Oklahoma HORIZON TV -- Show 1237

ROB MCCLENDON: THIS WEEK ON OKLAHOMA HORIZON...
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ECONOMY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE, I CAN NOT THINK OF A
SINGLE COMMODITY THAT WE DEPEND UPON MORE, BUT CRITICIZE AS MUCH AS OIL.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THAT INDUSTRY IS DRIVING OUR
STATE'S EXPORTS TO RECORD LEVELS, AND SEE WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR ECONOMY.
DEIDRE MYERS: EXPORTS ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ECONOMY, MOSTLY
BECAUSE THEY HELP GENERATE WEALTH.
THE PRODUCTS AND THE GOODS THAT WE SELL TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE STATE OF
OKLAHOMA BRING IN MONEY TO OKLAHOMA.
ROB: WE TRAVEL TO THE TULSA PORT OF CATOSSA TO SEE HOW ENERGY IS FUELING
A BOOM OF EXPORTS DOWN OUR STATE'S WATERWAYS.
[NATS OF FILM: RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. ROGER.]
WE'LL BE OFFLOADING IT AT A STEEL DOCK WHICH WE'LL THEN BE LOADING IT ONTO
RAIL CARS TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
ROB: AND WE WILL END OUR DAY LOOKING AT A CONTROVERSIAL FILM THAT
SAYS SOCIETY HAS BEEN SPOILED BY OIL.
STAY WITH US FOR OKLAHOMA HORIZON.
MALE ANNOUNCER: OKLAHOMA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.
FEMALE ANNOUNCER: OKLAHOMA'S INVESTMENT IN CAREERTECH PROVIDES MORE
THAN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND TRAINING, IT PRODUCES
SOLID FINANCIAL RETURNS FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMIC FUTURE; OKLAHOMA
CAREERTECH, ELEVATING OUR ECONOMY.
MALE ANNOUNCER: AND, THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND
FORESTRY, HELPING GOOD PEOPLE GROW GOOD THINGS.
AND NOW, FROM THE CAREERTECH STUDIOS IN STILLWATER, HERE'S YOUR
HOST, ROB MCCLENDON.
ROB MCCLENDON: OKLAHOMA EXPORTS REACHED RECORD LEVELS DURING THE FIRST
HALF OF 2012, AND THANKS IN GREAT PART TO OUR STATE'S ENERGY INDUSTRY.
THROUGH JUNE, THREE-POINT-FOUR BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF GOODS
WERE SHIPPED OUT OF STATE, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT TWELVE PERCENT, AND CLOSE
TO DOUBLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE JOINING ME NOW TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT
WE ARE EXPORTING AND WHERE IT IS GOING IS OUR ANDY BARTH.
ANDY: ROB, THE TOUGH ECONOMY DOESN'T SEEM TO GET OKLAHOMAN'S DOWN.
WITH ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE EXPORT MARKETS IN THE WORLD, THE STATE HAS
NOWHERE TO LOOK BUT FORWARD.
ANDY: A LATE SUMMER GARDEN MAY BE AN UNEXPECTED PLACE FOR INTERNATIONAL
DIPLOMACY.
BUT FOR OKLAHOMA SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE JIM REESE AND AZERBAIJAN AMBASSADOR
ELIN SULEYMANOV, IT'S A COMMON INTEREST, AND IMPORTANT FOR EXPORTS.
JIM REESE: WELL THE ANALOGY I USUALLY USE IS IF YOU HAVE A ROUND TABLE,
TEN PEOPLE WITH A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND THEY TRADE IT BACK AND FORTH, AND THIS
IS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TRADING IT BACK AND FORTH, YOU STILL HAVE A THOUSAND
DOLLARS AT THE END OF THE DAY OR AS LONG AS THEY TRADE.
BUT ONCE YOU SEND THOSE DOLLARS OUT OF STATE AND TRADE OUTSIDE OF OUR STATE
BORDERS YOU'RE BRINGING NEW DOLLARS IN AND YOU'RE TRADING AN EXPORT OUT,
YOU'RE SELLING AN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT OUTSIDE OUR BORDERS AND
YOU'RE BRINGING CASH IN.
SO IN RETROSPECT TO OUR ECONOMY IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE SIX BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF AG PRODUCTS IN THE STATE OF
OKLAHOMA, ACTUALLY QUITE A BIT OVER SIX BILLION.
