It seems that the thirst for oil is taking a turn back home for Americans. In a recent commentary in the Austin American Statesman, (no first name given) Williams writes that the Bureau of Land and Management (BLM) in Utah had planned to sell close to 400 acres of beautiful red rock wilderness to companies allowing them to drill for oil. Thanks to the “public outcry” the BLM met with citizens and finally thanks to the extreme pressure put on them they deferred the lease. Williams states that the “greed, speed and scale” of the oil industry and the “oil-loyal administration” is disastrous for our nation and can only lead to destruction of American land. He feels that many states have already “been laid to waste” citing examples of towns such as Pinedale “that experienced its first ozone alert” in 2008 and later found its water wells contaminated after oil and gas developments were set up close by. Although the land in Utah is safe for now, the land is just deferred. This pretty much means that the BLM is just waiting until the next quarterly sale to offer the land up for money again unless “we, the people, act.” Williams proposes for Americans to vote for the Red-Rock Wilderness Act in 2009, which would finally put the almost 10 acres of remarkable land in protection where it belongs. I completely agree with all of Mr. Williams assessments. I understand that oil is a necessity but not at the stake of endangering the communities and environment that would have been affected by these oil sales. This article has made me take a closer look at how we affect the people around the world with our oil-based priorities.