U. Arizona Biologist - US On A Monorail With A Cliff At The End Of It - Arizona Republic

[hatrack]

EDIT (Emphasis added below)

1. In your April 6 Viewpoints essay ("End of the world as we know it"), you write about some pretty frightening things: $400 for a barrel of oil soon, our oil supply running out in 30 years, the modern world coming to a screeching halt because of a lack of energy. How much of this do you actually believe? And how much is a scare tactic to get our attention?

I believe everything I wrote. I am trying to inform people, not scare them. I do not benefit from peak oil or spreading the word about it. Indeed, it will cost me my 401(k), my 403(b), and the job I love, and writing about it has been costly to my so-called career. And then there's the consequent hate mail ...

2. All three presidential candidates - Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain - are in favor of energy diversification and committed to battling global warming. So aren't we, as a nation, finally getting on the right track?

First and foremost, all three viable candidates support economic growth, which strongly depends on the use of oil. They all support increasing efficiency, but not conservation. Conservation is political suicide, as Jimmy Carter discovered. The track we're on is a monorail with a cliff at the end.

3. What needs to happen to avoid a complete meltdown of the "American Empire," as you call it? And do you believe there is still time to avoid what you refer to as "the post-industrial Stone Age"?

First, let me explain Empire: We exploit humans and resources, often with extreme violence, to provide Americans with indulgences beyond belief to most people. Had we started the project of powering down at least 30 years ago, there might still be time. At this point, I cannot imagine any steps that could allow us to avoid a meltdown of the economy or a relatively rapid transition into the post-industrial Stone Age. We depend on abundant, inexpensive oil for delivery of food, water, shelter, and health care. The days of abundant, inexpensive oil are behind us. The American Empire will soon run its course. I am hopeful we can save a few tens of millions of Americans. But we will need to make massive changes in our entire way of life, starting immediately. We must abandon the project of globalization and its attendant indulgences, for example, and focus on saving lives.

4. What personal measures do you take for conservation? And what personal measures do you recommend others take as a way to individually contribute to a sustainable energy future? And does it really matter or must everything be done on a grander, global scale?

I drive a compact, hybrid-electric car. I live in a small, old rental house less than two blocks from the University of Arizona, where I work. I buy only what I need, and I check labels with care. I avoid eating meat because vegetarianism saves water and energy. I use compact-fluorescent bulbs in my house. And so on, totaling dozens or perhaps hundreds of daily decisions. Ultimately, none of these actions matter at all. My lifestyle has virtually no impact on the global system. I'd be willing to bet the U.S. military uses more oil in a weekend than I will use in my entire life, and corporate CEOs and politicians who control this country are firmly committed to maintaining the status quo, regardless of the costs to us, other cultures and species, or future generations.

EDIT

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0413aztalk-newsmaker14.html

[Kolesar]

1. I don't think that "Conservation is political suicide"

I think it is a winning message among responsible people. That includes a lot of conservatives who realize that they, and every individual, owns the "problem" of managing the environment.

Thirty year old political cliches' need to be retired.

[The2ndWheel]

2. Conservation isn't part of the equation

until all 6.5 billion current people on the planet have everything they need(which always seems to be more then previous standards), and the few billion that will be added before that number even starts to level off have everything they will need. If one additional person is born, increasing our total population, after our population stops increasing, conservation still can't happen until that new person has everything they need.

[Nihil]

3. This is the depressing side of being aware ...

> Ultimately, none of these actions matter at all. My lifestyle has virtually
> no impact on the global system. I'd be willing to bet the U.S. military uses
> more oil in a weekend than I will use in my entire life, and corporate CEOs
> and politicians who control this country are firmly committed to maintaining
> the status quo, regardless of the costs to us, other cultures and species,
> or future generations.

I do the best I can and encourage my family & friends to do the same but there
is always the above spectre lurking in the shadows of my mind, ready to pounce
on the slightest hesitation and shout "Do you *really* think that what you're
doing will make a difference?" into my inner ear ...

:cry:

[kestrel91316]

4. I tell people who ask this, "It sure as hell makes a difference TO ME."

I wouldn't be able to look myself in the face or sleep at night if I didn't do what I consider my fair share of conserving energy.

[Nihil]

5. Good point! (n/t)

:hi: