Could we live in a world without oil?
87some thoughts on adapting to climate change
This is a question I've been pondering for some time. We've always known that fossil fuels like oil and coal are finite resources. Which means they are going to run out one day. A slightly scary thought when you think about how many things we rely on that need fossil fuel for power. For example, we need it to travel from home to work and back again. We need it to cook with. We need it to light and heat our homes and run our appliances. On an even more basic level, we need it (or I should say, the farmers need it) to grow our food. Then we need it to process and transport the food to the shops. Not to mention all the other industrial, transportation and military uses it has. It's mind boggling when you stop to think about how dependent our economy and lifestyles are on it.
The fact that the oil will run out 'one day' has always been there in the back of our minds, but how many of us really appreciate what that means? We've become so used to having it that we haven't seriously considered or invested in the alternatives. I guess we think that we have plenty of time up our sleeves and that by the time the oil reserves get that low, the world will have switched to renewable energy on a grand scale and it will all be OK.
But what if we haven't?
What if there is less oil than we imagine and it runs out not in forty or fifty years time, but in five years? Type the words "peak oil" into any search engine and you will discover an alarming number of websites containing information that will scare the pants off you. Now maybe these websites are written by a bunch of crackpots. There have always been people who go around preaching that the end of the world is nigh. Maybe these people just belong to that category and we should ignore them and carry on with business as usual.
But what if they're onto something? It might not be the end of the world, but if they are right, it will certainly be the end of the world as we know it. I used to think climate change was the big problem, but maybe peak oil is the thing we should really be focussing on. Why isn't this issue in the news? Makes you think doesn't it.
There was a thunderstorm here last night, and we had a blackout. It was OK because I was prepared with a torch, candles and food that I'd cooked before the storm began. But while we sat there in the dark, we talked about what it would be like if the power went off for good. What would we do? Would we be able to survive? It was a sobering thought.
People lived here before there were such things as electricity and oil, so it must be possible. They grew their own food, washed their clothes by hand, travelled around on horseback, lit fires to keep warm in winter, kept their food cold somehow....Hey, how DID they keep their food cold before refridgeration was invented? There must be a way to do it. And how the hell did they make soap? And what about toothpaste? And....Oh my God... what about CHOCOLATE??? And BEER??? (The look of sheer horror on my husband's face says it all).
Hmmmm. Life without oil. Do we want to go there? Do we have a choice?
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poignant! well written!
Thanks for your comment Mr Basso! I enjoyed your hub on the 'retro revolution'. Will definately spend some time reading your other hubs. Cheers.
Hi Hellchic. It's a sobering thought isn't it?
I've been pondering similar issues of late, and have also written a hub in the same vein. I firmly believe that we will develop new technologies exploiting solar energy, wind power, and hydro-energy as time goes by. I suspect that many of these technologies already exist in prototype (probably owned by the oil companies, but that's yet another conspiracy theory that we don't need to dwell on!) I'm not saying don't panic, but I am saying prepare yourself for challenging times. It's always good to be prepared.
Thanks Amanda. I agree that it's good to be prepared. I hope you're right about us developing new technologies. We have to really don't we. Good luck with your preparations for the challenge ahead!
There could be more done if people really pushed harder but it seems we have a way of waiting for someone else to handle it. USAmericans are very spoiled and a lot of crying about how bad it is. We do not have a clue. Myself included. C.S. Alexis
Hi Helen. I've been busy trawling the net to see what exactly is happening out there vis-a-vis new technologies to replace oil. One of the things I've found is an Australian company called Lutec. Being in Australia, you might have seen more about them. Have you any info?
Many thanks
Mandy
Hi C.S. Alexis, thanks for your comment. Please don't be too hard on yourself and Americans in general. Yes, there is alot of "spoiltness" and crying here in Australia too (we call it 'whinging'!) and the media doesn't help either with so much focus on the negative stories. However, I do believe there is hope, and I have started to uncover stories of people acting to make a difference. For example, there is a project underway in Victoria (one of Australia's southern states) at the moment to finance and build our first community owned wind farm. It's a really exciting idea, and if more of these got up and running, imagine how great it could be. The website is www.hepburnwind.com.au if you're interested. I think we have to act on our own initiative - if we wait for the government to do something, we'll be waiting a bloody long time!
Amanda - hi again. No I've not heard of Lutec, but I'll do some research and get back to you. They haven't had much publicity here as far as I'm aware, and I am an avid media watcher. Do you know where in Australia they are based? Cheers, Helen.
Hi Helen. I think that they're based in Cairns, although it's not clear from their web-site. I'm sure that Cairns was mentioned on one of the discussion boards.
i wannnna meet you all
thANKS 4 HELP FOUND IT USEFUL.
no beer?? :O
Hello,
This is an extremely well written, and I was able to use this information for the report for school I am doing on the importance of oil. Without it, the life we are familiar with today will come to a screeching halt. If you look around, nearly everything is somehow connected to the use of oil: all of the objects that serve us a utilitarian purpose: you know, the basic things such as the use of oil in transportation and the production of plastic, but consider this this list.....it will blow your mind=
-This list is provided by: http://www.3k88.com/products.htm
Ammonia, Anesthetics, Antihistamines, Artificial limbs, Artificial Turf, Antiseptics, Aspirin, Auto Parts, Awnings, Balloons, Ballpoint pens, Bandages, Beach Umbrellas, Boats, Cameras, Candles, Car Battery Cases, Carpets, Caulking, Combs, Cortisones, Cosmetics, Crayons, Credit Cards, Curtains, Deodorants, Detergents, Dice, Disposable Diapers, Dolls, Dyes, Eye Glasses, Electrical Wiring Insulation, Faucet Washers, Fishing Rods, Fishing Line, Fishing Lures, Food Preservatives, Food Packaging, Garden Hose, Glue, Hair Coloring, Hair Curlers, Hand Lotion, Hearing Aids, Heart Valves, Ink, Insect Repellent, Insecticides, Linoleum, Lip Stick, Milk Jugs, Nail Polish, Oil Filters, Panty Hose, Perfume, Petroleum Jelly, Rubber Cement, Rubbing Alcohol, Shampoo, Shaving Cream, Shoes, Toothpaste, Trash Bags, Upholstery, Vitamin Capsules, Water Pipes, Yarn........
It's crazy. And we take it all for granted, really....
Well, all I can say is that I completely agree with megaReport, because what WOULD happen if we don't find some kind of other energy source? All the things we take for granted everyday, (the list provided by megaReport was awesome, thanks, I was totally blown away!) they would no longer exist? What will happen? What will we do to solve our problem.......
According to me oil is the best but most polluting mean of energy
what the heck are you doing
If you think about it. global warming solution and oil peak solution is same. except if you tell people about the danger of oil peak they will be scared and stock markets might go deep down to the hell. global warming is clever way to find alternatives to oil without scaring the capitals. if not for those little right wingers who call global warming religion while they are true believers of a religion. how ironic. I'm thinking of buying and living on a farm. we need to have food if oil crisis hit.
it will b hard without beer
R. Martin Basso 3 years ago
poignant! well written!