Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
John Michael Greer As we move deeper into the twilight of the petroleum age, grand pronouncements and proposals for massive “solutions” abound. Far more useful, if less noticed, are simple, scalable, low-energy technologies that could make a big difference in the unraveling of industrial society.
If we transition to cellulosic ethanol — which utilizes whole plants, not just the seeds, as in conventional ethanol — we’ll need even more phosphorus. And demand for this finite resource, located mainly in geopolitically troublesome places, will grower at an even faster clip than the current 2.3 percent compounded annual rate.
Interview with climate scientist Susanne Moser: “A dam works well and for a long time, until one day it breaks. A social movement builds slowly and quietly, until one day it takes off and major political changes become possible. We’re witnessing the building of such a climate protection movement right now.”
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner announced a new strategic planning effort to identify and address the impacts of climate change and energy security,
A tragedy, like the dead chickadee in the photo, seems small compared to what is happening in the calamitous world we live in now, but not to me.
We have only to look at historical events to see that it is perfectly possible, for both good and ill, to radically change circumstances in a host of ways that looked completely impossible not very long before.
Energy excerpts from Annual Threat Assessment (Director of National Intelligence)
White House Council of Economic Advisors on peak oil
Tugs tend LNG tanker as repairs made off Cape Cod
Natural gas touted
Bush’s science adviser on climate, energy security
A really bad day for biofuels
Robert Rapier: The politics of biofuels
Biofuels leading to rights abuses: report
Dark side of a hot biofuel (palm oil)
Ethanol’s effects bother boaters
China spurs coal-price surge
What to do with all this coal?
SA coal mining plans put fresh water at risk
Mine expansion in middle of fight; natural streams buried
Venezuela halts oil sales to Exxon Mobil
Exxon VP: Interested in ‘fair market’ discussions with Venezuela
Russia, Ukraine reach last-minute deal, avert gas cut
Ukraine president to meet Putin
Greenhouse pollution from Midwest refineries may soar 40%
Drilling rush in Rockies raises health, safety concerns
Shell VP, exploration: ‘No more easy oil’
Southeast Asia’s looming nuclear power industry
Does peak oil “make ordinary politics irrelevant”?
Monastery throws switch on green initiatives
Generation Green taking on parents to help them save the planet
How former miners transformed a pit into an energy village
Eco-villages prove to be sustainable
