PowerSwitch

So it has been a long year and a bit for me since I got fully drawn into the world of peak oil and what a difference it has made to my life. However, the thing I find interesting that everything that people said would happen with peak oil and beyond is happening...

Rising inflation : Check! We are seeing the first signs and warnings of it.
Demand exceeding supply : Check! Although not necessarily a result of peak, but post peak will make it worse.
Conflict: U.S still beats the war drum near Iran, Japan and China may clash over East China sea oil...
Profits and investments reduced: If the story today is anything to go by, check!
Social unrest: We have the fuel protests
Food production down: Some farmers in U.S are using less pesticides etc. They can't afford the oil to grow so much
Concerns over electricity generation: Big concerns for this winter!

And there are more.

Okay these are just general musings and observations but we are at the thin end of the wedge, or at the top of the sliding slope, if you prefer.

Interesting times! Maybe things will fluctuating a bit and we might see things get a bit better I would suspect that the underlying trend is going to be towards the worse. It would be interesting to look back over the last few years as well. Could we have already hit peak? Maybe in 2003?

I didn?t just make a future prediction there did I? Drats!

I agree James, even though I've been aware of all this for around a year, I'm still almost surprised by the way and the speed with which things are changing. And in the main, the way that oil/gas/electricity are hardly off the front pages or at least the front of the business pages these days.

I've only been 'aware' since April this year. The last month or so has spooked me a little, just seeing how quick things are starting to happen.

My original thinking was things would start to happen late 2006 and accelerate after that.


Hmm, puts me in a bit of a spot. Got my wedding ceremony in December. Now, sensible hat on, tells me the huge wodge of cash I have would be spent much more appropriately on other things.
How the hell though would I explain this to parents, family and friends who have already brought tickets out here. More importantly, how the feck do you explain to the missus who doesn't want to think about peak oil as such (though, to be fair to her, she's going alone with my measures to stop her buying worthless electronic consumer goods)

Bugger, bugger!

GavinT wrote:I've only been 'aware' since April this year. The last month or so has spooked me a little, just seeing how quick things are starting to happen.

My original thinking was things would start to happen late 2006 and accelerate after that.


Hmm, puts me in a bit of a spot. Got my wedding ceremony in December. Now, sensible hat on, tells me the huge wodge of cash I have would be spent much more appropriately on other things.
How the hell though would I explain this to parents, family and friends who have already brought tickets out here. More importantly, how the feck do you explain to the missus who doesn't want to think about peak oil as such (though, to be fair to her, she's going alone with my measures to stop her buying worthless electronic consumer goods)

Bugger, bugger!

Hey! Move this over to "the bright side". You will have a great ceremony and party. Maybe one of the last in a very, very long time. Something you and others will talk about with foggy eyes for years to come. The money will probably not make that much of a difference in a 10 year perspective either.

GavinT wrote: Hmm, puts me in a bit of a spot. Got my wedding ceremony in December.

I hear you Gavin, I've got my wedding in May...or, at least I hope I've got my wedding in May!

Congrats to you both/all, and have wonderful wedding days.

I've been musing lately on the line between 'wasting resources' and 'using resources'. So maybe this is a 'spend' - well, fine. How many times are you planning to do it anyway? <g>

Best of,

Tattercoats

This site is like therapy

Was in a bad mood yesterday when I posted (work annoyed me, and then when I get annoyed about work, I start thinking about other things).


Still stand by my original comment, bloody hell, things are starting to change a lot.

Interesting though, there is even less about oil prices etc etc in the Japanese media compared to the UK. There seems to be even less awareness of peak oil in the public here.

EDIT: Having said that. Tonight, on BS1 (NHK, like a Japanese BBC, main Terrestrial Digital Channel) has been showing new stories all about oil supplies (whats happening in UK, US, Iraq problems, Indonesia, China, the works.

I've known about Peak Oil for around 3 years now and it really puts things into perspective. I've been able to see world events in a totally different light to the average Joe Public.

However..

Social Unrest: Fuel protests ??

It was hardly unrest and it's something that's happened before in the past. By the way, has anyone else notices how placid and contained Joe Public is at the moment. Most of the people I knew didn't really feel outraged by the price of oil, or outraged by the lies and spin from the government over the Iraq invasion. It's really pretty disturbing how apathetic people are right now.

Rooks wrote:It's really pretty disturbing how apathetic people are right now.

Is it apathy? Or powerlessness?

Why bother to protest when you're either criminalised or ignored?

I've been so angry for so long at the way humanity treats the world and each other that I've become totally numb.

GavinT wrote: Was in a bad mood yesterday when I posted (work annoyed me, and then when I get annoyed about work, I start thinking about other things).

I empathise. We had a work end-of-summer BBQ yesterday evening and to cut a long story short, even though it was a party I ended up in a totally foul mood full of frustration and anger which is still smouldering away even now. I try to make use of the energy, but sometimes the sense of being trapped in a nightmare is overwhelming and I want to either curl up and cry or lash out.

Tess wrote:

Rooks wrote:It's really pretty disturbing how apathetic people are right now.

Is it apathy? Or powerlessness?

Why bother to protest when you're either criminalised or ignored?

I've been so angry for so long at the way humanity treats the world and each other that I've become totally numb.

That's a good question Tess. I actually believe it's apathy or maybe fear. People have dug a pretty deep hole for themselves in recent years with borrowing at an all-time high. Whilst the boom is going it's all good for them but if a recession hits then it'll devastate more people that it ever has in previous recessions. I guess I'm saying people might be afraid to rock the boat (if that makes sense)

I'm actually with you on this one Tess. I post to a few other forums, non-oil related ones, and during these fuel protests the topics have understandable been about the petrol/oil prices. What I noticed is that the majority of people don't care a jot about the planet so long as they can get to work in comfort. I found that tremendously sad. I've also been seriously flamed for daring to suggest that living in balance with the planet is more important than someone having a comfortable ride into work.

Thats why I despair at our current situation

Tess wrote: I try to make use of the energy, but sometimes the sense of being trapped in a nightmare is overwhelming and I want to either curl up and cry or lash out.

Oi! Tess!

You can't fix the world so stop worrying about it... all you can fix is yourself. Be an exemplar and keep your fingers crossed.

... Lets dance, put on your red shoes and dance the blues...

or...


Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad,
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you're chewing life's gristle,
Don't grumble,
Give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistle]
Always look on the light side of life.
[whistle]

If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten,
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps.
Just purse your lips and whistle.
That's the thing.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistle]
Always look on the right side of life,
[whistle]

For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word.
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin.
Give the audience a grin.
Enjoy it. It's your last chance, anyhow.
So,...

Always look on the bright side of death,
[whistle]
Just before you draw your terminal breath.
[whistle]

Life's a piece of shit,
When you look at it.
Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true.
You'll see it's all a show.
Keep 'em laughing as you go.
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
Always look on the right side of life.
[whistle]

----------------

We all follow our own natures. I can be content where I am whenever I like. Right now, I do NOT like. Right now, I'm angry and f***ed off, and I want to change the world. Yes I can change my perception and make everything look okay. But why should I take that easy route? I'm not the one hurting, I'm just feeling the pain. You tell me to change myself. THIS is what will change me. This is the way I do it.

Tess wrote: Right now, I do NOT like. Right now, I'm angry and f***ed off, and I want to change the world.

Good luck.. Ive never had that ambition.

I hope you leave can leave the anger behind. I've always found its not conducive to clear thought.