About Andris Piebalgs:

I was born in Valmiera (Latvia) on 17th September 1957, and in 1980 I obtained my degree in Physics from University of Latvia. During the eight years time after my university studies I worked as a teacher, later Headmaster of the 1st Secondary School of Valmiera. My career in the education system continued when I started to work as Director of the Department in the Ministry of Education of Latvia.

I am married and have three children.

He is exactly 1 month , 2 days older than I and has 50% more children. Born exactly 54 years and 3 months before the date of global peak oil production he may well be equally concerned about his and his family's future. A Latvian, Physicist, School Teacher - holding Europe's energy destiny in his hands - may well be seeking expert opinion from the broad European academic, industrial and commercial world that is the readership of TOD.

Whilst I am naturally deeply cynical, in this instance we need to give this initiative every chance of success. At the very least, all the technical advice and expert opinion that will now be offered to the EU Commission will be there for all to see - so long as they manage to get through their moderating backlog (the comment I posted Saturday a.m. was no. 23) - and for us to discuss.

Lets hope moderation doesn't turn into censorship!