Abbie+&+Helen

Helen Zhang: zhang.helen1110@gmail.com
 * AFF:**

US energy dependence is increasing because consumption is increasing despite prices
Wescott, 2013 - President of Keybridge Research [Robert, Phillip L. Swagel, Jeffrey Werling, Douglas Meade, Brendan Fitzpatrick,, Oil and the Debt, Keybridge Public Policy Economics, Sept. 23 2013, http://www.aei.org/files/2013/09/23/-oil-and-the-debt_174003485289.pdf, Acc. Jun 25 2014] LS __For decades, the United States has been the largest consumer of petroleum in the__ __AND__ __flat__, __falling by less than 1%__ from 2013 to 2040.15

Remaining dependent cripples the US economy – it leaves us vulnerable to oil shocks
Blair 14- Adm. Dennis C. Blair, a former director of National Intelligence (Dennis, Michael W. Hagee, Adm. Dennis C. Blair, a former director of National Intelligence and former commander in chief of the United States Pacific Command, and Gen. Michael W. Hagee, the 33rd commandant of the United States Marine Corps, serve as co-chairmen of the Commission on Energy and Geopolitics, a project of Securing America’s Future Energy, Tempering Oil Dependence, New York Times, FEB. 25, 2014 []) HL Today, the 1973 oil embargo is often remembered as a crisis caused by America’s AND __a healthy balance of trade. __ We propose a three-pronged strategy.

Economic crises will result in global war
Mead 2009 - senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. (Walter Russell Mead, The New Republic, “Only Makes You Stronger,” February 4 2009. http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=571cbbb9-2887-4d81-8542-92e83915f5f8&p=2 AD 6/30/09) So far, such half-hearted experiments not only have failed to work; AND __the world economy back on track, we may still have to fight.__

Dependence kills US hegemony – it fuels opposition to the US, prevents alliances and causes agreements that constrain US influence
Schlesinger 2006 -- Chair of the Defense Policy Board ( James, He is also a consultant to the U.S. Department of Defense, the nation’s first Secretary of Energy, October, 2006, council on foreign relations, [], 6/24/14) HL The Task Force has identified five major reasons why dependence on energy traded in world AND __to particular suppliers rather than from the proper functioning of a global market.__

Loss of hegemony causes nuclear conflicts.
Foster 2009 (March 16, 2009, John Bellamy Foster, A Failed System: The World Crisis of Capitalist Globalization and its Impact on China, International Debt Observatory, http://www.oid-ido.org/article.php3?id_article=808) There is no doubt that the national security apparatus in the United States, in AND times less, that is to say, only 13 billion dollars.”55

Energy shortages cause conflicts – they destabilize economies and regions
Sweeney, 2011 - Center for Naval Analyses [Kevin, Ralph Espach, Marcus King, William Komiss, Hilary Zarin, Leo Goff, Ensuring America’s Freedom of Movement, Center for Naval Analyses, October 2011, [], Acc. Jun 25 2014] LS __The U.S. has always pushed for the advance of freedoms__, __at__ __AND__ , specifically, __the implications of reduced con- sumption__ of imported oil.

Methane hydrates can solve energy dependence – massive quantities that are in more stable locations
Pellenbarg and Max ’14-, At Naval Research Laboratory and MDS Research __The geopolitical implications of energy independence__ for Japan or India and for their relations AND __a lot of methane as hydrate in the sediments of the world ocean__.

Methane hydrates solve dependence – they provide massive amounts of energy
Plumer 13 – Washington Post Reporter (Brad Washington Post, March 12, 2013 “Are methane hydrates the next big energy source? Japan hope so.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/03/12/japan-tries-to-unlock-the-worlds-biggest-source-of-carbon-based-fuel/))RF How much energy are we talking about? Potentially, a staggering amount. The AND shale reserves are estimated to contain 827 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Methane hydrates are key to energy wars – exploiting them solves all shortages
Fitzpatrick, 2010 – Science reporter for the BBC [Michael, methane release looks stronger, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8437703.stm] __A recent technological breakthrough in Japan might soon render economically viable the large-scale__ __AND__ __thought to be the repositories of the bulk of methane hydrates reserves worldwide.__

Current warming is releasing Arctic methane from hydrates – this will trigger runaway warming and extinction
Song 11 – Pulitzer prize winning reporter for Inside Climate News (Lisa Mar 3, 2011, Accessed June 25, 2014. “Up to 40% of Gulf Oil Spill Was Potent Methane Gas, Research Shows” Inside Climate News http://insideclimatenews.org/author/lisa-song) Another risk lies in the hydrates' contribution to climate change. __Hydrates keep methane out__ __AND__ Leifer will return to the Arctic later in March to continue hydrate research.

