Americans must move toward fuel conservation and sustainable practices.

As the energy crisis rippled across the country these past few months, Americans have been inspired to sound-off on the issue.  From the stay-at-home mom angry about gas prices to the cab driver taking home smaller wages, people are feeling the crisis and clamoring for solutions.

The Web is our public square for sharing our personal stories and connecting on this issue that impacts us all. Many Americans have picked up their video cameras to capture stories and to express their fears, concerns, frustrations, and hopes.

Hear their voices. Share yours.

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Scenes from America’s Gas Stations: Pain at the pump

“The Bush administration can’t be entirely blamed for the pain at the gas pump. But its shortsighted energy policies — zealously focused on increasing the energy supply, with little attention paid to conservation and greater fuel-efficiency — means the country is far too dependent on oil that is both ruinously expensive and ruinous for the environment.” - NY TImes, March 2008

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Citizen Journalists

When you can’t get to work, school, or doctor’s appointments, the energy crisis hits home. People express frustration. The crisis has inspired a new fleet of citizen journalists to head out into their communities, documenting its local impact.

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Opinions

Be it the record-breaking gas prices, natural resource scarcity, climate change or  Mideast politics, the energy crisis inspires everyday people to become arm-chair pundits.   Outside our borders the international community looks on, criticizing our “whining”, others offer empathy.

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Solutions/ energy saving advice

Fuel is a part of our daily lives.  People feel the need to provide tips, some helpful, some mythical, about how to save in times of crisis.   A vintage clip from 1978 shows Jack Nicholson showing off his new car that runs on hydrogen.

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Action

Citizens rally to stop oil drilling. Protesters condemn Toyota for not supporting fuel-efficiency standards.

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Faces of Fuel: behind the scenes in the oil industry

Americans are a resilient people, but the recent gas prices have had such an intense effect on our wallets, it is a wonder if some will be able to bounce back.