First U.S. Conference on Peak Oil and Community Solutions

YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio – October 4, 2004 – This November, people from around the country will gather in Yellow Springs to hear nationally recognized speakers address the pressing issue of ‘Peak Oil’ and the benefits of small community and low-energy solutions. The Community Service, Inc. annual fall conference will take place Friday, November 12 through Sunday, November 14 and features a Friday night keynote speech by Richard Heinberg, author of The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies and Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World, which is free and open to the public.

“Peak Oil is the time when world oil production will begin to decline – forever,” said Pat Murphy, executive director of Community Service. “Our conference is designed to communicate the latest information available on the coming global oil shortage as well as offer a chance to participate in designing viable solutions.”

Other nationally renowned speakers at the conference include Richard Register, author of Ecocities: Building Cities in Balance with Nature; David Blume, founder of the International Institute for Ecological Agriculture; Patricia Allison, permaculture expert and resident of the Earthaven Ecovillage; Harvey Baker, board member of the Fellowship for Intentional Community and founding member of the Dunmire Hollow Intentional Community; and Pat Murphy of Community Service.

Conference attendees will hear from leaders who have begun working on changes in the critical areas of agriculture, energy, and small communities. They will hear about the geopolitics of oil, and be part of creating a vision for the future by learning how to begin making changes in their own homes, lives and communities.

The cost to attend the conference ranges from $55 to $115 depending on the number of days attended and the date by which registration is received. Registering for the conference is as easy as visiting www.communitysolution.org. Interested individuals can also call Community Service at 937-767-2161.

Community Service, Inc. is a non-profit organization advocating for community solutions to the immense challenges that will result from peak oil. The problems of fuel shortages and skyrocking energy prices will require redeveloping small, local communities and encouraging migration from large cities back to the countryside.