A LOT OF THAT PRODUCT GOES OUTSIDE OUR BORDERS AND IS TRADED FOR CASH.
SO THE ECONOMY OF OKLAHOMA IS GREAT.
ANDY: AND FOR OKLAHOMA IT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT KEEPS THINGS MOVING.
REESE: THE PORT OF CATOOSA IS CRITICAL FOR OUR RAIL, AND THE HIGHWAYS.
I MEAN ALL OF THAT FITS TOGETHER AND IT'S ONE THE HUGE ADVANTAGES THAT
AMERICA HAS AND OKLAHOMA HAS ON OTHER COUNTRIES.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
ONCE THEY GET THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS PRODUCED, THEY CAN'T GET
THEM TO THE MARKET.
SO IT IS A HUGE ADVANTAGE THAT WE HAVE IN AMERICA.
ANDY: AND ECONOMIC ANALYST DEIDRE MYERS SAYS OKLAHOMA EXPORTS PLAY A LARGE ROLL.
DEIDRE MYERS: EXPORTS ARE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ECONOMY, MOSTLY
BECAUSE THEY HELP GENERATE WEALTH.
THE PRODUCTS AND THE GOODS THAT WE SELL TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF
OKLAHOMA BRING IN MONEY TO OKLAHOMA.
WHAT THAT DOES IS IT INCREASES THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR OKLAHOMANS.
IT GIVES US MORE DISCRETIONARY INCOME, SO THAT MONEY CAN THEN BE
CIRCULATED WITHIN OUR ECONOMY.
SO EXPORTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE OVERALL HEALTH AND PROSPERITY OF
THE STATE.
ANDY: AND MYERS SAYS THERE ARE SOME KEY PLAYERS WHEN IT COMES TO WHO OKLAHOMA
EXPORTS TO.
MYERS: THE TOP COUNTRY FOR OUR EXPORTS IS DEFINITELY CANADA.
THEY COMPRISE ALMOST THIRTY PERCENT OF OUR EXPORTS.
AND OF COURSE THAT'S VERY ORIENTED TOWARDS ENERGY.
THE PLAYS UP IN THE MIDDLE SECTION OF CANADA AND WESTERN CANADA ARE VERY
IMPORTANT TO OUR PUMPS AND VALVE EXPORTS.
ANDY: WHILE OIL AND GAS IS FUELING THE GROWTH IN STATE EXPORTS, AEROSPACE
ENGINES AND PARTS STILL REMAIN OKLAHOMA'S NUMBER ONE EXPORT.
BRENDA ROLLS IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF FRONTIER ELECTRONIC
SYSTEMS.
BRENDA ROLLS: ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT A COMPANY LIKE FRONTIER IN OKLAHOMA
IS MOST OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE NOT LOCAL.
SO WE'RE BRINGING IN REVENUE DOLLARS FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE.
ANDY: A BENEFIT THAT CONTINUES TO GROW OUR ECONOMY.
MYERS: WE ARE ALWAYS WANTING TO EXPAND, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR, NEW MARKETS, NEW PRODUCTS, SO THAT OKLAHOMA CAN
CONTINUE TO GROW.
ANDY: SO WHAT IS IT WE EXPORT?
WELL TOPPING THE LIST WE HAVE CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT, ENGINES AND PARTS, WHICH
MAKES UP THREE HUNDRED NINETEEN MILLION DOLLARS.
NEXT WE HAVE MEDICAL APPLIANCES, WHICH BRINGS IN ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE
MILLION DOLLARS, AND ROUNDING OUT THE LIST, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IS
SWINE MEAT, WHICH BRINGS IN ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR MILLION DOLLARS TO OUR
STATE'S ECONOMY.
BUT WHERE DO WE SEND THESE PRODUCTS TO?
WELL AS DEIDRE MYERS SAID, CANADA RACES TO THE TOP WITH OVER THIRTY PERCENT
NEARLY TWO BILLION DOLLARS TO OUR STATE.
NEXT IS OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH; MEXICO MAKES UP MORE THAN EIGHT PERCENT;
AND JAPAN AND CHINA BRINGS IN SIX-POINT-FIVE PERCENT AND FIVE-POINT-NINE
PERCENT RESPECTIVELY.
ROB: SO ANDY, A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
WHAT DO ALL THESE EXPORTS MEAN IN TERMS OF JOBS?
