Looking at the Worth A look Post, you may ask yourself what does peak-oil have to do with Unpeople. Everything. The Secret of the Seven Sisters is a really good series on Al Jazeera that gives a through look at the long dark history of the oil business over the last hundred or so years. They are not displacing happy white people. Everywhere oil is found and developed, conflict quickly breaks out. The Middle East, Africa, and even here on North America. It takes many forms; from wars, terrorism, thuggery, to unfolding slow-violence in the southern USA. See Dahr Jamail, one of the last true investigative journalists for more on this. The script runs pretty much the same. A company finds oil, buys off the local elites, shafts the locals, and leaves crushing poverty in it's wake. Let's not forget about the tiny group of rich autocrats and their associated goons either. I try to look for information on what's going on, and it's there on the internet. Sadly, these types of stories seldom make into the mass / corporate media's 24 / 7 news cycles. When they do, there is rarely any depth beyond who was killed, kidnapped or tortured. Seldom if ever, does anyone ask "why." The on-going coverage of the Niger Delta area on the nightly news just touches the surface. They have more important things to do like selling denture cream or pharmaceuticals. Here is something more in depth from Amnesty International on the Niger delta conflict. Most people are blissfully unaware of the true cost of driving everywhere, me included. It is one thing to read about such horrors, but another to live through it day in and day out. For the average western schmo like me, it is almost incomprehensible. Still, I want to educate myself and others. As a conflict Resolution practitioner, I wonder how will this all play out? It does not look good.
We are using a finite resource as if it can go on forever. I have a feeling John Michael Greer is right. There is no magic technological bullet that is going to save us from the FACT that oil will run out. We are not facing this fact. Rather, we ignore it. I don't know when this will happen but it cannot be but so far off. Now, I'm not talking about some twisted Mad Max-like apocalyptic fantasy. Leave that for the movies. No, it will unfold over time with ever increasing costs in blood and treasure. Remember money drives the train. As long as there is financial benefit, expect more of the same denial of reality. Wall Street Consultant? That alone does not make him wrong, but I suspect his ideas are tied one way or another to his pay. I'm not a geologist. I don't know when oil will run out. But I know it will. The Earth is not making more. No amount of fancy charts and rosy projections can change this. Fracking, tar sands and super-deep sea drilling tell me something is rotten in Denmark. It is not getting any easier. It can only get more difficult and costly with the passage of time. The longer we pretend business as usual is fine, the harder and more costly the transition to a post oil world will be. Our current system of casino capitalism does not allow for long-term solutions that may run contrary to today's bottom line or shareholder expectations.
It may be worth reminding you governments are no longer independent (not sure they ever were) keeping your best interests at heart. Even the so-called democracies, are bought, and paid for with corporate cash. Corporations, by design, have only one goal-- maximizing profits. Anything that gets in the way of that goal is crushed; regulations, climate change science, and even people. The drive for profit is short-term, and relentless. Anything or anyone that questions capitalism or the profit motive, faces ridicule here in the west, and death in too many other parts of the world.Think "dirty" hippies in the Occupy Wall Street Movement and consider our unilateral policy of "regime change" when someone dares to not go along with Uncle Sam (read oil interests) as manifestations of those who ask uncomfortable questions. No, better check out The Seahawks or Justin Bieber to stay safe. The fix is in. The game is rigged. I don't think the current system is fixable. The tiny hand full of politicians who do have everyday people's interest at heart are too few and far between. The funny or perhaps scary part is, we all know it. I write about it here on this blog. People may bring it up after a few too many drinks. I don't know of anyone who likes to think too deeply past their own time here on Earth. It's too damn scary. What do parents think? "Oh, it will work out some way or another. The kids will be fine." I hope there are not many that really feel this way. That's some sad shit. I've listened to people say, "It's harder to rock the boat with kids." Personally, I cannot think of a more important reason to rock the boat. Tip that fucker over, and teach the kids to swim. They'll thank you in the long run. Do more than bitch!
I write and try to educate both myself and others. I try to play the game as little as possible. I drive a small car that's really good on gas to and from work. It's close. My car barely has time to warm up in the winter. No, it is not enough. Far from it. But if we each take a step, the outcome can be different. We don't have to passively watch the nightmare of ever deepening and growing conflict over oil unfold. Make noise! Raise hell! We are not alone. If enough people take action, the path to a world with much little to no oil can be less violent. A lot of people will disagree with me on this one but I say don't vote. Voting is only an illusion of a democratic process as long as corporations fund the elections. The only way to beat a rigged game is stop playing. Who would listen to a congress that only could muster a 2% turn out? Everybody would know that's bullshit. I'd say there's an outside chance this can be done peacefully. Violence is a big part of the rigged game already in place. Keeping things peaceful also is a game changer. Even the darkest regimes have a tough time killing off peaceful demonstrators. The do from time to time but there is a high cost that goes along with it. Ask Mubarak. Oh! He's dead. No, just unavailable for comment. Governments do violence-- people don't. Change the game. Make government play by our rules. Rule number one- Non-Violence. Remember you're not alone! Check out the following:
Occupy Wall St Yes, they are still around.
