Peak Fuel, Peak Food, Peak Production
Its an interesting dilemma we’re living with in the 21st century. Most of us have become so arrogantly tied into the oil economy where ever-increasing lower prices, higher volumes and 200 varieties of every what-not in every supermarket are taken for granted, that its almost impossible for us to have a serious what-the-fuck conversation about life after oil. In fact, were our governments to broach the idea with us as voters we’d kick their sorry arses out into the street. We don’t want to hear that we might not be as privelidged as we’ve been used to enjoying. So a lot of this problem is us: the consumer, the investor and the manager of businesses.
Arguably we’ve either peaked in our oil or will approach that peak in the immediate future. And because the moments following a peak indicate a decline then its time to have this discussion. What is going to happen after oil?
I read something recently that pointed to our food production and oil consumption, so food supplies might be expected to peak and decline along the same lines. I’m guessing that we’ll get environmentally desperate and sacrifice a great deal via oil tar sand mining just to squeeze the last out of that sponge. Even if we do convert our automobile society into an electric driven one, where does that power come from? And, lets ask the difficult question – how are you going to make all those things that petroleum products provide us?
A partial list of everyday items made using petroleum products includes – plastics, ink, dresses, cd players, skis, mops, umbrellas, roofing, toilet seats, lipstick, paint, soap, shoes, insecticides, linoleum, golf balls, toothpaste, cold cream, dentures, heart valves, crayons, toothbrushes, paint brushes, refrigerators, cameras, eyeglasses, dice, hand lotion, awnings, artificial limbs… and the list goes on and on… So my question is… when are we getting into the conversation about life after the impending fuel crisis?
Also, how are you going to grow a can of tomatoes cheaply in China, ship them to Italy for canning, then export to Australia or the Unites States or the European Union at half the price of locally grown produce? Well, you’re not. In fact, as was suggested in the article I was reading the economic reaction to fuel prices soaring is a corresponding increase in the price of world food supplies. And, considering we’re in a world where around half live below $2 per day… well some will starve and the affluent countries will eat smarter and get thinner and healthier.
Without oil where do you see McDonalds? Walmart? Amazon?
All I’m saying is that nothing lasts forever. Just because we grew up in a society with motor cars and cheap and speedy world travel does not make it our birthright. What may have happened is that three or four generations of humans just used up most of the resource potential of this planet over a century. We need to have that discussion on a political level.
But we won’t… because humans and osteriches share just enough genetic soup to feel safer with our eyes covered. Its kind of like watching bugs swim away from the sink hole… kinda. Still think our mass consumerist global economic model of infinite expansion to feed the maximisation of shareholder profits actually works?
I say have fun with your iPhone while its all readily available… and don’t complain when we hit that wall in a few years. The reason we are going to be paying through our noses for the basics will be because of our consumerist frenzy. OK we consumed, but eventually we’ll have to pay for that consumption. Just a thought.
