The BP (British Petroleum) oil spill is perhaps one of the worst ecological disasters of our century.  The Oil Companies have been drilling ('drill baby drill'?) for oil, with one thing in mind:  money.  They've been cutting corners, and lying to the general public and to the U.S. Government about how safe their operations really are. 

Drilling 5,000 feet below the ocean, in turbulent waters with highly variable conditions, including hurricanes (which can destroy oil rigs) and frigid temperatures at the ocean floor, combine to create a highly volatile, uncontrollable situation.  It puts the world's oceans and the wildlife who live there, at risk.  This is not acceptable.  (Hint to DEMOCRATS:  if you want to win the next election, why not post images of the REPUBLICANS chanting 'drill baby drill' from the last election, and post, right next to that, images of the disaster in the Gulf.). 

If ever there was a siren call for the world to wean itself off OIL -  we're there.  This is a disaster.

The world's oceans are at grave risk.  The oceans are a resource we need to treasure and protect.  Oil Executives don't care about clean water, and they don't care about ocean wildlife. I think even REPUBLICANS ('drill baby drill') -  may recognize that the time has come for them to back off from their attacks and intimidation tactics against environmentalists who have been calling for CLEAN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY INTELLIGENT SOLUTIONS to our energy and living needs.

What can we as Architects do to support this conversation?

We can all get behind sustainable and green infrastructure in all of our projects, especially when it comes to energy sources in our projects.

hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) are currently working with the Won Buddhist Organization of America to build a five-building project on a 700-acre site, that is GREEN and 100% 'off the grid'.  Through a combination of geo-thermal wells, solar panels, and the implementation of wood-chip technologies, the Buddhists are doing their part to help the planet, and we, as architects, are doing everything we can to help them achieve that goal.

I would encourage all clients considering projects in their future -  to heed this call to action.  Support clean, green renewable energy solutions in your projects.  Go 'off the grid'.  Put money into the development of clean, sustainable, renewable energy sources for your new building or master plan.

America can take the lead in this change.  Go green!  Our future (and our future generations' futures) depends on it.