EnergyBulletin listed three outstanding articles which point out the direct relationship between Minneapolis, Iraq (and other nations we import energy from) and the energy we use.
Here they are: "Our Faith-Based Energy Policy" by Tom Mast, a mechanical engineer who has worked in the oil industry and also published "Over A Barrel: A Simple Guide To the Oil Shortage." http://inthefray.com/html/article.php?sid=1348 "A Way Out of Iraq: Relocalize Economic Life" by Aaron G. Lehmer, Published by The Post-Carbon institute. http://www.postcarbon.org/node/1335 "Tools With A Life Of Their Own" by Richard Heinberg (author of "The Party's Over..." and "Powerdown...") Not available in full, but in part at: http://www.energybulletin.net/10527.html To summarize: Today's market price fluctuations are secondary issues, or symptoms of the real problem. The problem we need to attend to is that oil and natural gas are going to be much more difficult to find, extract, process, and move to end-users from here on out. As demand rises and supply diminishes and becomes more problematic, all of our alternatives are too unreliable, expensive, or too polluting to make up the growing gap. Relying on the comments of Colin Powell's former State Dept Chief of Staff Lawrence Wilkerson, Lehmer discusses the fact that the US military's longstanding plans to occupy and secure the oil supply of the Middle East is in serious trouble. Iraq has shown that we are willing to kill for oil while --according to Wilkerson (also a retired colonel) we are unwilling to work at changing the petroleum/fossil fuel foundation of our economy. As the rest of the world becomes more angry, the USA follows a policy of increasing brutality to take these assets by force. Localization of agriculture and many elements of industry within bioregions is already helping to free us from petroleum overuse. This is the single most immediate and effective peace activism in which American citizens can engage. Divorcing ourselves from cars by developing rail transport, mass transit, and walk-able, bike-able communities as well as telemarketing are a key part of localization. The alternative, according to Wilferson (echoing George Kennan post - WWII --is that we will be required to use increasing brutality to maintain our position of disparity in relation to the rest of the planet. Heinberg summarizes our predicament well: We became addicted in as naive way to fossil fuels, and now we need to put ourselves into treatment. Developing strategies for post-carbon cities will be crucial to our quality of life -- and even to survival for many. We can choose. So, fellow Minneapolitans -- who wants to connect the dots and act locally? How can we educate, inspire, and transform our city into a model of the city of the future? Let's talk in this forum, talk to our elected officials, and organize! --pedaling off to two or three jobs today from Lynnhurst, Gary Hoover REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
