Sustainability & Environment Headlines – 20 July, 2005

Staff, Energy Bulletin

Wanted: A Perfectly Local Chicken / Welcome to Plan B – Preparations and policies for petrocollapse and climate distortion / Slowly, the Shared Car Is Making Inroads in Europe / UK food study reveals hidden ÂŁ9bn costs of transport / Cultural Revolution, American Style: Unpetroleum / A turn for the better / Danish Scientists Developing Solar Cell / Demand pushes solar panel firm to build new plant / Successful trial of Energetech Wave Energy device / Green Buildings Spring to Life, Thanks to Government Credits / Scientists Raise Alarm About Ocean Health / Unborn Babies Soaked in Chemicals, Survey Finds / Ringing the alarm for Earth / The Revolution Will Be Localized – Sundance getaway converts mayors into climate activists / Climate Scientists See Intimidation in Letter from House Energy Chair

UK Peak Oil Conference – London, 11 October

On 11 October 2005, in London, a major conference will look at the peak
oil problem and its impact on climate change, the world’s food supply and
the world economy. Speakers include Michael Meacher MP, Tim Lang and
Andrew Simms (of NEF), and the chair will be Dr Ian Gibson MP. The
conference is being organised by East Anglia Food Link, CRed, Sustain and
PowerSwitch.org.uk.

Fossil Fuel Headlines – 17 July, 2005

Staff, Energy Bulletin

Second U.S. Conference on “Peak Oil” and Community Solutions / It’s the rate of extraction, stupid! / Jason Bradford, founder of the Willits Economic Localization (WELL) / Nicaragua hits the crunch first / How much oil do we really have? / Oil Supertanker Bookings Reach Highest Level This Year in July / Prince sees dollar peg as key to a Gulf ‘euro’ / China lodges solemn representations to Japan’s approval of oil, gas drill / Why Iraq oil money hasn’t fueled rebuilding / Sinister Paradise – Does the Road to the Future End at Dubai? / Oil revolution will shake nation / Four Warnings of the Apocalypse / World angst over rising oil prices / Oil prices alone can’t control demand / Our Post-Oil Future Needs a Push / JAL president says int’l routes under review to cut costs

Peak Oil 2005?

Peak Oil is coming soon, no doubt about it in my mind. But like religious groups who set the date for the Second Coming only to end up looking like fools, some caution is advised. If Peak Oil is postponed for a few more years due to a recession, the number of peak oil books and websites will also decline. If that happens, the actual peak in oil production may arrive with more of a whimper than a bang…

Sustainability and Environment Headlines – 15 July, 2005

Staff, Energy Bulletin

Rationing and tradable carbon entitlements / Peak oil in Portland / Get ready for future oil shock, [NZ] lobby group warns / Towards Carfree Cities V – Conference in Budapest July 17-23 /
Satellite Sunshine Mapping Benefits Solar Energy / Faced with this crisis / Australia hung out to dry on climate change / Europe’s greenhouse gas trade hots up / Tax cuts push on climate change / Ontario breaks power consumption record, heat wave likely to last for weeks / Scientists Raise Alarm About Ocean Health / Record Hurricane Year has Oil Industry Worried / France Rations Water as Drought Takes Hold / Tasmania facing power crisis /
Shanghai suffers as car culture takes hold / Guns, Germs and Steel on PBS in July / Blue Gold

The Collapse of Civilization and The Rebirth of Community

Writer Steven Lagavulin argues that the comprehensive nature of the problems our society faces in the coming years will not be met by either political or technological means. Instead, we need to face that humankind has reached a critical turning point in which everything that defines modern civilization is about to be washed away. As such, the best response may be to break away from the sinking ship and begin rebuilding now, even before the crisis is upon us.

Fossil Fuel Headlines – 14 July, 2005

Staff, Energy Bulletin

Simmons – Energy Tsunami Ahead / The Relationship Between a Country’s Income and Energy Consumption per Capita / Oilcast #17: IEA shock markets with predictions / Campbell, Lynch in radio discussion / New age of anxiety dawns / Suez Strikes Back in Bolivia / Korean gov’t agrees energy-saving measures / ASEAN avoids tough issues, touts biofuel as oil fix / Progress noted on China’s strategic reserve / Vancouver airport not ready for oil hike

UK ‘Peak Speak’ Forum – London, 16th July

An open forum on the implications of the terminal decline of global oil production will be held just outside London (Hackbridge, Surrey) on Saturday July 16th 2005 from 10am until 5.30pm. Hosted by the UK ‘Peak Oil’ campaign group PowerSwitch.org.uk, the event will give many people already aware of ‘Peak Oil’ the opportunity to develop their understanding further.

How to talk to an economist about peak oil

Politely framed and important challenge to the peak oil argument, questioning why oil suppliers would willingly for-go the massive potential profits:
"…So how could it be that there are billions and billions of easy dollars to be made, and nobody can be bothered to collect them? Unless you have a clear answer for that question, an economist at that point is going to ask whether you’re sure that you’ve got all the facts straight, that oil really is going to sell for $200 a barrel in just two years."

Off the grid

Can two fossil fuel addicts wean themselves from their consumptive habits without their lives falling apart? A NYC bouncer and an events coordinator are transported to Dancing Rabbit eco-village in Missouri for 30 days. From the creator of “Super Size Me.” To air Wed, July 13.