• Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Climate Change Dispatch
  • Home
  • Videos
  • Who We Are
  • Facts Vs. Fearmongering
    • Real science vs Junk Science
      • 1100-plus Peer-Reviewed Studies
      • 97% – Myth of the Climate Change Consensus
      • Michael Crichton: Aliens Cause Global Warming
      • Climate change and its causes
      • Climate Science Primer
      • CO2 is not pollution
      • Deceptive Surface Temperature Records
      • Editorial: Great Global Warming Hoax
      • Rules for Climate Radicals: Part 1
      • Rules for Climate Radicals: Part 2
      • Rules for Climate Radicals: Part 3
      • Why CO2 Is A Minor Player In Global Climate
      • Why Politicized Science Is So Dangerous
    • Facts Not Fear
      • A Simple Question For Climate Alarmists
      • Climate Change – The Facts
      • Climate Change Fears Are Empirically Baseless
      • Global Warming 101
      • Global Warming Q&A
      • Understanding The Medieval Warm Period
      • Ocean Cycles and Climate
      • Overview of Plate Climatology Theory
      • Precautionary Principle
      • Should We Celebrate Carbon Dioxide?
      • The Skeptics Handbook
      • Weather Versus Climate
      • Why I’m a GW skeptic
      • Winning the climate debate with facts
      • Why Aliens Cause Global Warming
    • Greenhouse FAQs
      • CO2, Plants, & Industry
      • How much have temps changed?
      • How much have temps changed?
      • How much have temps changed?
      • Is global warming real?
      • Measuring temperature
      • Swimming in CO2?
      • Scientists urge caution?
      • Today’s warming trend
      • Variations in temperature
    • Gore’s Greatest Goofs
      • Deconstructing the Truth
      • Fact-Checking Al Gore’s Latest Predictions
      • How Gore Created The Global Warming Hoax
    • Inside Real Climate
      • Closer look at the 97% Consensus
      • GW’s Amazing Story
      • IPCC gets failing grade
      • Real Climate Exposed!
      • Truth about Real Climate
      • We’ve Been Conned
      • What is there a 97% consensus about?
    • Behind the IPCC
      • 1,000 Scientists Dissent
      • Climategate: Caught Green-Handed!
      • Climategate Inquiries
      • Climategate Inquiries 2
      • NIPCC Report Now Available
      • Understanding the Climategate Inquiries
  • Submissions
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Videos
  • Who We Are
  • Facts Vs. Fearmongering
    • Real science vs Junk Science
      • 1100-plus Peer-Reviewed Studies
      • 97% – Myth of the Climate Change Consensus
      • Michael Crichton: Aliens Cause Global Warming
      • Climate change and its causes
      • Climate Science Primer
      • CO2 is not pollution
      • Deceptive Surface Temperature Records
      • Editorial: Great Global Warming Hoax
      • Rules for Climate Radicals: Part 1
      • Rules for Climate Radicals: Part 2
      • Rules for Climate Radicals: Part 3
      • Why CO2 Is A Minor Player In Global Climate
      • Why Politicized Science Is So Dangerous
    • Facts Not Fear
      • A Simple Question For Climate Alarmists
      • Climate Change – The Facts
      • Climate Change Fears Are Empirically Baseless
      • Global Warming 101
      • Global Warming Q&A
      • Understanding The Medieval Warm Period
      • Ocean Cycles and Climate
      • Overview of Plate Climatology Theory
      • Precautionary Principle
      • Should We Celebrate Carbon Dioxide?
      • The Skeptics Handbook
      • Weather Versus Climate
      • Why I’m a GW skeptic
      • Winning the climate debate with facts
      • Why Aliens Cause Global Warming
    • Greenhouse FAQs
      • CO2, Plants, & Industry
      • How much have temps changed?
      • How much have temps changed?
      • How much have temps changed?
      • Is global warming real?
      • Measuring temperature
      • Swimming in CO2?
      • Scientists urge caution?
      • Today’s warming trend
      • Variations in temperature
    • Gore’s Greatest Goofs
      • Deconstructing the Truth
      • Fact-Checking Al Gore’s Latest Predictions
      • How Gore Created The Global Warming Hoax
    • Inside Real Climate
      • Closer look at the 97% Consensus
      • GW’s Amazing Story
      • IPCC gets failing grade
      • Real Climate Exposed!
      • Truth about Real Climate
      • We’ve Been Conned
      • What is there a 97% consensus about?
    • Behind the IPCC
      • 1,000 Scientists Dissent
      • Climategate: Caught Green-Handed!
      • Climategate Inquiries
      • Climategate Inquiries 2
      • NIPCC Report Now Available
      • Understanding the Climategate Inquiries
  • Submissions
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Climate Change Dispatch
No Result
View All Result

How Fossil Fuels Saved The Whales

by Onar Åm
June 12, 2019, 4:40 PM
in News and Opinion
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
4
Share on FacebookShare on XwitterShare on Linkedin

sperm whaleOne of the great novels of the 19th century, Moby Dick is a riveting story about the whaler Ahab in pursuit of his great nemesis, a giant white sperm whale.

Before the oil era, whale blubber was in high demand for lighting purposes.

At $3 per gallon ($200 in today’s currency), only the rich could afford to light their houses in the dark evenings. Whale oil was so sought after that the magnificent mammal was nearly hunted to extinction.

Then came John D. Rockefeller, who saved the whales with cheap oil from fossils.

Standard Oil

Few are familiar with this story for the same reason that they do not know the real history of Standard Oil.

Today, we identify Rockefeller as a “robber baron” who used monopolistic power to push lesser competitors out of the market. It is the textbook case given for the necessity of antitrust laws.

However, as documented by the philosopher and author of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, Alex Epstein, the bad reputation is built mostly on baseless slander.

When Rockefeller entered the oil industry in 1865, the price of kerosene was 58 cents per gallon, a fifth the price of whale oil.

Due to kerosene’s low cost, it was an attractive alternative, but it was poor quality and not available in large and stable quantities. Many people died in kerosene explosions, and so demand remained depressed.

Rockefeller immediately recognized the business opportunity and advantages of standardization of large-scale production to reduce costs and improve quality.

Today this is taken for granted in all businesses, but back then it was a novelty invented by Rockefeller.

By 1890, he had standardized, scaled up, streamlined his production, and cut costs so much that he was selling high-quality kerosene at a stunning 7.38 cents per gallon, nearly 50 times cheaper than whale oil.

That was such a phenomenally low price that even poor people could extend their day after sunset, which they could use to enjoy reading and studying.

Rockefeller’s competitors were not happy because they were not as innovative. In addition, he employed some unsavory methods beneath his otherwise great business achievements. The result was that his name was tarnished.

The whalers were not happy, either, because they primarily were bankrupted by the new oil industry. A fortunate side effect of their demise was that whales today are not endangered animals. Fossil fuel saved the whales.

Other Animals, Too

This is not the only time that free-market competition has saved animals. Liberty Nation also has written about how capitalism is protecting the nation’s bees and endangered species.

In fact, capitalism has done more for the planet’s environment than any environmentalist has.

Monopoly

But wait, didn’t Standard Oil destroy its competitors using monopoly power? No. Although its market share peaked at 90%, other savvy businessmen finally caught up and gave Rockefeller competition.

When Standard Oil was broken up into seven smaller companies, its market share was already falling due to the competition from another shrewd oil entrepreneur: Alfred Nobel.

Moral

There are two lessons to be learned from this story. One is that the winners rewrite history, in this case, to slander Standard Oil and airbrush from our collective consciousness its achievements.

The other is that peaceful competition between individuals within the bounds of well-defined property rights is often the best way to deal with shared problems, such as the destruction of the environment.

Read more at Liberty Nation

  • Truth
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Gettr
  • Threads
  • gab-logo Gab
  • Mastodon
  • Buffer
  • Telegram
  • Email
  • Copy Link
  • Share Using More Networks…
Share via
  • Facebook
  • Like
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Digg
  • Tumblr
  • VKontakte
  • Print
  • Email
  • Reddit
  • Buffer
  • Love This
  • Weibo
  • Pocket
  • Xing
  • Odnoklassniki
  • WhatsApp
  • Meneame
  • Blogger
  • Amazon
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Gmail
  • AOL
  • Newsvine
  • HackerNews
  • Evernote
  • MySpace
  • Mail.ru
  • Viadeo
  • Line
  • Flipboard
  • Comments
  • SMS
  • Viber
  • Telegram
  • Subscribe
  • Skype
  • Facebook Messenger
  • Kakao
  • LiveJournal
  • Yammer
  • Edgar
  • Fintel
  • Mix
  • Instapaper
  • Copy Link
  • Truth
  • gab-logo Gab
  • Gettr
  • Baidu
  • Mastodon
  • Threads
  • Bluesky

Join our list

Subscribe to our mailing list and get interesting stuff and updates to your email inbox.

