Just to remind you about the huge problem Australia has with its low and falling production

Its true that we will have to import huge amounts of oil in coming years, and its true that our trade deficit will blow out even further when this happens, but the question is: Does anyone care?

The trade deficit was a huge issue a decade ago but its all but forgotten now. Australia's exporters are being crushed by a rampaging Aussie dollar but it hardly rates a mention in the media these days. Every month the RBA cranks up interest rates another notch which pushes the dollar higher still, making manufactured goods from China cheaper, imported oil cheaper, and Australian-produced goods uncompetitive overseas and at home.

Australia 2020 is a place where we don't make anything, don't export anything (unless its dug out of the ground), and almost completely reliant on imported oil.

Thanks for your support Sololeum.

I have started the Peak Oil Awareness Camapign to concentrate on the issue of publicity and spreading the word. I am not an oil professional by any means but I have been a very willing consumer of the stuff and all it's benefits and can see us having to change our way of life to adjust.

My philosophy is that adjusting incrementally, rather than monumentally, will be much easier to achieve and far more durable in the long term. I have observed that many peak oilers already feel defeated and discouraged and are even quite cynical about trying to bring this issue to a more mainstream awareness level. I think this is largely because their own paradigm has shifted but reality for the rest of the world is businsses as usual. This can be quite frustrating. Talking about PO to friends, family and associates is also taking some risk of being branded a doomer and losing the plot, particularly when you sell of the family car, boat etc and dig up the lan to grow corn!

The aim of the campaign is therefore to give people who have seen the light, some simple but effective tools, as well as giving an organisational focus and a database of contacts who can swing into action when events such as the 2020 Summit arise.

So much for the theory but only action gets results. I have created a dedicated email address 2020summit at peakaware dot net for communication dedicated to this event. First action is to collect a list of names of prominent peak oilers who my be willing to participate. If you have suggestions and contact details, let me know and we can drop them line to see if they would like our support to put forward their names.

Ian Longfield

www.peakaware.net