SUMMARY

17 minutes.

TED Talks series, FILMED JUN 2010 • POSTED AUG 2010 • TEDxOilSpill

In the Gulf oil spill's aftermath, Lisa Margonelli says drilling moratoriums and executive ousters make for good theater, but distract from the issue at its heart: our unrestrained oil consumption. She shares her bold plan to wean America off of oil -- by confronting consumers with its real cost.

GOALS

To open up discussion and inform people about the supply chain of oil and the extent to which policy and economics are invovled.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION AND TEACHING MATERIALS

You might notice that many gas pumps are designed to look like ATMs. I've talked to engineers. That's specifically to diffuse our anger, because supposedly we feel good about ATMs." (Lisa Margonelli)

Watch >> TED Talks: Lisa Margonelli: The political chemistry of oil

Listen or Download >> TED Talks: Lisa Margonelli: The Political Chemistry of Oil

TEACHING NOTES / CONTEXT FOR USE

To explore the political and economic actions that are involved with the great consumption of oil.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment is at the discretion of the educator and how this video is applied.

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

Director of the New America Foundation Energy Policy Initiative, Lisa Margonelli writes about the global culture and economy of energy. Full Bio>>