Thank you for subscribing.

Something went wrong.

We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously

Related Posts

Energy

Climate Expert Asks: What Is a ‘Worst-Case’ Climate Scenario?

Jun 04, 2025
Extreme Weather

Meteorologist Exposes How Warmer Nights, Not Hotter Days, Skew Heated Climate Claims

Jun 04, 2025
Energy

‘Stop Whining’: Schwarzenegger Rebukes Eco Activists Freaking Out Over Trump Agenda

Jun 04, 2025

Comments 4

  1. TemplarOz says:
    6 years ago

    And coal saved the forests. Timber was the ‘primary’ source in England for ironworks, blacksmithing (using charcoal) home heating and cooking until the 16th Century. With a growing population and increasing demand for timber, the forests were being destroyed. As a consequence, England faced critical fuel shortages that threatened most every industry e.g. building materials for homes, furniture, carts, tools, ships etc. Fortunately, coal was beginning to be mined on an industrial scale and transported by sea to major population centres. This took the pressure off wood burning and saved the trees.

    Also of significant concern at that time, was the onset of the Little Ice Age – longer, harsher winters and frozen rivers. Without coal, the forests would have been totally destroyed. Fortunately, coal saved the day.

    It should also be noted that the industrial revolution would not have been possible without the steam engine … fuelled by coal.

  2. Amber says:
    6 years ago

    Greenpeace was started in large part in an effort to stop whaling . It was the last time Greenpeace Corp did anything that wasn’t reeking of cash cow .
    Now they chose to spray bomb historic ruins and sacred sites or sit in their cozy corporate offices trying to churn the cash register .

  3. Tom Loughlin Jr. says:
    6 years ago

    this topic is handled at the end of this johnathan winters sketch about Moby Dick watch https://youtu.be/PppXA9p3bAY

  4. Spurwing Plover says:
    6 years ago

    Hey Greenpeace want to Save the Whales the quit opposing Fracking and Drilling quit blocking Oil Tankers with your Fossil Fueled Ships and invest in Exxon,Mobile stock that will really help the whales

Stay Connected On Social Media

gab-logo

Donate Today

Beating back the alarmist narrative takes time and money. Please donate today to help!

Recent Posts

  • President Donald Trump signs executive ordersClimate Expert Asks: What Is a ‘Worst-Case’ Climate Scenario?
    Jun 4, 2025
    The discredited RCP8.5 climate scenario is still shaping policy, despite being out of step with reality and widely acknowledged as implausible. […]
  • beach summerMeteorologist Exposes How Warmer Nights, Not Hotter Days, Skew Heated Climate Claims
    Jun 4, 2025
    Axios blames climate change for hotter summers, but warmer nights, not hotter days, drive that trend. The real heat story isn't what it seems. […]
  • Schwarzenegger at Austrian World Summit‘Stop Whining’: Schwarzenegger Rebukes Eco Activists Freaking Out Over Trump Agenda
    Jun 4, 2025
    Arnold Schwarzenegger has a message for environmentalists who despair at Trump's approach to climate change: 'Stop whining and get to work.' […]
  • muriel bowserDC Mayor Bowser Faces Ethics Complaint Over Qatari-Funded Trip To UN Climate Summit
    Jun 4, 2025
    DC Mayor Bowser faces an ethics complaint over a Qatari-funded 2023 Dubai climate conference trip, allegedly violating donation laws. […]
  • cityscape sunStudy Finds Urbanization Behind Rising Temps, Torching Media’s Overheated Climate Claims
    Jun 3, 2025
    New study finds urban heat island may explain most temperature rise—casting doubt on media’s heat wave panic and the push to phase out fossil fuels. […]
  • armed epa agentsHouse Panel Investigates Biden’s EPA, DOJ For Targeting Businesses Over Climate Change
    Jun 3, 2025
    House panel is probing Biden’s EPA and DOJ for targeting small businesses with consent decrees, lawsuits, and 'sue and settle' crackdowns. […]
  • tesla superchargers stationNew Jersey Boots Tesla EV Superchargers Off Turnpike As Dems Target Musk
    Jun 3, 2025
    New Jersey removes Tesla Superchargers from Turnpike amid political feud over DOGE and Elon Musk's federal waste initiative. […]
  • Escaping The HeatGermany’s Scorching Summer of 1911 Undermines Today’s Heat Hysteria
    Jun 3, 2025
    Germany’s scorching summer of 1911 shows extreme heat and droughts long predate any so-called CO2 fears. […]
  • solar farm panelsGlobal Revolt: Over 1,000 Green Energy Projects Rejected Worldwide
    Jun 3, 2025
    Global communities reject 1,000+ renewable projects due to land conflicts, habitat destruction, and environmental concerns despite net-zero push. […]
  • alaska pipelineAlaskans Praise Trump’s Push To Reverse Biden’s Sweeping Drilling Ban
    Jun 2, 2025
    Trump officials move to reverse Biden’s Alaska drilling ban, siding with Native leaders and opening millions of acres to energy development. […]

