The Other Bail-Out
Consumerism, Economics, peak oil — by George Monbiot October 10, 2008
Another set of corporations is pressing for public money. Governments should let them die.
by George Monbiot – journalist, author, academic and environmental and political activist
While all eyes were fixed on the banking bail-out, a bucketload of public money was quietly sloshed into the pockets of another undeserving cause. Last week, George Bush agreed to lend $25bn to US car manufacturers. It’s a soft loan, which will cost the government $7.5bn(1). Few people noticed; fewer fought it. The House of Representatives approved the measure by 370 votes to 58. The great corporate bail-out is spreading like the plague.
It has already crossed the Atlantic. Yesterday European car makers demanded that the EU hand them €40bn ($54bn) in cheap loans to match the US subsidy(2). Where will the public spending spree end?
Comments (0)Can Permaculture Save the World???
Alternatives to Political Systems, Bio-regional Organisations, Biodiversity, Consumerism, Eco-Villages, Economics, Financial Management, Food Shortages, Global Warming/Climate Change, People Systems, Population, Soil Erosion & Contamination, Village Development, Water Contaminaton & Loss, peak oil — by Ted Trainer October 2, 2008
Editor’s Note: Point one – this article is circa 1998, from the now-ceased publication Permaculture International Journal. Point two – it is now more relevant than ever, so please read and ponder. The article goes a long way towards explaining why I mix articles the way I do – some about Permaculture, some about current events, the global situation, and the desperate need for systemic social, political and economic change.
Ted Trainer argues that although the planet cannot be saved without Permaculture, not enough people in the movement realise where Permaculture fits into the solution.
We are fast approaching a period of enormous and probably chaotic change. Western industrial-affluent-consumer society is unsustainable and is rapidly running into serious difficulties.
Permaculture is a crucial component of the solution to the global predicament. However I want to argue that Permaculture is far from sufficient, and indeed that it can be counter-productive if it is not put in the right context. That is unless we are careful, promoting Permaculture can actually help to reinforce our existing unsustainable society. We must do much more than just contribute to the spread of Permaculture. We must locate Permaculture within a wider campaign of radical social change. Before I try to explain this, I need to outline how I see the global predicament we are in. Whether or not you will agree with my conclusions about what needs to be done and where Permaculture fits in will depend greatly on whether you share my view of the situation we are in.
Comments (6)Easter Island – Our Past, or Our Future?
Economics, Food Shortages, Population, Society, Soil Erosion & Contamination, peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor September 24, 2008
 Click for full view Courtesy: Throbgoblins |
Easter Island has long been looked upon as an historical looking glass, through which we can observe the implications of continued environmental destruction to our planet – the larger island floating in a sea of black. The cries of a people that could clearly see destruction coming, but did little or nothing about it, come hauntingly down to us here in this new millenium. With startling clarity they teach us what happens when immediacy takes precedence over future needs.
If you have a moment to take a trip to another time and place, check out some of the material and links here. No need to dream of going to Easter Island though, as, in many ways, you’re already there….
Comments (0)Convergence of Issues Leads to Southern California Permaculture Convergence, August 29-31, 2008
Conservation, News, Presentations/Demonstrations, Social Gatherings, Soil Erosion & Contamination, Storm Water, Water Contaminaton & Loss, Water Harvesting, peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor August 31, 2008
Cooling off after the first day of the Southern California Permaculture Convergence,
hosted by the Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm
Yesterday the Southern California Permaculture Convergence got underway. The word ‘convergence’ is the operative word here, and, ironically, to me at least, has a double meaning. Over the last couple of weeks, being here at Quail Springs just reminds me of the convergence of issues we face as a race, just as we ‘converge’ to network, share instruction and ideas, and find new ways to work together to face those same issues.
Let me explain, using an example very close to where we are today.
Comments (4)Peak Oil, Petrodollars and Climate Change Apathy
Consumerism, Global Warming/Climate Change, Society, peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor August 25, 2008
Peak Oil and a developing trend to switch international oil trading from the weakening U.S. dollar to the Euro (€) may fuel more oil grabs, economic collapse, and further disregard for climate change
World governments, many of whom currently pay lip service to the present and future problems associated with a warming planet, are eager to add to these woes by arguing (and perhaps soon fighting?) over anticipated new oil discoveries as the arctic ice continues to shrink. We know burning fossil fuels causes global warming, but we are tripping over ourselves to find more to burn. This makes it expedient to review some of the factors involved in our continued free-for-all over oil. Some of what follows may surprise.
It is now generally accepted that the invasion of Iraq was prompted, not by legitimate concerns about weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), but over a desire to take control over Iraq’s oil reserves (there was never much doubt about this outside the United States). Iraq holds the second largest proven reserves in the world, next to Saudi Arabia. What is not commonly known, however, is that prior to the Iraqi invasion, Saddam Hussein had already used an economic form of WMD on the U.S., and one that set a precedent the superpower could ill-afford to ignore. Hussein’s action is regarded by some as a primary reason for the Iraqi invasion.
Comments (7)Regenerative Learning at Quail Springs
Courses/Workshops, DVDs/Books, Social Gatherings, Water Harvesting, peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor August 23, 2008
If a Chumash Indian from a few centuries ago was to leap through time to our day, I’m sure he’d break down in tears to see what we’ve done to his world… and demand to be taken back. Actually, I’m confident he’d even make Iron Eyes Cody look apathetic.
