My Online Diary
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Peak Oil Fuel subsidies - Crude measures The Economist, 29 May 2008 NZ added by Paul
Here's a speech: "Folks, oil is starting to run out, and we can't afford to keep on driving like we're used to. So, let's stop importing old Japanese cars, let's stop with the highway expansion, stop maintaining all those highway lanes at public expense, and move those resources to funding public transportation. Second, we've got to stop using coal before the planet's climate blows up on us (of course, it may anyway, because of all the coal we've burned already) so let's build some wind mills, to provide, say, 50% of electricity within 10 years (thank heavans we have so much hydro to act as an energy source when the wind isn't blowing). But most importantly we must cut our energy use, before we're bankrupt as a country (which we may be already) and we must do so very quickly. So let's regulate the use of air conditioning in businesses (ceiling fans, anyone?), stop illuminating roads and carparks at night, and make a lot of other, sensible measures to cut energy use. And once we've done all these things, we will realize what sort of country we are now: not one that's driving off a cliff at breakneck speed with eyes shut tight, but an older, poorer, troubled country, that is perhaps capable of learning to live within its means without collapsing altogether. Thank you, and drive safely." This is my rehash of Dmitry Orlov's rehash of Al Gore's energy initiative to shift 100% of electricity generation in the US to renewable energy sources.
And here's a definition of "hope" from James Howard Kunstler: Hope is something that you generate from inside yourself... and you do that by demonstrating to yourself that you're a capable person.
That seems like a pretty good place to start.
My thoughts on the price of oil:
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