Solutions & Sustainability – July 22
MIT’s guru of low-tech engineering fixes the world on $2 a day
7 rules of design From MIT’s guru of low-tech engineering
Short week for state workers proposed
As gas prices rise, police turn to foot patrols
Society
Am I an energy speculator? No, we’re running low on oil…
Don’t blame speculation- look at depletion and supply- one man’s effort to educate the folks who never thought much about Energy until now.
Peak Oil — House of Representatives
Madam Speaker, I want to begin this evening’s discussion by reading a little reminisce that was written by one of my staff members, Dr. John Darnell. He’s imagining that he is talking to his granddaughter at some future date, and this little reminisce is called, “Making It Through the Energy Crisis–Future Reminiscences with my Grandchildren.”
“Grandfather, tell us the story about the men who went to the Moon and barely made it back–and how that was like when the world discovered there wasn’t enough oil.
Dreams of a better world
The unfolding crisis of industrial civilization has become a dumping ground for Utopian fantasies of a better world to come. Getting beyond these mythic formulations may be crucial to any meaningful response to the future opening up before us.
Colleges should plan – and teach – for an oil-scarce world
College leaders, with help from facilities managers, sustainability directors, faculty members, and even students, should think hard about how systems on their campus would operate in an energy-scarce world. That thinking should range beyond running part of the campus fleet on a cafeteria’s fryer oil, a seemingly-popular response at the moment.
Environment – July 15
Forests to fall for food and fuel (RRI report)
Buying your own wood
Bulgarian eco town ‘the biggest mistake of Norman Foster’s career’, say protesters
Could sustainability lead to an authoritarian future?
Those who imagine humans eventually returning to agrarian societies also often imagine that such societies have the potential to be much more democratic and egalitarian than our current world. But, among those who imagine what I’ll call a sustainable industrial future, there is little discussion of future political arrangements.
Water – July 13
California drought putting businesses out of business
Will water fuel an Armageddon?
Ontario fears: A war is brewing over water
Geopolitics – July 13
The militarization of energy security
Russian oil to Czechs slows after U.S. pact
Pull-out demand signals final Bush defeat in Iraq
U.S., Iraq scale down negotiations over forces
United Kingdom – July 13
Brown blunders in pledge to secure Nigeria oil
Climate campaigners threaten to invade and shut down power plant
Britons spurning foreign holidays as economy dips
Four wheels – July 12
Hummer, how we need thee
The joy of $8 gas
Futility vehicle
Alabama official suggests county vehicles limit speed to 45 mph
High cost of driving ignites online classes boom
‘Why are you so negative at TOD?’
The people at The Oil Drum have learned the facts, and we don’t sugar coat them. Frankly, I am immensely proud of this community and its approach to the real problems we face. There are a lot of smart people here thinking hard about what’s coming. … Every single person we educate about our energy situation is another person who has the choice to a) learn, b) prepare according to their own perceptions, and c) educate others. Do you really think that I keep harping on all of you to spread this site around for my own ego or personal gain? Hell no. It’s about facilitating education and conversation for as many as we can.
