The real solution to the BP oil disaster is obvious: the United States needs to break its addiction to oil. This special issue of The Nation describes, in practical terms, how the country can rise to that challenge. The forces of opposition are powerful, but the moment is ripe. Most Americans already believe we will soon leave oil behind, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll. President Obama could jump-start a green revolution today without spending more money or awaiting approval from Congress, as Christian Parenti explains. America’s broken energy system threatens our economic, military and environmental security. Here’s how to fix it.

Michael T. Klare, "Clean, Green, Safe and Smart"

Christian Parenti, "The Big Green Buy"

Mark Hertsgaard, "Kicking the Oil Habit"

Christine MacDonald, "The Spill’s Silver Lining?"