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From: Ken James (no email)
Date: Mon Apr 09 2007 - 01:05:29 EDT
I am not saying that I never worry - my experience is that it is easier
to work than to worry.
Reply;
That is prob what the guy who chopped down the next to last tree on
Easter Island said also.
As far as C02 goes, only so much can be absorbed only so fast by that
method...no one knows how much but in general most think it will not
work enough to solve the problem (CO2 release) by itself.
In any case the larger issue is that we are running out of cheap oil. I
won my bet with my brother last year when gas went over 3$US a gal., now
it is double or nothing it will get above 4$ this year...all it is going
to take is one big hurricane in the Gulf. And next year, and the year
after? How long before the US auto industry does go under and then how
much longer before Wal Mark bites the dust? And before those who would,
chortle, just try to recall where your pension funds are invested and
who backs those and with what....
And then;
I think your pessimism is unjustified and your gloomy perspective
excessive.
I have heard similar doom and gloom statements before concerning something
or other that was deemed totally beyond hope and redemption. Now, 20 years
later the pictuer is very different and much better.
Reply;
A bit more than 20 years ago it was first stated we would reach peak oil
about now...and guess what, now those in the know say it appears that
was pretty much right on target. Sometimes the sky really does fall.
I would also argue that your statement "Each and every one of us feels we
have a right. . ." is not 100% true since I have met quite a number of
people who do not feel that way.
I think it would be better stated as human nature drives things in a
certain direction. Not that they must go that way but without
intelligent intervention they will.
AS a first step, we do need to reduce energy consumption per capita.
True.
If
voluntary action fails to reduce consumption enough, external forces will
prevail.
True.
Either the energy will cost so much only a few can afford it, or
physical force - possibly military - will compel the more selfish people to
curtain their demand for energy consumption.
When less than 10% of the world population uses nealy 90% of the world's
energy resources, the inequity is bound to provoke a forceful reaction.
When and if there is a shortage on one side or the other of either guns
or oil it will happen. unless we are smart enough to prevent it.
The nice way to diffuse such a calamity is to mount a public awareness
campaign. This has already started.
Yes. But maybe too little too late. I hope not. And right now there is
no solution in sight either.
Lifestyle choices - especially recreational activity - also plays a major
role in energy consumption. Some recreational activity represents a
criminal waste of precious resources. Spending a whole week-end, every
week-end racing around a track in high powered cars or motor vehicles is
very energy intensive.
Is it? I mean as a % of the total?
Can this really be justified? Don't ban the sport,
simply restrict the amount of fuel that can be used.
That is already done.
Its called rationing.
Or impose a ban on using certain fuels. Inventive minds will soon come up
with alternatives.
Do we really need to have so many people commuting for many hours to and
from work each and every day?
The way we have built our cities and our transport systems, we do.
The list of possible alternatives is long and growing.
What is really missing is any real will power to actually do something.
I would argue that will power is highly overrated when it comes to
statistical averages. What is needed is a cultural change. That will
come whether we want it or not, if we are smart we may be able to guide
things so they are not quite so intense, I think that may well be the
best to hope for at this point.-Ken
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