An Allegory of Hell
Dembicki quotes an unnamed man who had argued against oil mining using the allegory of hell. He writes, “At least one man was purported to have argued with Colonel Drake that his idea was immoral; that the oil was needed down there for the fires of hell, and to withdraw it was to protect the wicked from the punishment which they so justly deserved." This allegory means that the oil should be used in the burning of people in hell, as explained in Catholic teachings. Removing the oil from underground wells means it can no longer be used in hell. The allegory underscores the immorality that governs oil businesses.
Carbon dioxide
Excess carbon is unfavorable because it sullies the atmosphere and contributes to a detrimental surge in temperature. Dembicki observes, “It had been calculated that the carbon dioxide which has been put into the atmosphere since the beginning of the industrial revolution equals approximately 10% of the amount of carbon dioxide that our atmosphere contained originally.” Carbon is the principal greenhouse gas that comes about once fossil fuels undergo combustion. High levels are not sustainable for the atmosphere and the creatures that rely on it to survive. The carbon amounts can be mitigated by reducing the consumption of oil.
Atomic Bombs
Dembicki alludes to the history of atomic bombs to underscore the dangers of oil. He quotes Edward Teller, who was among the developers of the atomic bombs unleashed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He explains, "Teller began his talk at Columbia by warning of a threat that was potentially greater than nuclear destruction. And this, strangely, is the question of contaminating the atmosphere." Teller argues that the potential destruction from oil is likely to be greater than that of nuclear weapons. Given his experience with atomic bombs, Teller's assertions are credible. The destruction brought by the atomic tombs was restricted to the two cities. However, the destruction of the atmosphere is a global catastrophe because carbon moves freely.
