Greens, Resources and Cost

I'm sure I've heard environmental campaigners say that we're using up the planet's resources too fast. They also suggest as a solution that we switch to "greener" technologies. Now, I'm no economist so someone tell me where I'm going wrong.

Companies seek to make a profit. The lower their costs the more profit they can make. Lower costs mean using fewer resources. Therefore, if green technologies cost more than other ones doesn't that mean they are using more resources somewhere?

How Not to Get Over Oil

The Telegraph reports that green campaigners blocked a refinery in Essex. They're quoted as saying:

We've come here to the source of the problem, to put our bodies in the way of the relentless flow of oil to say 'no more'. If we're to have a hope of tackling climate change we need to find a way to get over oil. It won't happen overnight, but we can, and must move beyond oil.

And what was the energy source they used to travel to the refinery?

Police were forced to close the road after 12 female protesters handcuffed themselves to vehicles parked to deliberately block the way for fuel tankers.

So oil then. And the police who had to attend probably also used oil to fuel their journey. And the journalists.

They might argue that it's OK to use oil to bring attention to the need to stop using oil. But that's a little weird. It's a little like anti-racism campaigners beating up white folk to bring attention to racism.

If they truly want to put their bodies on the line let them simply stop using oil. If they find a way to make it work then I'm sure plenty of others will follow suit.