In the past fifty years, backed by aggressive drilling policies, America's dependence on oil has more than doubled. Yet while our consumption of oil has continued to skyrocket, America's production has dwindled. U.S. production peaked in 1970 and has been declining ever since.

As imports continue to rise, Dependence Day--the day each year, when he U.S. effectively runs our of domestic oil--will occur earlier and earlier. In 1950, Dependence Day occured in mid-November. In 2006, the U.S. will effectively rely on foreign oil every day from May 31 until the end of the year.

Click on the timeline above to see the full version. Right click here, and choose 'save link as' to download a PDF of the timeline.

Who Has the Oil?

Politicians who push for more domestic oil drilling are chasing a myth and making the problem worse by feeding our addiction. We need to face geological reality: the U.S. has less than two percent of the world's remaining oil, while the Middle East controls more than 60 percent. Even if we drilled every last drop of oil left in the U.S., it would only last us three years. After that, we would be completely dependent on foreign countries.

And, of course, global warming does not distinguish between domestic and imported oil. The more oil we burn the worse global warming gets.

Click on the thumbnail to check out our world map, "Who Has the Oil?"

To download the map, right click here and choose "Save link as"