The development of the steam engine by George Stephenson in the late 1700's was the technological breakthrough that led to the industrial revolution. For the first time in human history transportation could be provided without the use of domesticated animals. Steam engines were used in steam locomotives, steam tractors and steam ships (B.Nebel and R.Wright 1995). Stationary steam engines were rapidly established in all the major industries. The major fuel for steam engines was firewood. By the end of the 1800's, the demand for energy was ever increasing and firewood around industrial centres was becoming scarce. This led to a switch to coal as the major source for fuel and energy. As well as powering steam engines coal became widely used for heating, cooking and indus

The total amount of oil in the world is estimated to be about 4 trillion barrels (600 billion metric tonnes), half of which is thought to be recoverable. Some 465 billion barrels of oil already have been consumed. In 1990, the proven reserves were roughly 1 trillion bbls, enough to last only 50 years at the current consumption rate of 20 billion barrels per year (W. Cunningham et al 1993).

Apart from global warming, other environmental issues associated with fossil fuels include acid rain, which has wiped out vast areas of forest. By 1985 German foresters estimated that more than 4 million hectares (about half the total forest were in a state of decline due to acid rain (W> Cunningham 1995). Coal burning releases radioactivity and many toxic metals. You are likely to get a higher dose of radiation living next door to a coal burning power plant than a nuclear plant under normal conditions. Extraction of fossil fuels is a dirty and dangerous business, with associated diseases of workers and environmental pollution, such as dust from mining and spills from tankers transporting oil.

It was not until August 1990 that the supply of oil came to the attention of the world media and industrialised nations again. The invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein brought a new dimension to the west's dependence on oil. It showed they were willing to fight wars for it, under the guise of liberating Kuwait from an evil dictator. The following military build up in the region cumulated in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Some common words found in the essay are:
KPickering LOwen, BNebel RWright, W> Cunningham, GJ WCunningham, , Gulf War, Politicians Industrialists, Exporting Countries, George Stephenson, Saddam Hussein, fossil fuels, et al, crude oil, steam engines, cunningham et al, energy sources, al 1993, natural gas, et al 1995, al 1995, et al 1993, cunningham et, world media, major energy source, crude oil natural,
Approximate Word count = 1634
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)