Prescription for survival
A debate on the future of nuclear energy between anti-coal advocate George Monbiot and anti-nuclear activist Dr. Helen Caldicott.
Fossil Fuels
Peak oil notes – March 31
A midweek peak oil roundup, including:
-Developments this week
-America’s new oil policy
The peak oil crisis: Edging towards recession
As oil prices edge ever higher, more people are expressing concern about what this phenomenon is doing or could do to economic recovery. The conventional wisdom used to be that, in the U.S., whenever total national spending on oil products exceeded four percent of GDP the country went into recession. So where do we stand in in the early spring of 2011?
Obama’s non-plan for reducing oil dependence
Where is the discussion of meaningful conservation? Where is the discussion of a push to use more mass transit and accelerate the electrification of transportation overall? Hell, where is the attempt to educate the public about the breadth, depth, and nature of the problems we’re facing on the sustainability front?
Latest ‘Zeitgeist’ film mixes sound critique and goofy futurism
‘Zeitgeist: Moving Forward,’ makes a strong critique of party politics, market economics and overshoot. The film even explores peak oil. But its solution is an unconvincing techno-utopian fantasy straight out of science fiction complete with pod-cities of the future. Why would such a schizophrenic film boast so many rabid fans?
The Carbon-free Home: 36 remodeling projects to help kick the fossil-fuel habit
You probably know that energy used in your home produces more global-warming pollution than your car, but what can you do to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels? Maybe you daydream of starting from scratch, building a new, super-efficient, passive-solar, off-grid house—but in reality you’ve got a roof (and a mortgage) over your head already. How can you turn your existing house into an environmental asset? One that simultaneously saves you money on utilities and insulates you from the possible shocks of Peak Oil?
Peak oil review – March 28
A weekly roundup of peak oil news, including:
-Oil and the global economy
-Conflict in the Middle East
-Japan
-Quote of the week
-Briefs
Commentary: Restrictions on world oil production
Based on geology, many analysts have forecast the onset of the decline of world oil production in the next 2-5 years. Legitimate national interests, mismanagement, and political upheaval can only hasten that onset.
The itsy-bitsy problem that doomed BP’s well
In a war zone, you have your vanguard. Then you have your tanks, your main body of troops, and your artillery. If all that fails, and you are being overrun, there is your rear guard. If they fail, and you cannot retreat, all is lost.
Energy – March 28
– Record gas prices blamed on peak oil (David Hughes interview)
– US incomes rise, but disposable income drops. Blame oil prices.
– New Scientist: Fukushima radioactive fallout nears Chernobyl levels
Our tangled web – March 26
– Obama administration announces massive coal mining expansion
– Leading German climatologist on Fukushima
– How to Boil a Frog video excerpt – “Exponential Curves”
– Carolyn Baker interview (audio and transcript)
ODAC Newsletter – March 25
Bombing raids began on Libya this week as western powers combined to enforce the UN mandated no fly zone. The offensive has succeeded in its initial aim of slowing down Gaddafi’s forces, but the precise remit is unclear and a protracted conflict in the country is still highly likely.