ANDY: ROB, NEARLY A QUARTER, OR TWENTY-TWO-POINT-FIVE
PERCENT, SPECIFICALLY, OF ALL MANUFACTURING WORKERS DEPEND ON EXPORTS FOR
THEIR JOBS.
ROB: ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH ANDY.
ANDY: YOU'RE WELCOME ROB.
ROB: NOW WHEN WE RETURN, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE RECORD SHIPPING YEAR AT
TULSA'S PORT OF CATOOSA.
MALE ANNOUNCER: YOU'RE WATCHING OKLAHOMA HORIZON, FEATURING SOME OF THE GOOD
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
ROB MCCLENDON: WHILE LOCATED NEAR THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF THE
UNITED STATES, TULSA'S PORT OF CATOOSA PROVIDES INTERNATIONAL ACCESS TO A
VARIETY OF MANUFACTURERS.
FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, CARGO TONAGE OUT OF THE PORT ROSE BY CLOSE TO
FORTY PERCENT, WITH MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED NEW JOBS BEING ADDED.
IT IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR OUR STATE, YET ONE FEW OF US NOTICE, BECAUSE BY
DESIGN THE PORT OF CATOOSA'S BUSINESS MODEL JUST KEEPS ON ROLLING DOWN
THE RIVER.
JUST A FEW MILES NORTHEAST OF TULSA OKLAHOMA, NEAR THE CITY OF CATOOSA, THE
NATION'S MOST INLAND INTERNATIONAL SEAPORT AWAITS AN EARLY MORNING
ARRIVAL.
THIS IS THE TULSA PORT OF CATOOSA, AN UNLIKELY SETTING FOR AN
INTERNATIONAL WATER PORT WHERE MORE THAN TWO MILLION TONS OF CARGO ARE
TRANSPORTED BY BARGE EACH YEAR TO PORTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND AROUND THE
WORLD.
YEAR AROUND, THE PORT SHIPS OUTBOUND GYPSUM, LAVA ROCK, WHEAT,
SOYBEANS, LIQUID FERTILIZER, REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, AND
FABRICATED EQUIPMENT SO LARGE IT CAN ONLY BE TRANSPORTED BY WATER.
DRY FERTILIZER, AND TODAY'S ARRIVAL OF COMMODITY STEEL AND PIPE,
ARE REGULAR INBOUND SHIPMENTS.
FOR THE CAPTAIN AND CREW ABOARD THIS TOW, LIFE ON THE RIVER OFFERS THE PACE
AND UNIQUE GRACE OF A MARK TWAIN NOVEL WHERE TIME IS MEASURED IN DAYS INSTEAD
OF HOURS.
AND THE JOURNEY'S END AT THE TULSA PORT OF CATOOSA MARKS THE START OF A NEW
JOURNEY TO YET A DIFFERENT PORT.
WE'LL BE OFFLOADING IT AT A STEEL DOCK WHICH WILL THEN BE LOADING IT ONTO
RAIL CARS TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
SOME TEN OR SO DAYS AGO, THIS PAYLOAD, FIFTEEN HUNDRED TONS OF STEEL
STOWED INTO THIS HOPPER BARGE ORIGINATED ON THE OHIO RIVER NEAR
CINCINNATI.
FROM THERE IT WAS PUSHED BY TOW BOAT WITH OTHER BARGES MORE THAN FIVE
HUNDRED MILES DOWN THE OHIO RIVER, THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILES DOWN THE
MISSISSIPPI, THEN NORTHBOUND ON THE WHITE AND THE ARKANSAS AND THE
VERDIGRIS RIVERS INTO THE TULSA PORT.
WHILE TRANSPORTING THIS CARGO BY TRUCK OR RAIL MIGHT HAVE BEEN FASTER, A
SINGLE RIVER BARGE CAN TRANSPORT AS MUCH CARGO AS SIXTY SEMI TRUCKS OR
FIFTEEN JUMBO HOPPER RAIL CARS, MAKING THE WATER A DRAMATICALLY MORE
EFFICIENT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
THE TULSA PORT OF CATOOSA IS SITUATED AT THE HEAD OF NAVIGATION FOR THE
MCCLELLAN-KERR ARKANSAS RIVER NAVIGATION SYSTEM, A 445 MILE STRETCH OF LIQUID
HIGHWAY THAT UNFURLS AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE WHITE AND THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVERS IN SOUTHEASTERN ARKANSAS.
