Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Big Gav The subject of Iraqi oil is one which has fascinated me for a number of years, so in this post I’ll outline why I believe that Iraq probably has the world’s largest oil reserves – or, as Daniel Yergin once said of the middle east, it is “the greatest single prize in all history” (echoing a similar statement by George Kennan at the end of world war 2).
The parallels between China’s precarious social and economic future based solely on exports and our own societies entirely dependent on fossil fuel as a driver for growth are striking. China now needs to focus on what’s beyond expanding its economy through exports and manufacturing, while all of us need to focus on what’s beyond growth in a crude oil based economy. Peak oil is occurring now; the economic repercussions are a symptom.
A new vision of America was presented yesterday in an elaborate parody of “The New York Times by the Yes Men, a group of liberal pranksters. Thousands of paper copies were handed out and a web version is online. Articles include:
“Nationalized Oil To Fund Climate Change Efforts”
“New York Bike Path System Expanded Dramatically”
“Crumbling Infrastructure Brings Opportunities”
“Biofuels Ban Act Signed Into Law, Seeks to Ease Food Shortage”
New website for Prof. Al Bartlett
Fourth Shell Dialogues Webchat ”Communicating Sustainability”Scientific Community Called Upon To Resolve Debate On ‘Net Energy’ Once And For All
Obama will act quickly on climate change: adviser
Japan CO2 hits record
Under a Sooty Exterior, A Green China Emerges
Temperature set to rise by 6C, energy agency warns
Does Natural-Gas Drilling Endanger Water Supplies?
IEA report on oil gets angry Opec reaction
Jerome a Paris on the report
Interview with IEA’s Fatih Birol
IEA’s annual report paints grim picture of our energy future
A weekly update including:
– Plunging Prices
– IEA report
The Global Response to a Terror-Generated Energy Crisis
The SWISH Report (advice to al-Qaida about Obama’s presidency)
Russia to deploy missiles on EU border
As world demand falls, prices for recyclables go in dumper
Paper price collapse blows hole in Britain’s recycling strategy
Spotlight shines on light pollution
This year’s fifth Peak Oil and Community Solutions Conference took place at the beginning of November in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Keynote speaker John Michael Greer reflects on the conference and its implications for the changing peak oil movement.
The forecasts of global ecological and economic collapse by mid-century contained in the controversial 1972 book The Limits to Growth, are still ‘on-track’ according to new CSIRO research.
Bolivia holds key to electric car future
Obama Asks Bush to Back Rescue of Automakers
California’s car tax may be on the road again
Invest in Australian toll roads? No thanks!
