Hi All,
I find it interesting that there hasn't been a thread yet on James Lovelock's dire prediction about climate change, as published in the Independent on Jan. 16 (unless I missed it?):

Posted on Energy Bulletin - "The world has already passed the point of no return for climate change, and civilisation as we know it is now unlikely to survive, according to James Lovelock"
http://www.energybulletin.net/12126.html

His book Revenge of Gaia is not due for publication in N. America for a month or two, so I suppose that has something to do with it. Still, his views have huge implications for a post-peak-oil society - especially since some think we're going to have to rely on coal for a myriad of uses for a time. Imagine the additional environmental havoc! Anyone read the above article yet? Thoughts? It's brought back that acute sinking feeling in my heart and stomach that I carried around after I found out about PO...I guess I got used to it. My brother has 3 little kids and it gives me shivers to think about what their adulthood will be like. What my "golden years" will be like...

I haven't read the book yet, but the shorter summaries of his argument on the web don't make a lot of sense to me. There's a nice essay on it over at Real Climate. They're fairly sceptical too, but of course their scepticism is better informed.
Saying we are past the point of no return will be pounced on by the business as usual crowd. It is like telling someone dieing of lung cancer to quit smoking. It wouldn't do him any good to quit now so let's keep smoking those fossil fuels. Anybody got a match?
Civilisation a century will be very different than now just like civilisation now is very different than 1906. Life for the average person could be much better than now.