For awhile, there have been stories (some would call them "scare tactics") about how we are going to experience a global shortage of oil; it's just a matter of time. Many people think this can't happen in their lifetime (and then, after they're dead, why should they worry about those who are still around?) but consider this:
It is now generally acknowledged that the US oil production reached its zenith in the 1970s (that was the last big oil crisis we had) and since then, we have been importing more and more oil as the US has been able to extract less and less oil, and as China's and India's demands have way outstripped ours. Our current "foreign policy" is relying on our ability to control the oil resources around the world (the Middle East, Venzuela, Mexico among others).
"...The size of world reserves is not only unknown, it's beyond our control. With that quantity fixed, the chief way for humans to stretch out the oil curve is to cut the rate of consumption. Fast-rising demand in the world's two largest countries, China and India, is said to be worsening the current oil crunch, but before we in the West point fingers, it's important to remember that one average American consumes as much oil as 35 citizens of India..." and we're not just talking about the gas for the car, but all the plastics we use in our everyday life!
"...Expensive, energy-inefficient and environmentally disastrous efforts to exploit oil and tar sands in Canada, Venezuela and elsewhere could be cranked up to full speed. The militarization of American society could become total, as the government's chief mission becomes control of oil across the globe. (The number-one target, of course, would be the Persian Gulf, where resides 63 percent of the world's remaining oil.) And we would likely exploit our large coal reserves in a big way, breaking new global-warming records as we go...."
What has not been accepted generally until very recently is that eventually, possibly as soon as within 20 years, there will be less oil to pump globally because we will have reached the world's peak production limit.
What will we do when we will no longer be able to get any oil, irrespective of price? What if you couldn't even buy gas for the fossil fuel burner at $10/gallon? I, for one, just bought a bicycle because I figure if I can't drive my car, at least I will have some way to get to work (which is 25 miles away).
Miulang
It is now generally acknowledged that the US oil production reached its zenith in the 1970s (that was the last big oil crisis we had) and since then, we have been importing more and more oil as the US has been able to extract less and less oil, and as China's and India's demands have way outstripped ours. Our current "foreign policy" is relying on our ability to control the oil resources around the world (the Middle East, Venzuela, Mexico among others).
"...The size of world reserves is not only unknown, it's beyond our control. With that quantity fixed, the chief way for humans to stretch out the oil curve is to cut the rate of consumption. Fast-rising demand in the world's two largest countries, China and India, is said to be worsening the current oil crunch, but before we in the West point fingers, it's important to remember that one average American consumes as much oil as 35 citizens of India..." and we're not just talking about the gas for the car, but all the plastics we use in our everyday life!
"...Expensive, energy-inefficient and environmentally disastrous efforts to exploit oil and tar sands in Canada, Venezuela and elsewhere could be cranked up to full speed. The militarization of American society could become total, as the government's chief mission becomes control of oil across the globe. (The number-one target, of course, would be the Persian Gulf, where resides 63 percent of the world's remaining oil.) And we would likely exploit our large coal reserves in a big way, breaking new global-warming records as we go...."
What has not been accepted generally until very recently is that eventually, possibly as soon as within 20 years, there will be less oil to pump globally because we will have reached the world's peak production limit.
What will we do when we will no longer be able to get any oil, irrespective of price? What if you couldn't even buy gas for the fossil fuel burner at $10/gallon? I, for one, just bought a bicycle because I figure if I can't drive my car, at least I will have some way to get to work (which is 25 miles away).
Miulang
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