FROM THERE, THE WATERWAY PROCEEDS UPSTREAM ON THE ARKANSAS RIVER TO
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA, WHERE IT JOINS WITH THE VERDIGRIS RIVER, A
TRIBUTARY OF THE ARKANSAS.
THE MCCLELLAN-KERR ARKANSAS RIVER NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS A SERIES OF
RESEVOIRS ALSO KNOWN AS NAVIGATION POOLS.
THESE POOLS ARE CONTROLLED BY 18 LOCKS AND DAMS THAT ENSURE ADEQUATE AND STABLE
WATER FLOW FROM CATOOSA TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
THE LOCKS CREATE A STAIRWAY OF WATER ENABLING BARGES TO STEP UP AND DOWN
THE RIVER.
MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN CONSTRUCTION AND AT A COST OF ONE-POINT-TWO BILLION
DOLLARS, THE MCCLELLAN-KERR ARKANSAS RIVER NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS
A SILENT OFTEN UNNOTICED TESTAMENT TO THE VISIONARIES WHO BELIEVED
THE UNPREDICTABLE ARKANSAS RIVER COULD NOT ONLY BE TAMED BUT ECONOMICALLY
HARNESSED.
FEW AGREED, EVEN HUMORIST, WILL ROGERS, QUIPPED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THE
ARKANSAS RIVER NAVIGABLE WOULD BE TO PAVE IT.
FOR DECADES THE ARKANSAS RIVER HAD PROVED ITSELF TO BE A POWER WITH WHICH TO
BE RECKONED.
BETWEEN YAWNING SPELLS OF DROUGHT, FLOODS OF EPIC PROPORTIONS SWEPT AWAY
HOMES, PROPERTY AND LIVES IN OKLAHOMA AND ARKANSAS.
AFTER THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1943, THE TIME HAD COME FOR CHANGE.
SENATORS JOHN MCCLELLAN OF ARKANSAS AND ROBERT KERR OF OKLAHOMA LED THE CHARGE
TO PERSUADE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT TURNING THE ARKANSAS RIVER INTO A
MARINE HIGHWAY WOULD ENHANCE AMERICA'S ECONOMY AND STRENGTHEN THEIR
INLAND WATER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
TRANFORMING THE ARKANSAS RIVER INTO A VIABLE RESOURCE SEEMED A
HERCULEAN TASK, BUT SENATORS MCCLELLAN AND KERR WERE UNDETERRED IN
THEIR BELIEFS THAT THE ARKANSAS COULD BE TRANSFORMED TO SUPPORT
BARGE TRANSPORTATION, GENERATE HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER, REDUCE FLOODING,
PROVIDE MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES, AND ENHANCE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION,
FISHING AND RECREATION.
IN 1971 AS THE FIRST BARGE ARRIVED AT THE TULSA PORT OF CATOOSA, THE ONCE
FANCIFUL NOTIONS OF TWO HEADSTRONG SENATORS WERE VINDICATED, AN
INCORRIGIBLE RIVER WAS CONTROLLED, AND THE ONCE LAND-LOCKED STATE OF
OKLAHOMA OFFICIALLY OFFERED RELIABLE MARINE PASSAGE TO THE WORLD.
WE THINK FOR INSTANCE OF THE TWO WAYS SAVINGS WATER TRANSPORTATION IS ALREADY
BEGINNING TO BRING THE FARM INDUSTRY IN THIS REGION.
LOWER SHIPPING COSTS COMING IN, MEAN THAT THE FARMER PAYS LESS FOR HIS
FERTILIZER AND MACHINERY AND OTHER SUPPLIES, AND LOWER SHIPPING COSTS GOING
OUT MEAN THAT THE FARMER CAN POCKET MORE OF THE MARKET PRICE OF HIS CROPS
AND LIVESTOCK.
THAT WAY, FARM INCOME IS BOOSTED TWICE, AND THE BENEFITS EXTEND ACROSS
AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD TO EVERYONE WHO DEPENDS ON THE BEEF AND
THE WHEAT.
TODAY, THE EBB AND FLOW OF COMMERCE AT THE PORT OF CATOOSA IS NO LONGER
LIMITED TO THE RIVER WATERS.
THE PORT OF CATOOSA ALSO HOSTS A 2800 ACRE AND GROWING INDUSTRIAL PARK
OFFERING MULTI MODAL SHIPPING BY WATERWAY, TRUCK AND TWO CLASS-ONE
RAILROADS.
