Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Kenneth Deffeyes, former colleague of M. king Hubbert, frequently tells the story of how he knew Hubbert was right about his US oil peak prediction when he read the headline “Texas Railroad Commission announces 100% allowable” in 1971. The American cartel was pumping full blast.
I wonder what he thought when he read this headline…
A review of Amory Lovins, “More Profit with Less Carbon”. In short, Lovins throws a lot of numbers around, but far too many of the ones he provides are irrelevant, meaningless, or misleading. The road ahead is much more difficult than he portrays.
MYTH NO. 3: We’re running out of oil.
REALITY: This one is true. Sort of. Unlike wind or water, oil is not a renewable resource. So by definition we’re using it up, in the same way that we are all dying all the time. …
The real problem with the peak-oil argument has less to do with engineering than with philosophy. It lacks imagination.
Era of cheap oil is ending, says Aus. Deputy PM / Higher Crude Oil Prices Spark Interest In Palm Oil Biofuel / Post-Katrina Power crews diverted to restore pipeline
Japan’s dress-down drive saved power worth 240,000 homes / Organic Agriculture Enters Mainstream / “Green” gas station opens, selling only renewable fuel / Victorian govt. backs car sharing / Report proposes ‘energy police’ to make UK go green
OPEC May Offer Every Barrel of Oil Members Can Pump / Iran announces gasoline ‘smart cards’ to moderate consumption / Economists’ No. 1 fear: energy prices / Go ahead, make Putin’s day. Drive a giant SUV / Petrol to factor in ACTU wage claim / The great American airlines disaster / Airlines’ Bankruptcies May Impact Service [!]
Can global civilization adapt successfully to degradation of the biosphere and depletion of fossil fuels? I argue that it cannot. …
I conclude that those who seek to preserve civilization should plan for its survival in restricted regions.
The noise over high fuel costs, dirtier air and a trade deficit blowout is getting louder. But the people who matter don’t seem to be listening, writes Christopher Kremmer.
Farmers could help ease the fuel crisis, the government has said. …
Ms Beckett acknowledged the UK had a long way to go to build up its biofuel industry: “This country is coming from a very low base in terms of biofuel production. The question is how speedily we can move.”
Mass Rally Paralyses Lagos / French anger grows at fuel prices / Plastics industry reeling from oil, gas hikes – Can’t pass on costs / Aus. Minister admits cluelessness on oil solutions / Why China is not backing Bush on Iran / Guzzling Resale Value / Soaring oil prices fuel smuggling in Cambodia / McDonald’s feels petrol pain
Across Central America, where a quarter of the people live on less than $1 a day, the cost of filling gas tanks and generating electricity have soared in recent months in line with world oil prices.
Not all-bad story, some signs of hope.
Four serious papers and a striking set of quotes from the Proceedings of the Canadian Association of the Club of Rome, a special issue explicitly addressing oil depletion and the ‘problematique’.
