Central Ohio Relocalization Effort (CORE), Columbus, Ohio

Several recent articles seem to be indicating a societal adaptation to the increase in the cost of oil.

WHY THE HYPE ABOUT LOCAL FOOD MAY BE MORE THAN JUST A TREND
"It is tempting to dismiss locally grown food as just another elite fashion, but its merits may mean it will be a long-term phenomenon."
Full article: http://www.alternet.org/environment/93652/why_the_hype_about_local_food_...

WILL AN ORGANIC REVIVAL OVERTHROW THE GREEN REVOLUTION?
"In places like India, backlash is increasing against the chemical-dependent farming techniques of the Green Revolution."
Full article: http://www.alternet.org/environment/91200/will_an_organic_revival_overth...

SHIPPING COSTS START TO CRIMP GLOBALIZATION
"When Tesla Motors, a pioneer in electric-powered cars, set out to make a luxury roadster for the American market, it had the global supply chain in mind. Tesla planned to manufacture 1,000-pound battery packs in Thailand, ship them to Britain for installation, then bring the mostly assembled cars back to the United States.

But when it began production this spring, the company decided to make the batteries and assemble the cars near its home base in California, cutting more than 5,000 miles from the shipping bill for each vehicle.

The cost of shipping a 40-foot container from Shanghai to the United States has risen to $8,000, compared with $3,000 early in the decade, according to a recent study of transportation costs. Big container ships, the pack mules of the 21st-century economy, have shaved their top speed by nearly 20 percent to save on fuel costs, substantially slowing shipping times."
Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/business/worldbusiness/03global.html?p...

COTA BUS RIDERSHIP CONTINUES UPSWING
"As gasoline prices are the highest Central Ohio residents have seen in recent memory, and more cyclists hit the road and trails, COTA ridership continues to increase."
Full article:
http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13090

A Laurin