THE PORT PERFORMS ITS OWN SWITCHING SERVICES AND OPERATES LOCOMOTIVES WITH
15 MILES OF TRACK.
WITHIN THE PORT'S INDUSTRIAL PARK, NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES
SHIP AND RECEIVE GOODS AND MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, GENERATING MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC REVENUE.
THE PORT OF CATOOSA'S INDUSTRIAL PARK IS AN ATTRACTIVE SETTING FOR
GLOBAL BUSINESSES WHOSE OPERATIONS DEPEND ON THE PORT'S STRATEGIC WATERWAYS
AND ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
THE PORT'S INDUSTRIAL PARK OFFERS MANY OTHER ADVANTAGES FOR BUSINESSES
AS WELL INCLUDING HANDLING SERVICES AND AMPLE STORAGE FOR DRY CARGO, LIQUID BULK
TERMINALS FOR FERTILIZER, AND FULLY DEVELOPED INDUSTRIAL SITES FOR
MANUFACTURING.
LESS THAN TWO MINUTES AWAY, THE PORT OFFERS A CONVENIENT RETAIL CENTER
WHERE RESTAURANTS, BANKING AND MEDICAL SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE
SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO WORK INSIDE THE INDUSTRIAL PARK.
THE ARRIVAL OF TODAY'S CARGO CREATES A NEW HUB OF ACTIVITY ON SHORE AS THE
PORT'S TWO HUNDRED TON OVERHEAD CRANE SWINGS INTO ACTION; THE ECONOMIC
ENGINE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PARK QUICKLY REVS TO LIFE.
IN A PRECISE BALLET OF MAN AND MACHINE, ROLLS OF STEEL ARE HOISTED FROM
BARGES AND TRANSPORTED TO ONE OF SEVERAL STEEL SERVICE CENTERS WHERE THE
COILS ARE UNROLLED AND CUT TO LENGTH OR SLITTED TO PRECISE DIMENSIONS.
THE STEEL WILL THEN BE SHIPPED TO MANUFACTURERS, CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AND
SALES FACILITIES AT THE PORT'S INDUSTRIAL PARK OR OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT
THE MIDDLE AND WESTERN UNITED STATES.
THE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED USING THIS STEEL OFTEN COME BACK TO THE PORT IN
THE FORM OF HUGE PROCESSING EQUIPMENT TO BE SHIPPED BY BARGE TO PORTS
OF THE WORLD THUS COMPLETING AN ECONOMIC CIRCLE.
THE TULSA PORT OF CATOOSA IS A VIBRANT SYMBOL OF OKLAHOMA ACHIEVEMENT, FROM
ITS IMPACT ON THE STATE'S ECONOMY, TO ITS VITAL ROLE IN INLAND MARINE
TRANSPORTATION, THE PORT OF CATOOSA STANDS AS A QUIET REMINDER OF AMERICAN
INGENUITY AND BOLD PERSEVERANCE.
TO ENSURE THAT OUR YOUTH, OUR NATION'S FUTURE LEADERS, RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANCE AND ADVANTAGE OF LOW-COST, ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY
WATER TRANSPORTATION, THE PORT ALSO HOSTS A MUSEUM, AN EDUCATION CENTER, WHERE
THE PORT'S FIRST TOW-BOAT IS PERMANENTLY DRY-DOCKED FOR PUBLIC VIEWING NOW AS
AMERICA'S FOCUS CENTERS MORE AND MORE ON THE HEALTH AND FUTURE OF OUR
ENVIRONMENT, MARINE TRANSPORTATION REMAINS THE SAFEST, CLEANEST AND MOST
FUEL EFFICIENT METHOD OF SERVICE TRANSPORTATION.
THE DAWN OF ANOTHER DAY AWAKENS TULSA'S PORT OF CATOOSA IN A SLOW,
ROMANTIC RHYTHM, AND BRINGS WITH IT BOTH THE END AND BEGINNING OF
ANOTHER RIVER JOURNEY.
ROB: WELL ACCESS FROM AMERICA'S LARGEST CITIES IS ALSO A BIG ADVANTAGE
FOR NOT JUST THE PORT OF CATOSSA, BUT NEIGHBORING PORT 33, AND THE PORT OF
MUSKOGEE.
