Activism

Peak oil is simple

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Perhaps in a perfect Platonic world of policy, a “peak oil is today” strategy would look different from [CERA’s] “peak oil in 2040” strategy. But back down here on earth, we’re stuck with the blunt instrument of representative democracy. Our choice is far closer to binary than most oil geeks are willing to acknowledge. The choice before us is: mobilize and start pushing, or don’t.

Politics: Rebuilding Civil Society

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The transformation of American democracy into an elective oligarchy funded by the profits of empire was one consequence of the petroleum-fueled prosperity of the 20th century. As cheap oil and American empire meet a common end, the renewal of civil society offers one option to begin rebuilding a viable society in the twilight of the industrial age.

Climate’s last chance

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With a world facing as grave a threat as it faced in 1938, [Australian PM] John Howard is quickly becoming the Chamberlain of the chequebook, while a climate-change Churchill is nowhere to be seen in Australian politics. I sincerely hope I’m wrong, because this Government and the one that follows it may well be the last in Australian history to have the chance to avert a climate disaster.

New hippies are fighting to replace oil

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The generation of activists who fought for civil rights, against an unpopular war, and started the environmental movement is poised for one last hurrah, one more attempt to cure the ills of American society. They’re older now, and perhaps a little wiser. They’re settled into their communities, some of them already retired. And they’re scared as hell about the lives facing their children and grandchildren once the oil runs out.