Explosive methane bursts cause human extinction – the signs are appearing now
Aym 2010 [Terrence [] Doomsday Methane Bubble Rupture?: How the BP Gulf Disaster May Have Triggered a ‘World-Killing’ Event Ryskin’s methane extinction theory Northwestern University‘s Gregory Ryskin, a bio-chemical AND ] All three warning signs are documented to be occurring in the Gulf.

Methane bubble bursts would cause extinction due to explosive clouds and super tsunamis
Aym 2010 [Terrence [] Doomsday Methane Bubble Rupture?: How the BP Gulf Disaster May Have Triggered a ‘World-Killing’ Event Most disturbing of all: __Methane levels in the water are now calculated as being__ __AND__ __nearby surging oil__ that’s estimated to be as hot as 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Rapid warming causes international conflicts – instability, terrorism and forced migration
Weiss, 10 -- Daniel J. Weiss is a Senior Fellow and Director Climate Strategy at the Center for American Progress **.** (Daniel, Senior Fellow and Director Climate Strategy at the Center for American Progress, Oil Dependence Is a Dangerous Habit, Center for American Progress, January 13, 2010, [], 6/24/14) HL Climate change is a major threat to U.S. and world security Meanwhile AND that climate change, energy dependence, and national security are interlinked challenges.

Methane release from hydrates is inevitable and will cause catastrophic warming – capturing methane is the only solution
Anderson 14 – BBC News Business Reporter (Richard BBC News, Published April 16, 2014 “Methane Hydrate: Dirty Fuel or Energy Saviour” []) RF __Methane hydrates are found mainly under ocean seabeds__ and Arctic permafrost However, __this may__ __AND__ __idea. Maybe this particular hydrocarbon addiction could prove beneficial for us all.__

Japan’s energy dependence is unstable due to nuclear disaster
McCann, 2012 - Senior Advisor at Department of Defense of Australia [Linda, Japan’s Energy Security Challenges: the world is watching, Australian Defense College, October 2012, http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/docs/Publications2012/08_SAP%20Linda%20McCann%20-%20Japan.pdf, Acc. Jun 26 2014] LS __Japan was facing significant energy security challenges before the triple disaster of 2011__. Scott AND Summer months, __with likely__ second order __effects on__ local __economies and unemployment__.

Reliance on Foreign energy imports cripples Japan’s economy – it is vulnerable to skyrocketing prices
U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2013 [ Japan Energy: Overview, October 29, 2013, http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=ja, Acc. Jun 26 2014] LS __Japan's higher gas demand for power and a tighter LNG global supply market over the__ __AND__ nuclear facilities are able to return to operation in the next few years.

The Japanese economy is key to the global economy
Dodrill 2013 [Tara Financial reporter for off the grid news Is japan the next economic domino to fall? http://www.offthegridnews.com/2013/05/29/is-japan-the-next-economic-domino-to-fall/] __Off The Grids News radio show guest Tres Knippa predicted the economic collapse in Japan__ __AND__ debt and place a more powerful burden on an already struggling banking industry.

The US must increase its methane hydrate research to fulfill cooperative agreements with Japan
Platt’s Oilgram News 2013 [Takeo Kumagai - Platt’s writer Oct 31, http://www.platts.com/latest-news/natural-gas/tokyo/japan-urges-us-to-move-forward-methane-hydrate-27583047 Japan urges US to move forward methane hydrate cooperation agreement Accessed June 27] HL __Japan's Minister of Economy__, Trade and Industry, Toshimitsu Motegi, Thursday __asked visiting__ __AND__ methane hydrate resources in place in the southern Sea of Kumano in 2007.

US methane hydrate exploration would be done cooperatively with Japan – it speeds Japanese commercialization and promotes US development
Shimizu 2013 - The Sasakawa Peace Foundation at the CSIS [Aiko student at the University of Pennsylvania Law School March 2013, The future of US-Japan alliance collaboration, Energy Security and Methane Hydrate Exploration in US-Japan Relations[], 6/29/14) HL __Cooperation in the area of energy security is not new in US-Japan relations__ AND __and discussions on the impact of extraction on the environment and climate change.__

Methane hydrate research saves Japan’s economy – it prevents foreign dependence
Edmonton Journal ‘13 [Japan finds 'ice gas' beneath seabed; Nation seeks replacement for shuttered nuclear energy, 3/15/13, [], accessed 6/25/14] KC " Methane __hydrate could give Japan its own energy source and more independence," said__ __AND__ __catalyst for revival much like the shale revolution in the U.S__.

