The Burden

Roger Sorkin's documentary argues that American dependence on fossil fuels is creating national security issues and putting U.S. military personnel in harm's way. The film notes that the U.S. consumes one-fifth of the world's oil, and claims that efforts by U.S. armed forces to ensure the uninterrupted supply shipments of fuel through so-called “oil choke points” (most notably, the Strait of Hormuz) has created dangerous scenarios that could percolate into military conflict. The Burden also details how excessive time and manpower was allocated to protecting fuel convoys serving U.S. military needs during the occupation of Iraq. Efforts to alleviate the problem—particularly, the adoption of renewable energy sources including solar power and biofuel—are stymied, Sorkin contends, by politicians representing the states where fossil fuels are the main economic force. While the thesis here is compelling, some problems could be traced to other possible causes, including inadequate military planning on the best use of manpower during the Iraq conflict. Still, The Burden takes an interesting and different approach to the debate on energy policy. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)