With the earth stretched to breaking point from overpopulation and agricultural and economic needs that result from this, the environment is under stress. Oil and gas energy sources fuel international economies, but also cause air, land and marine pollution problems. Only a concerted and collaborative effort by governments and the major energy producers can reduce these problems. Increasing the cost of fuels, as suggested by some as a solution, only hurts the consumer.

Fuel is refined and transported around the world by multinational companies.  Increasing fuel costs helps them at the expense of the consumer. Oil spills and air pollution from the production and use of fuel causes ongoing environmental damage in most countries today.  Yet the producers and owners of the fuel companies are seldom held to account for such problems.  Penalising manufacturers and drivers of vehicles fuelled by these giant energy conglomerations is not addressing the root of the problem.  The power of the wealthy corporations prevents the development of alternative and environmentally friendly energies.

Much scientific research has been done to find clean and green energy sources that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. From solar and hydro energy production, to wind farming for powering electricity and manufacturing, research has successfully proven energy alternatives.  From grain-produced fuels to solar and water driven vehicles there are other means of driving economies and agricultural production. But without financial support, governments cannot afford these energy alternatives.  Oil and gas companies have no interest in helping to reduce the costs when their profits are so high from their ‘dirty’ fossil-fuelled energies.

Only when governments, multi-corporate and multi-national fuel organisations work together to make alternative environmental-friendly energies financially viable, will they be able to then work to clean up our planet.  Then and only then can we best resolve some of the environmental damage that exists on the planet that we all share.

• Stretch: 

Vt. 伸展，张开；使变大

• Breaking point

转折点，强度极限

e.g.: But if we don’t help, our security relationship with XXX will be stretched to the breaking point.

• Overpopulation: 

n. 人口过剩，人口过密

e.g.: The real problem is not overpopulation per se, but, more fundamentally, the lack of freedom.

• Under stress: 

在压力之下，在受力时

e.g.: In a related story, lawyers not under stress are tense, overly critical, cautious and emotionally distant.

• Marine pollution: 

海洋污染，海水污染

e.g.: Few countries have adopted legislation to reduce land-based marine pollution, leading to an increase in the number of dead ocean areas.

• Collaborative: 

adj. 合作的，协作的

e.g.: It is a collaborative project between the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and Meadow Arts. 

• Refine: 

Vt. 精炼，提纯，改善

e.g.: Their daily work is to refine crude oil.

• Multinational:

Adj. 跨国公司的，多国的

e.g.: Corporate tax on foreign multinational companies investing in Ireland was cut to zero in 1957.

• At the expense of:

以…为代价，在损害…的情况下

e.g.: In those periods it was deliberately investing in the future at the expense of current profits. 

• Spill:

Vt. 使溢出，溢出，洒出，溅出

e.g.: The other one just got investment information and nothing about the spill at all. 

• Ongoing:

Adj. 不间断的，继续进行的，进行中的

e.g.: An agency spokesman said the investigation is ongoing and that it hasn’t verified the larger number. 

• Account for:

对… 负有责任，对… 做出解释，导致

e.g.: The president and the president alone must account for his government’s reforms.

• Penalise:

Vt. 惩罚，处罚

e.g.: Why penalise claimants who have not alternative but to live in accommodation with a spare bedroom? 

• Conglomeration:

N. 聚集 (物) ；混合体

• Environmentally friendly:

保护生态环境的，对生态环境无害的，环保的

e.g.: There are numerous compelling reasons why you should make changes in your life to become more environmentally friendly. 

• Green energy:

绿色能源，环保节能

e.g.: There are new tax credits for investments in green energy and energy-efficient commercial buildings.

• Sustainable:

Adj. 可以忍受的，可持续的

e.g.: They play a central role in sustainable development by supplying all our fresh water.

• Solar and hydro energy:

太阳能和水力发电

e.g.: The project will focus on wind, solar, hydro, geothermal power and industrial energy efficiency. 

• Wind farming:

风力农场

e.g.: For producing clean, renewable energy, wind farming has many proponents.

• Grain-produced fuel:

小麦燃料

• Means:

n. 手段，方法

e.g.: He achieved his goal by peaceful means.

• Viable:

Adj. 可行的，可实行的

e.g.: Nevertheless, an equitable commitment can and should exist for every phase of the project if the project is to remain viable.