After my thinking out loud about Peak Oil, I’ve been doing some more thinking about it (as have others). The changes required to prevent The End Of Oil are so drastic and large-scale that I really don’t see that happening. The oil is going to run out (or become so expensive that only Bill Gates can drive his 2033 Prius) and there’s just nothing that can be done to prevent that. Cue an image of what the “haves” were doing in Mad Max – they weren’t filmed, but SOMEONE had access to the oil.
So, the issue then becomes more about adapting, and preparing to be effective in the post-oil world. I think that the people that are conserving are doing Good Things™, but they aren’t preventing the exhaustion of the oil supply – they are preparing themselves to survive in a world with (less | no) oil.
Looking at the issue as a Post Peak Oil Survivalism movement makes it much more conceivable. Individuals preparing to adapt to a changing environment – we do that every day. If there’s no way to prevent it, we should at least start to deal with it. This is more about preventing the spiral down into the Thunderdome than about saving a doomed resource.
I was completely blown away by the amount and level of feedback I got to that last Oil entry. Wow. Although that was far from a well-thought-out piece of effective writing, it’s probably the one thing I’m most proud of in this whole blog. It marked the point where I started turning my own rudder away from the looming iceberg.
After my thinking out loud about Peak Oil, I’ve been doing some more thinking about it (as have others). The changes required to prevent The End Of Oil are so drastic and large-scale that I really don’t see that happening. The oil is going to run out (or become so expensive that only Bill Gates can drive his 2033 Prius) and there’s just nothing that can be done to prevent that. Cue an image of what the “haves” were doing in Mad Max – they weren’t filmed, but SOMEONE had access to the oil.
So, the issue then becomes more about adapting, and preparing to be effective in the post-oil world. I think that the people that are conserving are doing Good Things™, but they aren’t preventing the exhaustion of the oil supply – they are preparing themselves to survive in a world with (less | no) oil.
Looking at the issue as a Post Peak Oil Survivalism movement makes it much more conceivable. Individuals preparing to adapt to a changing environment – we do that every day. If there’s no way to prevent it, we should at least start to deal with it. This is more about preventing the spiral down into the Thunderdome than about saving a doomed resource.
I was completely blown away by the amount and level of feedback I got to that last Oil entry. Wow. Although that was far from a well-thought-out piece of effective writing, it’s probably the one thing I’m most proud of in this whole blog. It marked the point where I started turning my own rudder away from the looming iceberg.
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real change will require mass pressure, and that’s impossible right now. it’s far too difficult for an individual, or sizable group, to sacrifice much. we can’t afford electric cars; those who barely can won’t buy them while their neighbors are HUMMERing it up, and the things still require coal and whatnot anyway. we don’t want to admit it, but we’ll pay five dollars a gallon for freedom of movement, and probably more—especially if traffic congestion reduces. when demand overcomes supply we’ll see the tide shift. then the expense of new technologies begins to fall. the cool trick would be determining which technology will survive the eventual shakedown, and where the price slopes are going to cross.
right. as long as “conversation” and sustainability are fringe activities, no real change can occur. As long as separate “Green” political parties are necessary, nothing can change. It won’t happen until it’s mainstream, and by then, of course, it’s waaaay too late…
Oil will never go below $85 again. In 2010 oil will be over $250 a barrel and gas will be $10 a gallon. Even though reserves are rising which should make oil prices drop the fact they don’t drop in price is because the political tensions are rising. With that you will either buy a hybrid which will still be expensive to operate or ride your bike or take the public transit. There are ways to reduce your fuel cost.