Oooo, I'm worried now

[QuakerBear]

The following site was recomended to me. It's about peak oil and what's going to happen when oil runs out. It claims the peak is either iminent or has already been reached.

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

Does anyone know anything about this chap, is he reliable? What do you think about his theory? Do you think I should buy a big gun? Seriously though, should I believe this?

[Annpan]

No, don't belive this guy... having scanned over some of that website, alot of his graphs are a nonsence for starters... If he thinks we are all going to die out because we will have no oil what does he think we all lived off of before 1920 - where acording to his graph is where the 'idustrial period' started, I don't think the victorians would be very happy with that. 100 years is no time at all in the history of the world.

Peak oil in general has some truth in it but it is mostly scaremongerey.

We all need to think more responsibly about the way we lead our lives and you should encourage others to do likewise.

These scare stories raise their ugly heads every so often, the world keeps turning, populations change their living habits and we all continue to evolve.

It won't be like Mad Max, it's just going to change our lives a bit - Those of us who are already changeing our lives have got a head start

[Martin]

a bit!!

[mrsflibble]

I don't believe him; purely because my grandad is like this guys biggest worshipper and my grandad consistently backs the wrong horse so to speak. like Del Boy, this time next year my grandad will be a "miwyonair".... it never ends that way though.

[Merry]

I didn`t finish reading this document, I didn`t understand some of it actually.
I don`t want to believe it.
I`m doing my best to live a `sustainable` life. I don`t have a car, grow most of my own food and don`t particularly over-consume.
I could probably do even better when/if the ordure hits the environmental fan.
I`m not clever but I don`t think it would help anything if I ran screaming to the cupboard under the stairs and locked myself in - which is how the article made me feel initially.
I don`t want to believe it because I`ve got 10 grandchildren.
Is that selfish? Suppose it is.

[Martin]

try this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil
Peak oil is a fact - timing is disputed, but it's real!

[QuakerBear]

Thanks Guys. My first reading of this was 'Oh my G-d, we're doomed...' Now I feel more reasured. I've read what it says on Wikipedia and think that the peak will come, things will go wrong but I won't have to resort to eating my neighbours. If you know what I mean.

I'm still going to keep stiving towards being more self-suffiantish though, afterall, it is fun.

Feel like a ninny now.

[Martin]

I do think that it is something that should be taken VERY seriously - it would appear through their inaction, that all the world's leaders must know what disasters are awaiting, but rather than take action NOW, they are preserving the frail house of cards which is global capitalism, and heading civilisation full tilt into the buffers!
To avert the worst effects, we should be now on a near-war footing - in comparison things like terrorism are but a minor annoyance!

[Stonehead]

Peal oil, or more correctly peak minerals, will happen but we'll only realise it once the peak has passed and we start feeling the crunch.

The more we ignore overconsumption and the need to drastically curtail our use of finite resources, the worse the crunch will be.

Ironically, one of the consequences of global warming is likely be a delay in peak minerals as more of the planet is opened up to industrial exploitation. Warmer temperatures and thawing permafrost in the north of Alaska, Canada and Sibera is already leading to more exploration for minerals, including oil.

Also, higher prices will mean less accessible or lower grade mineral deposits will become more economically viable.

But at some point we will run out of minerals, clean air, clean water, clean soil and clean space.

[QuakerBear]

I agree Stonehead.

Martin, I also agree with you. But I'm thinking that no matter how short sighted and obsesed with internal divisions and petty issues governments are, they can't be so stupid/mad/bad enough to ignore a potential looming crisis of such a magnitude. Am I giving them too much credit?

I've also seen an article in the Guardian which claims that the 'peak' was last October, and... earlier this week I saw the first petrol station selling petrol for more then £1 a gallon/pint/litre (whatever it is petrol gets sold in, I never learnt to drive!). So has the peak happened or is there going to be an increase in use of resouces like oil shales which mean consumption will be able to continue growing?

[Stonehead]

But I'm thinking that no matter how short sighted and obsesed with internal divisions and petty issues governments are, they can't be so stupid/mad/bad enough to ignore a potential looming crisis of such a magnitude. Am I giving them too much credit?

Far too much credit. The political/media/business classes are now extremely remote from reality - think the Tsar of all Russias type remote - and don't want anything to disrupt their cosy power games. As someone wrote on my blog, it's increasingly obvious that what we need is "total regime change".

I've also seen an article in the Guardian which claims that the 'peak' was last October, and... earlier this week I saw the first petrol station selling petrol for more then £1 a gallon/pint/litre (whatever it is petrol gets sold in, I never learnt to drive!). So has the peak happened or is there going to be an increase in use of resouces like oil shales which mean consumption will be able to continue growing?

Diesel prices have been above £1 here for a while and, in parts of the Highlands, for a very long time. But we're not as important to the politicians and media as those who live within the M25, which is most of them.

Anyway, cup of tea finished and time to go and dig more tatties.

[QuakerBear]

The £1 petrol price was for normal unleaded. I know things can be pricy in Surrey 'cos most people are quite affluent but I was still surprised.

Never mind, when I'm ruler I will ride in a magnificent carriage pulled by six podgy business men in suits. I shall take rhubarb stems as my scepte and a big spud as my orb. Then I will put the whole world to rights.....

[ina]

The £1 petrol price was for normal unleaded. I know things can be pricy in Surrey 'cos most people are quite affluent but I was still surprised.

Never mind, when I'm ruler I will ride in a magnificent carriage pulled by six podgy business men in suits. I shall take rhubarb stems as my scepte and a big spud as my orb. Then I will put the whole world to rights.....

Great idea! I'll be your spin doctor, if you need one.

I paid 98.9p yesterday, btw. Perfectly normal.

[mrsflibble]

normal unleaded here (basildon, south essex, petrol station about 20 miiles from the M25) was 95.8p/l yesterday.... but aparently nearer to the M25 it's over £1.