No Oil Not So Good?

While it is quite true that our addiction to fossil fuels is extremely startling and pathetic, it is also important to not to rush to other options without fully exploring them.  The biggest point that I want to make in this post is that even the most sensible solution to this problem may cause unintended consequences.  Most opponents of fossil fuels feel that the best option for weening ourselves off of oil is to switch to electricity.  This can be largely seen in the development and advertisement for "all electric" cars.  These cars offer complete freedom from the pump and only need to be plugged in at night.  My problem with this seemingly great solution is with the batteries that would be needed to create these cars.  Because of the need to store large amounts of electricity in the cars they will need powerful batteries.  The problem with batteries is that they are largely dependent on lithium or other alkaline metals which are becoming more and more scarce.  we are consuming lithium at just a fast a rate as oil; every battery, ipod, computer, electronic device produced needs lithium to function.  Like any material on earth it is limited and miners are having to dig deeper and deeper to recover this metal.  To tarnish this idea even more one just has to look at where this metal is mined.  It is being mined in impoverished nations where not only the local workers are being exploited but the land is as well. So by switching to all electric cars might seem fine and dandy at first in America but it would cause many problems.  First off we would soon have shortages of lithium to create the batteries for these cars leading us back to the exact same place where we are now.  Secondly the increased demand for lithium would add more and more work to the already burdened and exploited miners.  Lastly while it isn't as destructive as burning fossil fuels at the rate we are now, the mining of alkaline metals is highly destructive to the earth.  The point of this post is not to tear apart the concept of using electricity to power our world, it is simply demonstrate that even the most viable option in any situation can carry unintended consequences.  Keep your eyes open, as well as your mind and question everything...