THAT IS WHY STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF A NEW
ONE-POINT-FOUR MILE STRETCH OF ROAD THAT BETTER CONNECTS PORT 33 TO
HIGHWAY 412 NOW COST OF THE PROJECT CAME IN CLOSE TO EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS,
BUT OFFICIALS SAY IT WAS A GOOD INVESTMENT INCREASING THE STATE'S EXPORTS.
NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PORT 33 OR THE PORT OF MUSKOGEE,
WE HAVE STORIES ON BOTH OF THEM STREAMING ON OUR WEBSITE, JUST HEAD TO OK
HORIZON DOT COM AND CLICK ON THIS WEEK'S VALUE ADDED.
FEMALE ANNOUNCER: STILL TO COME ON OKLAHOMA HORIZON, ARE AMERICANS SPOILED ON
OIL?
ROB MCCLENDON: WELL WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE'RE TOLD ABOUT OIL, THERE'S
RHETORIC AND THEN THERE'S REALITY.
OUR DAILY LIVES ARE DRIPPING IN OIL; IT'S IN VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING WE
USE, AND FUELS EVERYTHING WE DO.
BUT IS IT A DANGEROUS ADDICTION?
TO BE SURE, DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL IS SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT YET
INCREASINGLY, THANKS TO NEW TECHNOLOGY, OUR COUNTRY IS BECOMING LESS
AND LESS DEPENDENT ON IMPORTS FROM UNFRIENDLY COUNTRIES.
ROB: FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS, JOURNALIST TURNED MEDIA ANALYST, MARK MATHIS HAS
STUDIED OUR USE OF OIL, AND WHAT HE FOUND SHOCKED HIM SO THOROUGHLY THAT HE
MADE A MOVIE.
NATS: AUTOMOBILE TRAVEL SOUNDS.
I'VE BEEN A USER FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.
AMERICA IS ADDICTED TO OIL.
LIKE ALL JUNKIES, I'VE PAID A HEAVY PRICE FOR MY HABIT.
IS THAT RIGHT?
THAT IS TRUE.
YEAH?
PEOPLE HAVE RIDICULED ME FOR YEARS FOR CHALLENGING WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW
ABOUT OIL.
WELL YOU'RE GIVING YOUR OPINION WHICH IS INTERESTING.
I KEEP TRYING TO DEBATE THE FACTS, BUT A LOT OF FOLKS JUST DON'T WANT TO
HEAR IT.
LET'S GO, I'M TIRED OF TALKING TO THIS GUY.
THAT'S BECAUSE MY DRUG OF CHOICE IS NOT THE ONE THESE PEOPLE ARE
TALKING ABOUT.
ROB MCCLENDON: ACCORDING TO MATHIS WE DO HAVE AN OIL PROBLEM IN AMERICA,
BUT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD.
I WAS ABLE TO VISIT WITH THE PRODUCER-DIRECTOR OF THE MOVIE, SPOILED,
OUTSIDE ITS THEATRICAL DEBUT IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA.
SO, MARK, WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO DO THIS FILM?
MARK MATHIS: YOU KNOW, I WAS WORKING FIRST AS A NEWS REPORTER AND THEN AS
A CONSULTANT, AND AS A CONSULTANT I WAS BROUGHT IN TO DO SOME CONSULTING
WITH THE, SOME FOLKS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR AND ANYTIME YOU'RE A
CONSULTANT, YOU GO AND YOU LEARN ABOUT AN INDUSTRY, YOU HAVE TO STUDY THAT
INDUSTRY.
WELL, I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
AT THAT TIME I WAS 40 YEARS OLD, I HAD RUN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, I HAD
BEEN A NEWS REPORTER FOR 10 YEARS, AND YET I DID NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF
OIL AND THE FUNDAMENTAL ENERGY SOURCES THAT RUN OUR LIVES.
I BECAME ASTONISHED AT MY OWN IGNORANCE, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, I WAS BLOWN
AWAY THAT I WAS SO MISINFORMED AND THAT ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND ME WERE
MISINFORMED.
I BECAME OBSSESSED WITH THE SUBJECT, AND I'VE BEEN OBSESSED FOR ABOUT 10
YEARS.
ROB : WELL YOU'RE CERTAINLY NOT ALONE BEING MISINFORMED WHEN IT COMES
TO THE PUBLIC.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU THOUGH, IN ONE OF THE LINES OF THE FILM AS YOU SAY THAT OIL
IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, EXPLAIN YOURSELF.
MATHIS: EVEN PEOPLE IN THE OIL BUSINESS ARE SHOCKED WHEN I SAY THIS.
