What's this Weekend Without Oil?

by Jess Leber · 2010-08-19 10:45:00 UTC
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We often talk about carbon diets. But as followers of most world religions know, it takes more than a diet to clear a mind or cleanse a soul -- that's why true believers have fast days, such as Ramadan or Yom Kippur. What would happen if we went on a weekend oil fast? Would two days without oil bring a new clarity of purpose to the energy debate?

My guess is that we'd all realize how deeply ingrained fossil fuels are in our personal lives. And that's the whole point of a campaign run by "Do Something," a program to inspire teenagers to take action on issues they care about. So what are you doing this weekend? This weekend, yeah this weekend!, they want you -- no matter what your age -- to give their idea a spin.

I've been thinking about what it would mean to give up oil for a weekend. No driving, obviously. I'd probably want to spend some time outdoors, maybe biking around my neighborhood. But, as the campaign suggests, I'd also have to avoid purchasing (though not using) a whole host of consumer goods packed with petroleum: rubber sporting goods, disposable plastic bags, lipstick, bottled water, electronic goods, new clothing, newspapers or books, DVD disks, and that juicy, chock-full-of-fertilizer hamburger. Oil is also used in the creation of: deoderant, crayons, hearing aids, toilet seats, credit cards, tooth paste and guitar strings, to name a few more examples at random from this eclectic list. To give all this up? A challenge for a weekend, to be sure. Not a way to live a life, however.

To me, the larger point is clear. To make a difference, we should strive to recycle goods, extend the life of products we already own, and avoid consumerism as best we can, as Tara Lohan recently pointed out on this blog. But such actions alone aren't going to cut it, realistically.  We also need to change our energy structure, and supporting renewable energy and bio-based plastics are a great way to start.

But just as we don't make a regular habit of fasting (well, unless you are especially spiritual), we don't have to go every weekend without oil. It is, however, a worthwhile exercise. I urge you to give it a spin this weekend.

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Photo credit: Horia Varlan, Flickr

Jess Leber is a Change.org editor. She most recently covered climate and energy issues as a reporter in Washington, D.C
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