Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Chris Martenson joins David Pakman live in studio for a discussion about the budget, economic situation, Wall Street, corruption, energy, the Japanese nuclear crisis, and more.
– NYT: Nation’s Mood at Lowest Level in Two Years, Poll Shows
– Economists and the ‘Inside Job’ Effect
– American Exceptionalism – it takes money to project power around the world
– Gas-price spike sparks U.S. probe of oil traders (Obama)
– Guardian: Shale gas special report
– Peak Oil – Gail Tverberg’s April 2011 Update
– Prof. David Rutledge of Caltech on “Hubbert’s Peak, The Coal Question and Climate Change” (video)
Confusion around the true extent of the spare oil production capacity of Saudi Arabia increased this week following a statement by Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi that his country had reduced production in March by 800,000 barrels–this despite the loss of 1 million barrels/day of production from Libya. Al Naimi went on to claim that global markets are currently oversupplied.
We have been told that the experts know best, and that even though they crashed the economy, they’re still the experts. We’re told that we should be patient, not question things we don’t understand, and by all means, keep shopping. “These kinds of messages work to keep us paralyzed and isolated, and keep us from seeing other possibilities,” says Linda Schmoldt, a Common Security Circle facilitator in Portland, Oregon. “We must envision a new economy and society based on real wealth, and create a new story about what is possible.”
Most Japanese cannot remember the last time they had to think deeply about where their next meal would come from. Only the eldest of Japanese with memories of food rations and scarcity from World War II and its aftermath would possess experience from which to draw. But that has changed since the triple disaster of March 11 as citizens inside and outside the catastrophe zone became increasingly concerned about both food security (e.g., food shortages at local stores) and food safety (i.e., radiation contaminated agricultural products).
– For those with eco-anxiety, it’s not easy being green
– NOVA: A Strict Carbon Diet (video and transcript)
– Photo journalist Ed Thompson visits Totnes
– Taking stock of that over which we have dominion
