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Vacuuming aside, the level of disconnect and cluelessness in a US professor of physics is astounding.
To see someone on that level state that peak oil might happen in 30 years, while world energy consumption is set to triple in 18 years, what can you say to that?
If the best-educated, let's not use the term intelligent here, among us see this as reality, what can you expect his students and their families and friends and neighbors to understand?
It's not CERA that's the problem, it's an entire blindfolded nation.
His students, their families, friends and neighbors ubderstand that peak oil cultists are morbidly depressed tin foil hat wearers.
When they feel it in their wallets, they will get religion. Hallelujah brothers!
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070304/japan_markets.html?.v=2
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070305/wall_street_week_ahead.html?.v=2
Physics professors don't get out much, I doubt he has ever read anything on the "oil supplies" subject. For engineers and scientists, renewable energy may be considered more of a technical issue than socio-economic. If a tech miracle happens, then it may change the global energy picture overnight. Ripping up the whole world and changing it isn't going to happen, at least not volentarily. To think otherwise is silly. Noone is blindfolded or clueless, most just can't change it so why worry? All CERA may want to prevent a panic (1929?) since they obviously know the truth.
Personally I would prefer the world change slowly so we can adjust. When/if the barbarians are at the gates, there will be plenty of change for all of us.
It may be better to be a live jackal than a dead lion, but it is better still to be a live lion. And usually easier. - Heinlein
To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth - Col Cooper
The barbarians are already at the gates. They're building them.
Good thing no-one is clueless.
Otherwise, who knows what might happen?
"Noone is blindfolded or clueless, most just can't change it so why worry?
Bullshit. Flyboy is exactly right. Don't be fooled by the very small audience here at TOD that is aware and awake. The vast majority of the Herd of Saps are without a clue and are blindfolded foolZ.
Very few people know anything at all about Peak Oil and Gas. Virtually no one understands energy - it is something we've taken for granted all of our lives the past couple of generations.
Our assinine leaders still think they are in control and that "the market" will save us. "The Market" is Mother Nature and she is going to eat us alive. One by one.
Even the very small fraction of our First World that is awake worries about childishly naive things like "food or ethanol for our car-cars and trucks"... just wait a few years until half the northern hemisphere cannot heat their homes and then we will see if they are still worried about their fucking cars.
Idiots.
Just came back from spreading some compost around - for around 10 years in this part of Germany, you can either compost your 'bio' (organic/food/otherwise compostable) waste, or have it picked up once every 2 weeks for a fee by the city - quite honestly, I'm not sure how expensive it is. Though it is very likely that most if not all bio waste is burnt as fuel for electricity, the idea of having people compost their own waste for use in their own gardens seems to be a fairly simple one. (Town compost, for example from all the trimmed trees and flower beds, is spread over local farm fields at times, however - nothing like keeping things local to keep them local - something routine here in many things.)
Now consider this - of all the housing built in American suburbs over the last 20 years, how many have home owner associations which explicitly forbid composting? Or drying the wash outside, which we also did today, though that is still technically not allowed around here, as today is a day of rest. A fantastically warm, sunny, perfect for clothes drying day - sometimes, you just risk the wrath of heaven, and enjoy the fresh scent of clean bed sheets.
It isn't a blindfold around American eyes, really, it is something much, much harder to encompass. A willful inability to even grasp reality seems to be a part of it. Without any excuse of tradition, as the charming (or sinister, depending on whether you focus on cathedrals or witch burning) aspect of middle age religosity explains the legally mandated social custom of not hanging laundry out on official church reserved days (and yes, I actually know someone who did received official notification about 7 years ago that she shouldn't do that on Sundays).
If America lived differently, many of it problems would no longer exist, but it seems as if for many Americans, living differently would be un-American.
But the Swiss are already planning for the future - I listened to a good 5 minute report on the radio while driving to work - the Swiss are already planning on how many people are going to need to be moved, as the glaciers recede from mountain sides, causing massive changes in the local geography, for example.
And in America? It's all good, or some such, right?
Don't forget, our wonderful leaders, including Darth, say that "The American way of life is not negotiable." And most Americans WANT to believe that. The do not want to believe that life could be radically different and/or more physically uncomfortable.
Most Americans spend their free time being entertained, rather than doing something creative. Under that scenario, it's hard to envision the bulk of the public accepting a different reality. That's why I'm somewhat pessimistic about the future. I think things MAY have to get pretty bad before they get better.
Expat--
Just about every masterplanned community in the United States prohibits clotheslines (solar dryers) as well as solar water heaters and PV panels. Other solar appurtenances to the house, like awnings, are also on the forbidden list. All in the name of protecting property values.
Has there ever been a society that is more disconnected from nature than ours?
Below is an excerpt from a column I wrote in December.
Fortunately CCRs against PV systems are illegal in California.
We need a national override.
Well the may have something in a HOA bylaws that say I can't dry my clothes outside but seriously what are they gonna do put a notice on my front door?? It would cost them more than what it is worth to stop me from drying my clothes outside. HOA's can't do anything. Even if they tried I could drive around my neighboorhood and find a crapload of violations which they have not acted on causing all sorts of problems in regards to enforcement.
I could drive around my neighboorhood
Perhaps you could WALK around your neighborhood and see even more ?
All too often, walking is not even considered, too many are conditioned to drive regardless of circumstances.
Best Hopes for short lived shoe leather and long life tires,
Alan
Good catch. I do walk around my neighboorhood every evening with my family however I also drive home everyday unfortunately. I tend to notice the negative things when I drive though. When I walk it is much more rewarding and positive.
Badger any predictions for this week and next week withdrawals in NG? DD are more this week according to NOAA.
TIA,
As far as I can tell, in my neck of the woods, Americans use Sundays for more shopping (after Saturday, I mean). After church, and the obligatory midday repast (a large amount of grain-fed protein, usually) it's off to the stores to "shop til you drop." Riding my bike through traffic (huge pickup trucks and SUVs) and then actually driving in it this weekend was a real Matrix-style eye-opener for me, having just read Stuart's post on SA...