12 Steps To Breaking Oil Dependence

While President Bush admitted that the United States is addicted to oil, he offered few real remedies. To address this gap, Michael Brune of the Rainforest Action Network offers a '12-Step' energy program for America.

1 minute read

February 7, 2006, 7:00 AM PST

By Michael Dudley


"Our president almost came clean in his State of the Union speech last week when he finally admitted that "America is addicted to oil." That addiction threatens our national security, our environmental health and our way of life. It is true that our leaders are exhibiting the classic signs of an addiction denial, aggression, avoidance, blaming others and as a country we are falling far short of reaching our full potential."

"America's stubborn dependence on oil erodes our bedrock values. For it, we will go to war, support unstable and undemocratic regimes, destabilize our climate, decimate our forests and parks, threaten the health of our children, and weaken our economy."

"The president admitted to a national problem, but stopped well short of committing our country to a full recovery program. We already have the technology. What we desperately need is the courage to act now. It is time for nothing short of a national intervention, and a 12-step program to break America's oil addiction. Here's how."

Monday, February 6, 2006 in Common Dreams

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