Comments (4)Last Days of Ancient Sunlight?
peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor August 16, 2008
A very glum, serious looking energy advisor, Dr. Robert Hirsch, made some alarming statements on CNBC recently — statements you’d be unlikely to spot on Fox News.
It is estimated that by 2025 worldwide demand for oil will increase 50% over 2005 levels — much of this increased demand coming from developing China and India. Dr. Hirsch now says it is “very likely we are at the maximum of world oil production” (that’s 85 million barrels p/day — and worldwide demand is said to be 87 million barrels, and rising). The thought of $13 per gallon fuel is enough to send shivers down any thinking man’s spine. Some now believe we’re heading for $200 p/barrel oil within a year. This will have significant implications for almost everyone, everywhere. And yet, it will only be the beginning.
Comments (1)Orchestrating Famine – a Must-Read Backgrounder on the Food Crisis
Food Shortages, Global Warming/Climate Change, Population, peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor August 9, 2008
The era of cheap food is over — this means disaster for millions, and mega-profits for a few. How did we get into this mess?
Most objective observers of the current food crisis are understandably concerned. Around 45% of the world’s population live on two dollars per day or less. Skyrocketing food prices are now bringing stress to two billion people, and despair to millions — around one hundred million, actually. The situation is only expected to further deteriorate as: the price of oil continues to soar; climate change-related disasters increase in frequency and intensity, and as policy decisions such as mandated biofuel quotas in our fuel supply further strengthens the already strong price connection between fuel and food. It is a humanitarian disaster that’s well underway, and one which seriously threatens to destabilize international security. As I’m sure you can appreciate, a hungry man is an angry man.
Shell Shock and Delta Blues
peak oil — by Marc Roberts July 26, 2008
Click for larger view
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
While the US and UK concentrates most of its oil warriors in the middle east it’s easy to forget the struggle that goes on and on for the black gold of Nigeria. Both place and people continue to suffer, and Gordon Brown has sent in some professional help to deal with those pesky locals. The rush to keep it cheap and keep it burning maintains its pace. There are elections to be considered, and tomorrow can wait (Independent).
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Permaculture Project Aid Worker Training Camp – November 2008
Courses/Workshops, Food Shortages, peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor July 3, 2008
I’m sure not a few of you are keeping tabs on the current state of affairs in the world. Today the price of oil jumped yet again – it’s now sitting on $146 p/barrel. Of course, everything produced that’s dependent on oil for its production and/or distribution (um… that’s just about everything) is going up as well – most significantly, food. If peak oil adherents are correct, and these now include legions of observers, plus politicians and oil industry heads themselves, then the food crisis is set to worsen considerably, and rapidly, over the next few years.
BBC World debate “Food – Who Pays the Price?”
Food Shortages, Global Warming/Climate Change, Population, peak oil — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor June 28, 2008
The following 46 minute BBC World debate is well worth a watch. There are some interesting characters involved in the debate, each representing a different view on the present food crisis. Central to the discussion is whether large scale industrial agriculture can help the poor, or whether it will merely continue to oppress them.
For what it’s worth, if you want my take on the issue, take a peek at a post I recently wrote for Celsias on this critical situation, a situation that is likely to get a lot worse before it gets better.
If you can’t play the clip above (Quicktime), there are also Real Player and Windows Media Player versions.
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Presentation: “The Oil Crisis. What can we do about it?”
peak oil — by Murray Gray May 11, 2006
With the depletion of the world’s reserves of oil we are set to experience enormous repercussions world-wide in the not too distant future.
Peak Oil means that we have reached the point of demand outstripping the supply of conventional petroleum and other fossil fuels. Already the price of fuel is skyrocketing. Our economy relies heavily on petroleum-based products with many of our food supplies dependant on fossil fuelled transport. It is not hard to see that this scenario signals difficult times ahead for millions of people around the globe. Meeting basic food needs could soon become difficult for people with limited incomes.
Geoff Lawton, of the Permaculture Research Institute, an international permaculture teacher and consultant, will present permaculture solutions for suburban populations of this region and the world to help people avoid the consequence of Peak Oil and the Energy Descent. Questions will be answered with positive solutions, encouraging self-reliance.
A screening of the newly released documentary, ‘The Power of Community- How Cuba survived Peak Oil’ will show Cuba as an example to the industrialised world, successfully dealing with the crisis of the reduction and loss of finite fossil fuel resources.
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Geoff Lawton keynotes at “Local Solutions to the Energy Dilemma”
Conferences, peak oil — by Murray Gray February 24, 2006
Local Solutions to the Energy Dilemma
International Experts to Present Local Responses at New York City Conference – April 27 – 29 2006, New York City, NY
Over 30 leading experts in energy, agriculture, economics, engineering, geology, politics, transportation and sustainability will gather during the final week of April to address the local impact of what is viewed to be an impending crisis in world affairs.
As the world’s demand for oil has grown to match total production capacity, some experts believe reserves have virtually disappeared.
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The Bottom of the Barrel
peak oil — by George Monbiot August 1, 2005
The world is quickly running out of oil – so why do politicians refuse to talk about this huge problem?
George Monbiot
The oil industry is buzzing. In November the government approved the development of the biggest deposit discovered in British territory for at least 10 years. Everywhere we are told that this is a “huge” find, which dispels the idea that North Sea oil is in terminal decline.
You begin to recognise how serious the human predicament has become when you discover that this “huge” new field will supply the world with oil for about five and a quarter days.Every generation has its taboo, and ours is this: that the resource upon which our lives have been built is running out. We don’t talk about it because we cannot imagine it. This is a civilisation in denial.
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