I was checking out the July edition of Wired magazine, the Transformers edition. When I picked it up, a short film on DVD fell out. It was a production by Shell Petroleum titled Eureka. I couldn't help but wonder what this film and Wired magazine have in common. I had to check it out.
I immediately popped the DVD into my laptop. It turns out to be a story about an engineer working for Shell in what looks like Africa. Quite dramatically, they portray his since of obligation to drill the most hardest to reach natural oil reserves off the coast. It is as if he is facing one of the greatest moral challenges to not leave any oil undrilled. The solution to reaching these reserves finally comes to him in a very touching and humanizing sequence where he is taking his adolescent son for a burger and a milkshake at what looks like a knock off of McDonald's in Amsterdam.
Now I understand the global economy runs on energy with a large part of that energy coming from oil today. I also realize it is "oil companies" that are funding much of the research into alternative fuels and distribution systems. But, I just can't help but get an uncomfortable feeling while watching this blatant propaganda. Shouldn't there be a message of conservation?
Ultimately, the message they are trying to send is that with the new drill technology they can drill fewer wells and have less impact on the local environment. The delivery just feels wrong though. I can't put my finger on it.
Here's the video...
