Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Melanie Gosling With the rapid decline of global oil supplies, the United States is heading for an economic crash unlike anything since the 1930s. And the collapse of the dollar will affect every nation on earth. (Heinberg in South Africa)
Congressman Bartlett’s third Special Order Speech, originally scheduled for April 27, was broadcast live on C-SPAN tonight, Tues May 3.
CNN on PO: don’t panic / King Fahd of Saudi Arabia on deathbed? / Iraq’s oil output lagging / State oil companies are in the driver’s seat / US nuclear industry hesitant / Another solution to oil shortages: the ocean depths / New e-journal on sustainability with E.O Wilson / What is New Urbanism? / Restoring old bikes – a labor of love / A life devoted to peaches / Interview with Green Car blogger
Consider President Jimmy Carter’s April 18, 1977 speech….It was the speech that established the strategic petroleum reserve, birthed the modern solar power industry, led to the insulation of millions of American homes, and established America’s first national energy policy. “With the exception of preventing war,” said Jimmy Carter, a man of peace, “this is the greatest challenge our country will face during our lifetimes.”
‘We are going to have to face the fact that we cannot go to Australia or Prague or Florida every year. It’s a luxury the planet cannot afford to sustain any longer if we are to have any hope in tackling our current climate change crisis.’
A report prepared by energy economists at the French investment bank Ixis-CIB has warned crude oil prices could touch $380 a barrel by 2015.
KLARE: …in 30 or 40 years, oil may be gone entirely and we have plenty of time to worry about that. But sooner than then… oil is not going to be as available as it used to be in the past. …the hardships from declining oil are with us now and they’re only going to get worse.
BP’s chief scientist on world’s energy / Back to the ancient future (redneck hippie writer on Olduvai) / Deficits, PO and the American Right / End of cheap oil / Unmentioned energy fix: 55 mph speed limits / Gas prices: you ain’t seen nothin’ yet / Greens ditch air travel / Logic of collapse (a meditation on Tainter)
George Bush’s energy adviser Matt Simmons claims the global economy has misjudged oil supply. (Article on Matt Simmons)
CBC summarizes Peak Oil / America, fascism and PO / PO Petition in UK / Down on nuclear / Dubious about Chalabi / Presidential leadership would help / Users of renewable energy are smiling / Cuba’s second revolution
So all’s well with the Axis of Oil? Not quite. This is because the symbiotic relationship between the world’s largest oil consumer [US] and its largest producer [SA] is under attack from a surprising corner. Complaints from greens about cheap oil, Bushphobic wailings from the Michael Moore brigade and neo-conservative worries about Saudi terrorism are all well established. But the axis is now being challenged by an increasing number of pragmatists from the centre-right of American politics.
“If you think the price of oil is going to $32 and staying there, let me know where the oil is coming from. I expect the price will be $100–$150 within the decade, and the bull run in commodities will come to an end when it reaches $110.” …alternative sources of energy “cannot happen fast enough,” said [Jim Rogers, co-founder with George Soros of the Quantum Fund].
