Before fossil fuels

 Before fossil fuels much of the world was powered by whale oil;demand for whale oil was so high it almost drove some whale species to extinction.

       Bowhead whales used to be killed in large numbers for their oil-rich blubber.

       There was a time when every streetlight in London was lit by whale oil.Thousands of street lamps in London were powered by whale oil during the 18th century.

      Today it seems so barbaric and backwards to hunt whales for whale oil.