Peak Oil and Community Solutions
What we here are saying is that a transition to a lower level of social-technological complexity need not be violent, need not be chaotic, and need not entail the loss of the values and cultural achievements of which we are most proud as a society. And the end result could be far more humane, enjoyable, and satisfying than life currently is for citizens of this grandest of empires.
I'm reminded of the Populist rural movement of the late 19th century,which altered America's political landscape and very nearly diverted the US away from its imperial, corporatist destiny back toward the agrarian ideal of Jefferson. The Populists spread their word, starting in rural Texas, to nearly every county in the South, East, West, and Midwest. Their method? They trained 40,000 public speakers. Then, at grange halls, county fairs, and Chautauquas, they painstakingly educated their fellow citizens about the banking cartels, the trusts, and the currency system, and about how local communities could take charge of their own economies once again.
We've just had an election too. And, unless it is contested, it may well mark the unequivocal end of the Republic, and of national electoral democracy in this country. But just as it is becoming altogether clear that we are living in anempire, we are seeing clear signs that the empire is itself nearing its fate.
My friends, it is a time to be hopeful. It is a good time to cherish one another and embrace the young and fortify them with our experiences and vision, and to trust in their ability to find their own appropriate response to the events ahead. There will be sustainable human cultures on this planet a century from now. In fact, that's the only kind of cultures there will be. And I think we can reasonably hope that at least some of those cultures will be able to trace their lineage to the seemingly marginalized hippies, activists, energy geeks, permaculturists, communitarians, organic farmers, eco-cityplanners, and plain citizens who started educating their neighbors about peak oil early in the century.
We have done some good work already, but we have a lot more to accomplish.Perhaps we now have a better grasp of the context in which our work must continue, and of its crucial importance for the survival of our species. May we apply ourselves with renewed confidence, commitment, and good humor. We can create beauty and live in beauty. We can live in joy, knowing that our efforts will sprout roots, trunks, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit. We can dwell in community, as we share each other's lives and visions, talents and resources, concerns and needs, and learn to support one another and work together.
1. Peak oil is imminent.
2. There will be no replacements for cheap oil.
3. Technology and free markets will NOT save us.
4. All large systems will collapse.
5. We all need to prepare to do with much less and live locally.
Source and this summary by Martin Daniels
http://www.communitysolution.org/pconf2.html
I'm reminded of the Populist rural movement of the late 19th century,which altered America's political landscape and very nearly diverted the US away from its imperial, corporatist destiny back toward the agrarian ideal of Jefferson. The Populists spread their word, starting in rural Texas, to nearly every county in the South, East, West, and Midwest. Their method? They trained 40,000 public speakers. Then, at grange halls, county fairs, and Chautauquas, they painstakingly educated their fellow citizens about the banking cartels, the trusts, and the currency system, and about how local communities could take charge of their own economies once again.
We've just had an election too. And, unless it is contested, it may well mark the unequivocal end of the Republic, and of national electoral democracy in this country. But just as it is becoming altogether clear that we are living in anempire, we are seeing clear signs that the empire is itself nearing its fate.
My friends, it is a time to be hopeful. It is a good time to cherish one another and embrace the young and fortify them with our experiences and vision, and to trust in their ability to find their own appropriate response to the events ahead. There will be sustainable human cultures on this planet a century from now. In fact, that's the only kind of cultures there will be. And I think we can reasonably hope that at least some of those cultures will be able to trace their lineage to the seemingly marginalized hippies, activists, energy geeks, permaculturists, communitarians, organic farmers, eco-cityplanners, and plain citizens who started educating their neighbors about peak oil early in the century.
We have done some good work already, but we have a lot more to accomplish.Perhaps we now have a better grasp of the context in which our work must continue, and of its crucial importance for the survival of our species. May we apply ourselves with renewed confidence, commitment, and good humor. We can create beauty and live in beauty. We can live in joy, knowing that our efforts will sprout roots, trunks, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit. We can dwell in community, as we share each other's lives and visions, talents and resources, concerns and needs, and learn to support one another and work together.
1. Peak oil is imminent.
2. There will be no replacements for cheap oil.
3. Technology and free markets will NOT save us.
4. All large systems will collapse.
5. We all need to prepare to do with much less and live locally.
Source and this summary by Martin Daniels
http://www.communitysolution.org/pconf2.html
posted by T. Scott Brineman at 8:27 AM
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