Idle No More Follow the link. Check them out.
Americans Against Fracking You got it!
Greenpeace Hell Raisers. But for the right reasons.
Amnesty International Human Rights.
Green Party If You still want to vote, consider Green. I'll vote for them as well.
We are using a finite resource as if it can go on forever. I have a feeling John Michael Greer is right. There is no magic technological bullet that is going to save us from the FACT that oil will run out. We are not facing this fact. Rather, we ignore it. I don't know when this will happen but it cannot be but so far off. Now, I'm not talking about some twisted Mad Max-like apocalyptic fantasy. Leave that for the movies. No, it will unfold over time with ever increasing costs in blood and treasure. Remember money drives the train. As long as there is financial benefit, expect more of the same denial of reality. Wall Street Consultant? That alone does not make him wrong, but I suspect his ideas are tied one way or another to his pay. I'm not a geologist. I don't know when oil will run out. But I know it will. The Earth is not making more. No amount of fancy charts and rosy projections can change this. Fracking, tar sands and super-deep sea drilling tell me something is rotten in Denmark. It is not getting any easier. It can only get more difficult and costly with the passage of time. The longer we pretend business as usual is fine, the harder and more costly the transition to a post oil world will be. Our current system of casino capitalism does not allow for long-term solutions that may run contrary to today's bottom line or shareholder expectations.
It may be worth reminding you governments are no longer independent (not sure they ever were) keeping your best interests at heart. Even the so-called democracies, are bought, and paid for with corporate cash. Corporations, by design, have only one goal-- maximizing profits. Anything that gets in the way of that goal is crushed; regulations, climate change science, and even people. The drive for profit is short-term, and relentless. Anything or anyone that questions capitalism or the profit motive, faces ridicule here in the west, and death in too many other parts of the world.Think "dirty" hippies in the Occupy Wall Street Movement and consider our unilateral policy of "regime change" when someone dares to not go along with Uncle Sam (read oil interests) as manifestations of those who ask uncomfortable questions. No, better check out The Seahawks or Justin Bieber to stay safe. The fix is in. The game is rigged. I don't think the current system is fixable. The tiny hand full of politicians who do have everyday people's interest at heart are too few and far between. The funny or perhaps scary part is, we all know it. I write about it here on this blog. People may bring it up after a few too many drinks. I don't know of anyone who likes to think too deeply past their own time here on Earth. It's too damn scary. What do parents think? "Oh, it will work out some way or another. The kids will be fine." I hope there are not many that really feel this way. That's some sad shit. I've listened to people say, "It's harder to rock the boat with kids." Personally, I cannot think of a more important reason to rock the boat. Tip that fucker over, and teach the kids to swim. They'll thank you in the long run. Do more than bitch!
I write and try to educate both myself and others. I try to play the game as little as possible. I drive a small car that's really good on gas to and from work. It's close. My car barely has time to warm up in the winter. No, it is not enough. Far from it. But if we each take a step, the outcome can be different. We don't have to passively watch the nightmare of ever deepening and growing conflict over oil unfold. Make noise! Raise hell! We are not alone. If enough people take action, the path to a world with much little to no oil can be less violent. A lot of people will disagree with me on this one but I say don't vote. Voting is only an illusion of a democratic process as long as corporations fund the elections. The only way to beat a rigged game is stop playing. Who would listen to a congress that only could muster a 2% turn out? Everybody would know that's bullshit. I'd say there's an outside chance this can be done peacefully. Violence is a big part of the rigged game already in place. Keeping things peaceful also is a game changer. Even the darkest regimes have a tough time killing off peaceful demonstrators. The do from time to time but there is a high cost that goes along with it. Ask Mubarak. Oh! He's dead. No, just unavailable for comment. Governments do violence-- people don't. Change the game. Make government play by our rules. Rule number one- Non-Violence. Remember you're not alone! Check out the following:
Occupy Wall St Yes, they are still around.
Idle No More Follow the link. Check them out.
Americans Against Fracking You got it!
Greenpeace Hell Raisers. But for the right reasons.
Amnesty International Human Rights.
Green Party If You still want to vote, consider Green. I'll vote for them as well.
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