What is your 2007 Peak Oil To-do List?
What is your 2007 peak oil to do list? Do you have some resistance in getting on with this? Start small, funky, doable.
If you are noticing a little 'dysphoria' leading to inaction, try out www.peakoilblues.com blog for people's stories about how they are coping/not coping with peak oil awareness. Like when loved ones stare at you and roll their eyes heavenward, or worse!
Try reading this one by Alan Wartes , reposted on http://www.energybulletin.net/24399.html
What we want to know is, what does peak oil mean? How should we live? Even when we seem to be stuck endlessly going over the evidence that the big black clouds on the horizon really do mean a storm is coming, what we are searching for is an answer to the question, "What can I DO?"
1. Recite this daily: "Today is better than tomorrow."
2. Forget your "little house on the prairie."
3. Grow some food.
4. Stop being a consumer.
5. Host monthly peak oil potluck suppers.
Peak Oil Blues is a resource for people feeling emotional turmoil about peak oil. The site is devoted to "the unique social and emotional challenges we face in a post-petroleum age."
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April 15th, 2007
The ELP Plan: Economize, Localize, Produce
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/2446
TheOilDrum is widely regarded as solid reading for people keeping abreast of energy supply and price issues. This post by a regular there is worth some reflection, imo.
Ian
"I have been advising for anyone who would listen to voluntarily cut back on their consumption, based on the premise that we were probably headed, in a post-Peak Oil environment, for a prolonged period of deflation in the auto/housing/finance sectors and inflation in food and energy prices.
...What have I and others been advocating? Let's start with Economize.
ELP: Economize
For some time, I have suggested a thought experiment. Assume that your income dropped by 50%. How would you change your lifestyle?
... A key way to Economize is to Localize.
ELP: Localize
I recommend that you try to reduce the distance between work and home to as close to zero as possible, and furthermore, that you live in smaller, much more energy efficient housing, preferably close to mass transit lines.
I would further recommend that you integrate yourself into your local community. Get to know your neighbors. Become involved in local government, etc.
I would especially recommend support of local food producers, perhaps via Community Supported Agriculture, and support of local manufacturing and local businesses.
... Finally, the Produce recommendation.
ELP: Produce
I recommend that you try to become, or work for, a provider of essential goods and services.
...Key recommended sectors are obviously energy--conventional, non conventional and alternative energy production and energy conservation--as well as food production, especially local organic farming close to towns and cities.
...Other sectors to consider are repair and maintenance, low cost energy efficient housing, low cost transportation, basic health care, etc.
Perhaps the best education investment that many young people could make is a two year associate degree in some kind of repair/maintenance area, perhaps with summer jobs in the agricultural sector.
...I would especially recommend that you consider buying, perhaps with a joint venture group, a small farm, either currently organic, or that can be converted to an organic farm."
"Respect all Life. Reject violence. Share with others. Listen to understand. Preserve the planet. Rediscover solidarity."
www.unesco.org/manifesto2000
April 7th, 2007
Ignore the techno-optimists, get on with it
As Bob Waldrop said over in RunningOnEmpty2, the venerable yahoogroup, and I quote,
"I don't spend any time trying to convince people about peak oil. Instead, I spend my time, effort, and creativity encouraging people to do the things I think would be most helpful in responding to peak oil -- in particular (but not in any specific order of importance) permaculture, re-growing local food systems, cooperative economics, getting out of debt, re-localization, planting lots of perennial food plants, recycling, supporting the after-market, expanding mass transit, and social solidarity. I present these things, not as a response to peak oil, but as a way to a better life. My presentations are constantly revised in light of my own personal experience in incorporating these peak oil adaptations into my own life."
Burlington is very complacent, our civic leaders are letting us go on snooze control, and there are precious few who are thinking through their preparations for drastic reductions in consumption. Our SBCG is trying to create the nexus for people who want to do just that.
Ian
"Respect all Life. Reject violence. Share with others. Listen to understand. Preserve the planet. Rediscover solidarity."
www.unesco.org/manifesto2000