some trouble myself, so maybe it’s the sheer volume of traffic! Glad you’ve been freed. LOL!
Thank you Debra, I have one other WP blog that I love and so would you, BTW, I will have someone notify her to check her spam and set me free. The blog is called ladyfi.wordpress.com. She features beautiful photos from Sweden together with beautiful words of her own. She is English, so it is in English. You may know her already, if you don’t you will love her blog. I’m so glad you were able to figure this out, thank you again.
Thanks for calling attention to ladyfi! I will check her out.
I never think of California as am oil producing state and certainly never Beverly Hills. I suppose I fall into that category of people who think of the Hills in a stereotypically way. To see an oil derrick so near a high school………….hmmmm….I wonder again about our priorities. We all want the oil companies and the government to DO something, but what? And, are we willing to give up our cars, televisions, cellphones and computers? Hell no! We will soon be facing some changes here in Ohio. the largest shale bed ever, capable of sustaining oil and natural gas production to put the Middle East to shame lies underneath a large area of the Midwest. Do we push for development of these natural resources to free us from dependence on the Middle East or do we PUSH hard for independence from fossil fuels? That’s another big problem. I did a bit of research for our gem and mineral club newsletter when I was editor. Many people don’t realize that the batteries and the raw materials to develop wind power and electric cars depend on what are called rare earth minerals. And why are they called rare earth minerals? Why because they are not found in great quantities in any areas of the world except one. It’s not profitable to mine them anywhere in this country. Our raw product would have to come from the one place on earth where rare earth minerals are found………are you ready for this? CHINA? That increases our dilemma. Do we want to exchange one set of dependencies for another? Or do we want to rape our own country of natural oil and gas? I see no clear answers.
You’ve enlightened me about batteries and rare earth minerals! I’m going to read more about that issue. At our Los Angeles ports there are mounds of iron ore that are being export TO China. I’ve been trying to learn more about that, and yet when I google the subject very little is found. We’re talking mountain-sized deposits. Where did they come from? What is the intended use in China. We think it’s fuel, but good grief! The pollution. I really do spend a lot of time trying to learn more about these issues, but the line keeps moving and depending on what I read I’m sometimes all over the place myself. But I agree with you that the major question is about our ability to reduce our need for more and more oil and gas usage, and I don’t see any major efforts to shift our appetites. California is the third largest oil producing state in the United States, and my guess is that the majority of Californians don’t even know that. The effort to hide the production, which I appreciate from the standpoint of beautification, also tends to disguise the reality of what we are really doing to ourselves and the implications for now and in the future. I’ll be curious to hear how Ohio proceeds with this large shale bed. We have a similar question in the mid part of our state. I guess there’s a deposit that is absolutely huge, but the future is unclear about tapping it. I don’t know the answers at all! I readily admit I’m all over the place in my thinking about what is the better of the bad choices. They are all with risk! I would like to see us, as Americans, reduce our own need for more, more and more. But I’m whistling in the wind! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more from Ohio and the shale production!
since I first heard about this shale bed and huge deposits, things have been so quiet. I wonder why this is not major news? I also wonder about the rare earth minerals? why are not more children encourage to develop interest in geological careers? Just think of the kudos to an American citizen who could discover a huge deposit of rare earth minerals here! I do a “rock show” for third graders every year, take in unusual stones and rocks and always tell them about rare earth minerals and how important geology research can be. My daughter is the school librarian and always says that those kids come into the library after my show and take out every book on rocks that they have available! Why is it that our government aka big business is giving immigrants incentives to come here and develop “businesses” that improve our economy (gas stations, convenience stores, hotels) when they SHOULD be encouraging our own youth to develop an interest in national problems? I’m all over the place on tis one also. There don’t seem to be any concrete answers but lots of starting points. Why do we never hear about these starting points?
So is the jury still out for you, Debbie? To be abhorred or a necessary evil? I certainly hadn’t realised this lay underneath Beverley Hills.
I like consistency, Jo. California is the third highest oil producing state in the United States, and until we stop driving gas guzzling cars and creating a climate (there’s a pun!) of oil dependency, we are going to continue to take it out of the ground! I’m for conservation and changing our habits. And until we do, it’s no worse to be taking oil from Beverly Hills than hidden off-shore somewhere! I think the hand-wringing is disingenuous. I’m for using less, but that’s personal and not legislative. I sometimes think that going to such lengths to hide the derricks and disguise the oil drilling process limits public awareness. Maybe if we really saw how much of it is taking place we’d think differently. But probably not. I’m a very pragmatic person. If we don’t change our behaviors there’s no need to talk about changing our environmental practices. I don’t have to like it…but that’s the way I see it. *sigh*
We have extremely visible wind farms in our North Sea, Debbie. It doesn’t seem to change habits. I’m maybe very selfish because I see at as a problem for the younger people to solve. It will be their world. I try to do my bit and conserve. I don’t need much. But it seems to fall on deaf ears. Hugs from Poland! 🙂
Just starting to catch up with blogfriends’ posts, and this post is the first one, and I’ve read not only your post but every last comment! Thanks for the kaffeeklatsch.
I’m honored you took the time to go back and read missed posts, Dandy! I like to read comments on blogs, too. Kaffeeklatsch is an excellent way to think about it. I don’t really want to deliver a monologue! 🙂 I love the discussion!
This is so fascinating! Thanks for the great writing and the good read.