They seem to have a lot of the big picture stuff well researched so now it's all about follow-through and implementation. It was very refreshing to hear a pragmatic, almost technocratic approach to Peak Oil. But building public awareness is going to be a delicate task.

I did collect a number of business cards from the participants. When the draft report is finalized, I will post it. I think the dialogue will continue in some form. Those that had heard of us really respected the quality of the dialogue on the site. I invited them to register at the site and join our discussions here.

Peakguy,

Good job!  I was glad to read that fed officials were in attendence too.  Your quote: "But building public awareness is going to be a delicate task."  I hope you can offer more info on why the MilGov thought this is 'delicate'.  Seems to me if NYT can talk Peakoil, there is no reason why an elected official should hold back on Peakoil.  I don't think it has hurt Congressman Roscoe Bartlett's chances of re-election any--I think it has helped him.

I think our national leadership is extremely short-sighted.  Bushco should be upfront leading the Powerdown Paradigm Shift.  As a lameduck Prez, he has nothing to lose, and the country has everything to gain.

The Saudis are obviously aware of Matthew R. Simmons.  If the Saudi Royals are also reading TOD, LATOC, and Dieoff.com, and I think it is safe to assume they are: when Ghawar peaks, surely they must realize the tremendous first mover advantage of a Saudi Powerdown combined with a severe throttling of exports. This Saudi desire to keep the remaining oil to power just their society for the next 1,000 years and force the consuming countries to assert the ASPO Depletion Protocols would benefit the entire world.

If America can be taught the probable ramifications of Jay's Thermo-Gene Collision: we will gladly disavow the present 'Nuke their Ass--I want gas' mindset, bring our kids home from overseas, and heartily accept the correct moral choice of 'No thanks--I like Empty Tanks', then cooperatively work to instill the honest social norm of ERoEI > ERoVI [Violence Invested].

I see no way out for us but to remake our infrastructure and permiculture to be local, just as Kunstler has argued.  Bicycles, not Hummers and GMC Denials.  Just imagine if the world could simply agree to just abolish all outside lighting-- the sun does sink below our horizon creating darkness, nightime was meant for Humanity to admire the stars, then dream for a better day.

I am no expert on Islamic Society, but it seems to me that they would then gladly accept the ERoEI > ERoVI equation too.  I think they would adapt back to a Beduoin lifestyle faster than we could adapt back to a lifestyle where 95% will be daily working in localized permiculture fields and humanure industry.

This is far better than endless war, suicide bombers, starving mobs, being killed by your neighbor, and millions of newborn babies clogging the sewers worldwide.  Time will tell if we can stop the delusions and then gladly face a brighter day.

Jay Hanson would love for the World prove him wrong. Me too, for all ours' sake.

Bob Shaw in Phx,AZ  Are Humans Smarter than Yeast?