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US Navy uses new online game to gather energy security solutions

A new online game developed by the US Navy creates a platform for older kids to contribute ideas on how the military can lessen its dependence on oil, supplementing its current research on energy security.

Tired of the kids in your life (young and old) playing “Call of Duty?” Let them know there is a new game in town and that the US Navy is calling out to them to play it. The Massive Multiplayer Online Wargame Leveraging the Internet, or MMOWGLI, imitates real life. The US Navy is looking to recruit players who will help find ways to improve its combat capability and energy security, particularly by “promoting energy efficiency and diversifying its energy supply (use of alternative energy) while working to reducing reliance on fossil fuels from overseas.” 

Does it sound like science fiction? In fact a 2010 Defense Department Report identified climate change and energy security as “prominent military vulnerabilities,” noting that climate change in particular is an “accelerant of instability and conflict.” As such, the US Navy is charging ahead to try to reduce these vulnerabilities and is now asking for our help.

At a recent meeting organized by the Environmental Defense Fund, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told the audience that “climate change has raised the need for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, hitting national security in the process.” This comes at the same time that climate deniers in our government, led by Sen. James  Inhofe (R) of Oklahoma are trying to cut alternative energy programs from the military’s budget.

Grab the kids in your life and watch this short video developed by the US Navy. Find out where we could be 10 years from now if we don’t continue the aggressive and forward thinking ideas that the military is currently working on to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

Now suggest that your kids do the patriotic thing and join forces and play the game to try to help crowd source ideas and ways to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. (Be advised: this game is for those older kids in your life, the ones in or out of college, or on their way there shortly.) Also, this version of the game may only be live for a few days so tell them to check out MMOWGLI today.

Yours,

Climate Mama

The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best family and parenting bloggers out there. Our contributing and guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor, and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. Harriet Shugarman blogs at ClimateMama.

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