Methane hydrate development is key to the US Japan alliance – natural gas cooperation is key to bilateral relations
Armitage and Nye. 12. President of Armitage International and Dean emeritus of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard **.** [August 2012 http://project2049.net/documents/120810_armitage_usjapanalliance_web.pdf] SALH Natural Gas __Recent positive developments in natural gas could rekindle bilateral energy trade in ways__ __AND__ __States and Japan should commit to research and development of alternative energy technologies.__

US Japan cooperation is key to Asian security and avoiding a Senkaku conflict
Chanlett-Avery et al. 13. Specialist in Asian Affairs. [Emma, Mark E. Manyin Specialist in Asian Affairs, William H. Cooper Specialist in International Trade and Finance, Ian E. Rinehart Analyst in Asian Affairs. February 15, 2013[]] SALH __Japan is a significant partner for the United States in a number of foreign policy__ __AND__ __and China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islets in the East China Sea.__

Senkaku conflict would escalate to global war – it would engulf the Asian region
Jade 2014 - JD Candidate at Cornell [Harry, Cornell International Law Journal, A Solution Acceptable to All? A Legal Analysis of the Senkaku-Diaoyu Island Dispute., Ebsco, Accessed Jun24 2014], LS B. Alternatives to Pursuing International Litigation or Arbitration Rather than risk losing potentially valuable AND be even less desirable than bringing a legal claim invoking current customary law.

Energy dependence will force Japan to restart nuclear power
U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2013 [ Japan Energy: Overview, October 29, 2013, http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=ja, Acc. Jun 26 2014] LS __Nuclear generation in Japan represented about 26% of the power generation prior to the__ __AND__ infrastructure spending, monetary easing, labor market reform, and business investment.

Japanese nuclear power destroys human health from meltdowns
Fritz 2014-Writer for Deutsche Welle [ Martin Fritz, Fukushima's radiation victims, 3/11/2014Deutsche Welle, [|http://www.dw.de/fukushimas-radiation-victims/a-17488269 //] Accessed June 29, 2014// LJ But __Shunji Sekine, a physician in Namie, believes the radiation will eventually have__ __AND__ the northeast of the country continues. (04.03.2014)

Funding for the Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act were cut – replacement is uncertain
Congressional Research Service, January 24, 2011 [Peter Folger, staff writer specializing in energy and natural resources policy, Gas Hydrates: Resource and Hazard, http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=924a328e-1628-4380-9696-0680d061555f, June 30, 2014] KF For FY2011, __the Obama Administration requested no funding for the Natural Gas Technologies program__ __AND__ P.L. 111-322 extend through March 4, 2011.

US is not strongly pursuing methane hydrate research because we are focusing on shale oil
India Times 2013 **[**A news publication, CHINA DISCOVERS MAJOR METHANE HYDRATE RESERVE IN SOUTH CHINA SEA []] To that end, last week a 499-ton survey vessel nosed out of AND __hydrates at the U.S. Energy Department's National Energy Technology Laboratory.__

Government research is necessary for methane hydrate development – empirical examples proves
Arango May 7 2013 [writer for CBC news, []] Other countries are still pursuing hydrate research. Last year, __U.S.__ __AND__ __them mixed in ocean sand, like "sugar mixed with the sediments."__

A national effort is necessary to overcome tech challenges – petroleum proves
Pellenbarg and Max ’14-, At Naval Research Laboratory and MDS Research __Less clear is the exact__ nature of such deposits, and __details of the technology__ AND __level can lead to such independence based on the promise of methane hydrate.__

Additional research promotes methane hydrates with carbon sequestration
Pellenbarg and Max ’14-, At Naval Research Laboratory and MDS Research The geopolitical implications of energy independence for Japan or India and for their relations AND a lot of methane as hydrate in the sediments of the world ocean.

Abbie Crick: abigailcrick@gmail.com -Consumption K -HTF -China CP -Oil DA -T "it's" -Case turns -PTX (G$ was judging so this was the natural way to go) -China SOI -Military CP -Midterms -T "it's" -SOI -Case turns -Environment DA -T "it's" -Manufacturing CP -China DA on case -Case turns -Fem IR -Midterms -T "ïts" -Oil DA -Fem IR
 * NEG:**
 * 1NC OSW (This happened twice and the only thing that changed was the country of the SOI DA to Russia)**
 * 2NR (2NR the second time was the same strat)**
 * 1NC AUVs**
 * 2NR**
 * 1NC Natural Gas**
 * 2NR**
 * 1NC AUV's**
 * 2NR**