Michael Hohman is right. We are in a little lull in the energy storm now,
but not for long.
We are depleting the SPR (Strategic Petroleum Reserve) and also depleting
reserves of finished products (gasoline, diesel, heating oil) as they are
diverted to the USA to cover the loss of production related to Katrina and
Rita.
In addition to this, we face declining natural gas supplies at a time when
demand is increasing.
Some additional articles worth reading are at:
http://www.financialsense.com/stormwatch/2005/1014.html
Financial Sense has done a reasonable job looking at the economic
implications of energy issues. The above link is a good introduction..
http://www.energybulletin.net/9768.html
The particular Energy Bulletin page I've linked above provides a summary of
an article by Robert L. Hirsch, Senior Energy Program Advisor at SAIC...you
can check a bit of his resume and link to the Hirsch report done for the
USDOE as well. "This is not your mother's energy crisis" sums up the
message well, but Hirsch articulates the specific parameters of the energy
crisis we face as well as an urgent call for immediate mitigation steps.
I urge list members and leaders to explore Hirsch's work which is available
online. This is some of the best work done on the issue, and we all have
access to it.
The same EnergyBulletin page linked above also includes a link to an article
by Tom Whipple of Falls Church News-Press (which has done an excellent
series on the topic of energy) as well as other resources.
Also, one can click back to the homepage of EnergyBulletin for a wealth of
articles including information and analysis on this topic, which will shape
our lives for years to come.
I am grieved that our people and political leaders argue over investing
billions of dollars for "circuses" and "coliseums" for spoiled millionaire
gladiators soaked with steroids and other drugs while absolutely
perpetuating the denial of the serious issues we face.
There is absolutely no excuse for candidates Rybak and McLaughlin not being
out there "pounding the podium" and leading us toward a radically new vision
of our urban infrastructure -- which is the only infrastructure with a
chance of being worth living in over the next 20-to-50 years.
Incremental steps will get us to the same place as doing nothing at all. I
urge our leaders and our citizens to make a serious study of these matters
and to speak out. There is a wealth of information and analysis available
online and in books and magazines.
We ought to engage our college and high school students in intensive courses
in energy conservation, relocalization of farming and development of
sustainable transportation and energy harvesting methods. We ought to dump
all notions of building silly stadiums which perpetuate silly macho pride at
best, and abuse and violence at worst.
Political leadership is about getting these issues out there and educating
people about the need for change. Political leadership is not about giving
the citizen-consumers whatever political pabulum is convenient and
comfortable at the moment.
-- pedaling for peace and ecojustice from Lynnhurst -- Gary Hoover
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