Oh, one more thing...the world is still running out of oil -- have a nice day
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Oh, one more thing...the world is still running out of oil -- have a nice day
Remenber all the talk a couple of years ago about "peak oil"? Remember you how forgot all about it the minute that gasoline dipped back below $ 3 a gallon? Remember how you used to believe in the Easter Bunny and that the 2003-04 Red Sox weren't on steroids? Well. now a top official of the world's most credible energy authority is here to tell you that Santa Claus doesn't exist:
In an interview with The Independent, Dr Birol said that the public and many governments appeared to be oblivious to the fact that the oil on which modern civilisation depends is running out far faster than previously predicted and that global production is likely to peak in about 10 years – at least a decade earlier than most governments had estimated.
But the first detailed assessment of more than 800 oil fields in the world, covering three quarters of global reserves, has found that most of the biggest fields have already peaked and that the rate of decline in oil production is now running at nearly twice the pace as calculated just two years ago. On top of this, there is a problem of chronic under-investment by oil-producing countries, a feature that is set to result in an "oil crunch" within the next five years which will jeopardise any hope of a recovery from the present global economic recession, he said.
In a stark warning to Britain and the other Western powers, Dr Birol said that the market power of the very few oil-producing countries that hold substantial reserves of oil – mostly in the Middle East – would increase rapidly as the oil crisis begins to grip after 2010.
Make fun of "Cash for Clunkers" (sure it could be run a lot better -- just like most new ventures in the free market, like the launch of Kentucky Grilled Chicken) and the need for more serious energy conservation measures now, because you won't be laughing in a few years. Meanwhile, we sit back in a daze because it's true that speculators manipulated the oil markets in 2008, creating an artificial price spike. There's an old saying that just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that someone's not out to get you; just because speculators made a crooked buck or two on oil last year doesn't mean that the world isn't running out of oil faster than it thinks.
Programming note: Blogging is going to be very truncated for a lot of August, and non-existent for the middle of the month. More on that later.
I'm still trying to figure out where I can get all this "free" stuff I'm "entitled" to and that my taxes don't pay for.— chasing history
(((I don't want to talk about my flair.)))) Well, I thought I remembered you saying that you wanted to express yourself.— bird11- Yo u think they've taken away Will's red stapler yet? Will posting be sporatic since he's been banished to the basement? Sounds like the glitch has been fixed.— RG
- "the fact that the oil on which modern civilisation depends is running out far faster than previously predicted and that global production is likely to peak in about 10 years" does anybody notice how well that coincides with the 10 years it would take to start seeing a return on drill say off the U.S. coast and in ANWR??? But then God forbid the U.S. might become one of those countries where our "market power..... would increase rapidly as the oil crisis begins to grip after 2010."— bird11
Comment removed.- Wow, that almost sets the record for the number of idiotic comments made in a short span of time. What a shame to see so many right-wing losers always posting on philly.com. Often, they show their racist, misogynist, economically ignorant side. And they ALWAYS like to insult the writer. Such cowards, sitting on their assuredly fat asses and weighing in (pun intended) on issues they know nothing about. The brilliant "bryanc" was the latest: "I've been hearing this 'oil will run out' stuff since . . ." Yawn. Get a brain, number one. Failing that, how about doing some reading?? Matthew Simmons, one of the preeminent oil experts, investment banker and former energy advisor to George W. Bush, says that we may have ALREADY peaked. Perhaps these commentators shroud their fear with ignorance and hate? Likely. Well, they should be scared, for they are the least prepared and are likely the biggest contributors to the FACT that our modern civilization (and the U.S. in particular) has blown through over half of the greatest natural resource. Natural resource means that it's finite. When it's gone, it's gone. And the wasteful, oil-dependent suburban life will come to a close . . . that's reality, baby.— Serious E
- I didn't know posting fearful, ad homenin laced rants was the best way to prepare oneself for the horrors of peak oil. Thanks for the lesson.— RG
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Of course oil will one day run out , we all know that but does anybody really know when ? . There are huge reserves off the US coast but nobody is drilling for it , maybe when the middle east oil runs out the US will have all thats left , until that runs out that is . No government anywhere is thinking beyond oil , thats not a liberal or conservative thing its just how it is . Imagine if oil ran out tommorow , no planes , no cars , no trains , no power , no food in the stores , who will survive ? obviously some will , billions wouldnt , unless politicians begin spending money on research for alternative fuels which big oil wont like one bit eventualy we are screwed its not news just a reality eventualy .— PAEnglish- Comment removed.
- Bryanc, It's not just about Bunch and his dream of doing nothing. It's about all of us. I don't know what happened to me at that hypnotherapist and, I don't know, maybe it was just shock and it's wearing off now, but when I saw that fat man keel over and die - Bryanc, we don't have a lot of time on this earth! We weren't meant to spend it this way. Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about about mission statements.— bird11
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- Oh, and remember: next Friday... is Will Bunch day. So, you know, if you want to, go ahead and wear a flannel shirt and jeans.— bird11
- I think Serious E has a case of the Mondays.— RG
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