Get Instant Email Notifications

Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email either instantly or daily. Check your Junk folder for any verification emails upon subscribing.

Submit a tip

Please enter your email, so we know you're human.

Books We Like

very convenient warming

exposing great lie

Have a suggestion? Let us know! We swap out books based on your input. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. See here.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

© Portions copyright Climate Change Dispatch

Share via
  • Threads
  • gab-logo Gab
  • Mastodon
  • Buffer
  • Telegram
  • Email
  • Copy Link
  • Share Using More Networks…
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Videos
  • Who We Are
  • Facts Vs. Fearmongering
    • Real science vs Junk Science
      • 1100-plus Peer-Reviewed Studies
      • 97% – Myth of the Climate Change Consensus
      • Michael Crichton: Aliens Cause Global Warming
      • Climate change and its causes
      • Climate Science Primer
      • CO2 is not pollution
      • Deceptive Surface Temperature Records
      • Editorial: Great Global Warming Hoax
      • Rules for Climate Radicals: Part 1
      • Rules for Climate Radicals: Part 2
      • Rules for Climate Radicals: Part 3
      • Why CO2 Is A Minor Player In Global Climate
      • Why Politicized Science Is So Dangerous
    • Facts Not Fear
      • A Simple Question For Climate Alarmists
      • Climate Change – The Facts
      • Climate Change Fears Are Empirically Baseless
      • Global Warming 101
      • Global Warming Q&A
      • Understanding The Medieval Warm Period
      • Ocean Cycles and Climate
      • Overview of Plate Climatology Theory
      • Precautionary Principle
      • Should We Celebrate Carbon Dioxide?
      • The Skeptics Handbook
      • Weather Versus Climate
      • Why I’m a GW skeptic
      • Winning the climate debate with facts
      • Why Aliens Cause Global Warming
    • Greenhouse FAQs
      • CO2, Plants, & Industry
      • How much have temps changed?
      • How much have temps changed?
      • How much have temps changed?
      • Is global warming real?
      • Measuring temperature
      • Swimming in CO2?
      • Scientists urge caution?
      • Today’s warming trend
      • Variations in temperature
    • Gore’s Greatest Goofs
      • Deconstructing the Truth
      • Fact-Checking Al Gore’s Latest Predictions
      • How Gore Created The Global Warming Hoax
    • Inside Real Climate
      • Closer look at the 97% Consensus
      • GW’s Amazing Story
      • IPCC gets failing grade
      • Real Climate Exposed!
      • Truth about Real Climate
      • We’ve Been Conned
      • What is there a 97% consensus about?
    • Behind the IPCC
      • 1,000 Scientists Dissent
      • Climategate: Caught Green-Handed!
      • Climategate Inquiries
      • Climategate Inquiries 2
      • NIPCC Report Now Available
      • Understanding the Climategate Inquiries
  • Submissions
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Climate Change Dispatch