I was talking to someone who thought the campaign focused on the negative and should emphasize the positive. He thought the symbol of a drop of blood was unpleasant. I replied that the Red Cross uses a drop of blood sticker that says, "I Donated". Later, I realized that the "A Drop of Blood" campaign seems depressing with words about our oil addiction leading to lives lost. The Red Cross sticker seems positive because it represents lives saved with blood donations. The red drop symbol is the same in both cases.

If "A Drop of Blood" just symbolized lives saved and drivers saw them on gas pumps, would they want to conserve oil? I think not. The Red Cross really does save lives with blood donations, but only a small percentage of people donate blood. The first step in the AA 12-Step program is to admit their addiction. I think car and truck drivers need to be reminded that their oil addiction is resulting in wars for oil and Global Warming. As a result of our oil addiction, we will be leaving future generations a planet that is severely degraded (tens of thousands of species lost, catastrophic weather, desertification, food and water shortages and tens of millions forced to relocate). It is an addiction that causes decent people to do that sort of thing.

We need to reduce our oil usage immediately. That does not mean people have to give up driving, but they need to reduce their gas consumption (a gradual withdrawal). The short-term goal would be a 20% reduction (once a week carpooling or public transportation OR getting a high MPG vehicle). A later goal would be a 40% reduction. Reductions are "inconvenient", but they are absolutely necessary to slow, and eventually reverse, Global Warming.

I hope that people put up "A Drop of Blood" as a symbol of lives saved. I hope that people put up "A Drop of Blood" in memory of loved ones lost. I hope that people put up "A Drop of Blood" as a reminder to conserve. I hope that people put up "A Drop of Blood" for all of those reasons, and more.