THEY SAY, MARK YOU'RE DINKING YEAR-OLD KOOLAID HERE IF YOU TELL ME THAT
OIL IS THE CLEANEST ENERGY SOURCE EVER FOUND.
AND THE FACT IS THAT WITHOUT OIL, WHAT WOULD YOUR ENVIRONMENT LOOK
LIKE?
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ROADS, LIKE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD, THEN EVERYTHING
AROUND YOU IS DIRTY.
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS, YOU'RE TAKING ALL OF THAT DUST INTO YOUR LUNGS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OIL, AND ENERGY, THEN YOU CAN'T BUILD THE SEWER
SYSTEMS THAT YOU NEED TO PROPERLY TREAT THE AFFLUENT BEFORE YOU PUT IT
BACK IN THE RIVER.
YOU START LOOKING AT YOUR OWN PERSONAL ENVIRONMENT.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU USE TO KEEP YOUR PERSONAL ENVIRONMENT CLEAN IS OIL
BASED SO IF YOU SEPARATE OUT OIL FROM YOUR LIFE, AND THEN YOU SEE HOW DIRTY
YOUR LIFE BECOMES, THEN YOU START CLUING IN TO THIS IDEA THAT YES, OIL IS
EXTREMELY CLEAN, THE PRESENCE OF OIL, USING IT IN YOUR LIFE, AND IF YOU
DOUBT THAT, GO TO ANY THIRD WORLD COUNTRY, LIKE HAITI, AND SEE WHAT YOUR
LIFE WOULD BE LIKE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE AMOUNTS OF OIL.
ROB: KNOWING THAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID KIND OF FLIES IN THE FACE OF CONVENTIONAL
WISDOM, WHAT HAS BEEN THE RECEPTION TO THE FILM?
MATHIS: YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE SURPRISING, AND THEN OF COURSE IN
PLACES, LIKE TULSA, OKLAHOMA, IT'S VERY WELL RECEIVED AND PEOPLE COME
OUT OF THE THEATER SAYING YOU KNOW, THANK GOODNESS, WE'VE BEEN FOR SO LONG,
WE'RE TIRED OF PEOPLE JUST MISREPRESENTING THIS COMMODITY, THIS INDUSTRY,
WHAT IT DOES, WE'RE SO GLAD THAT SOMEBODY JUST TOLD US THE TRUTH, WARTS
AND ALL.
IT'S NOT SOME KIND OF A LOVE SONG FOR THE INDUSTRY, SPOILED JUST
TELLS WHAT IT IS STRAIGHT UP.
SO, THAT'S BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING AND SOMEWHAT EXPECTED.
THE UNEXPECTED THING IS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE
POLITICAL SPECTRUM WHO WATCH THIS FILM, PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE WATCHING THE FI LM THEY COME AWAY
FROM IT AND THEY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS GUY MAKES A LOT OF REALLY GOOD
POINTS AND WE ACTUALLY LIKE THE FILM.
THEY'LL GET HEARTBURN OVER A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT WE DISCUSS IN THE FILM, BUT
ON BALANCE EVEN PEOPLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM RESPECT
THE FILM AND THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND RECOMMEND IT TO OTHER PEOPLE TO SEE.
ROB: SO LET ME ASK YOU, DO YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTED,
FOREIGN OIL TO THAT OF DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED NATURAL GAS, WHICH WE HAVE
A LOT OF IN THIS COUNTRY.
MATHIS: SURE, SURE, WELL I WOULD SAY THAT OIL ITSELF WHETHER IT'S IMPORTED OR
DOMESTIC IS MORE VALUABLE THAN NATURAL GAS BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH MORE
VERSATILE, IT DOES SO MUCH MORE FOR US.
THAT SAID, I WOULD PLACE A MUCH GREATER EMPHASIS IN THIS COUNTRY ON MOVING
TOWARD NATURAL GAS POWERED TRANSPORTATION.
WE NEED TO TAKE THE LOAD OFF OF OIL WHEN IT COMES TO HOW WE MOVE PEOPLE AND
PRODUCTS, OIL PULLS 98 PERCENT OF THE LOAD.
IF WE COULD GET NATURAL GAS TO TAKE OVER SOME OF THAT LOAD, ESPECIALLY
DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED NATURAL GAS, THAT COULD BE TRANSFORMATIVE TO WORLD
ENERGY MARKETS.
IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST POSITIVE THINGS TO HAPPEN FOR YEARS.
AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, WATCHING THE POLITICIANS, I'M ASTONISHED THAT MORE
POLITICIANS AREN'T JUMPING ONTO THIS BANDWAGON.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST ENERGY NO-BRAINER TO COME AROUND IN A VERY LONG TIME.
LET'S SUPPLEMENT OIL WITH NATURAL GAS POWERED TRANSPORTATION.
ROB: YEAH, SO ACTUALLY USING NATURAL GAS FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION AND THEN
USING THE OIL FOR OUR HIGHER VALUE THINGS LIKE YOU TALK ABOUT.
MATHIS: SURE, I MEAN I THINK, I ACTUALLY BELIEVE WE'RE COMING INTO A TIME
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE OIL FOR TRANSPORTATION AS WELL OF COURSE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO SUPPLEMENT IT BECAUSE WE'RE COMING INTO A TIME
IN WHICH IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE WORLD TO PRODUCE ENOUGH
OIL TO MEET DEMAND BECAUSE OF THE BIG FACTORS IN PLAY; THE DEVELOPING
WORLD, ROUGHLY FIVE BILLION PEOPLE, NOW INDUSTRIALIZING VERY FAST.
OIL CONSUMPTION IN NATIONS THAT HAVE USED VERY LITTLE OIL IS RAMPING UP
SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND EVEN WITH ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE UNITED
STATES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO PRODUCING ADDITIONAL OIL
IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO MEET WORLD
DEMAND.
ROB: AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T SEEN THE FILM, YOU'RE NOT ARGUING THAT WE
SHOULDN'T CONSERVE THIS RESOURCE.
IT'S JUST THAT WE REALLY NEED TO VALUE IT AND BE GOOD STEWARDS OF IT.
MATHIS: LOOK, I THINK WE NEED TO USE ALL OF OUR RESOURCES WISELY, NO
MATTER WHAT THEY ARE, BUT ESPECIALLY OIL WHICH IS THE MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE
WE HAVE.
WE NEED TO VALUE THIS RESOURCE.
WE NEED TO USE IT WISELY.
WE NEED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH IT.
AND YOU KNOW, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE AS A CULTURE HAVE BECOME MUCH
MORE EFFICIENT IN HOW WE USE OIL, MORE EFFICIENT THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER
NATION.
SO WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB; WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB AND AS THIS RESOURCE BECOMES
MORE EXPENSIVE, AND AS OTHER PRODUCTS THAT ARE MADE FROM THIS RESOURCE
BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE, WE'RE GOING TO BE FORCED TO USE IT MORE EFFICIENTLY
AND WE'LL ADAPT.
ROB: WELL CERTAINLY AN INTERESTING PIECE OF WORK, AND ONE I THINK OUR
COUNTRY WOULD BE BETTER IF THEY GOT TO SEE.
MATHIS: WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ROB: NOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FILM, JUST HEAD TO OUR WEBISTE AT OK
HORIZON DOT COM WHERE WE HAVE A LINK TO THE MOVIE, SPOILED.
ROB: NEXT TIME ON OKLAHOMA HORIZON, WE EXAMINE SOME OF THE CHANGES UNDERWAY IN
OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS, IN TODAY'S DIGITAL AGE.
I THINK IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR CLASSROOMS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO TEACH THE NEW
TECHNOLOGY TOMORROW.
BUT WITH ALL OF OUR BUDGETS, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TOUGH ECONOMY, WE
NEED TO METER OUR DOLLARS CAREFULLY.
ROB: THAT AND MORE, ON OKLAHOMA'S SHOW FOR THE HEARTLAND, OKLAHOMA
HORIZON.
ROB: WELL THAT'S GOING TO WRAP US UP FOR TODAY, BUT YOU CAN SEE MORE OF ANY OF
OUR STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE AT OK HORIZON DOT COM; YOU CAN WATCH US ON THE GO
WITH OUR WEEKLY PODCAST ON I-TUNES; FOLLOW US THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ON
TWITTER AT OK HORIZON TV; OR JUST BECOME A HORIZON FAN ON FACEBOOK.
I'M ROB MCCLENDON.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT TIME.
MALE ANNOUNCER: HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF
CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION; AND THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY, HELPING GOOD PEOPLE GROW GOOD THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OKLAHOMA HORIZON.