Why a Conference on Peak Oil?

Email alert from Richard Heinberg

Many people are aware that something is wrong in our society. Is it our lifestyle of consumption? Growing government debt? Global destruction of the environment? Disconnection of politics from the people? Or might these be symptoms of a greater problem – our addiction to cheap, abundant oil.

“Peak Oil – the point when world oil production
reaches it’s maximum and begins to decline” – may occur within this decade. As global demand exceeds supply, oil will become increasingly scarce and expensive.

The implications of Peak Oil are profound. Oil
provides close to 40 percent of our society’s primary energy (over half of which is imported) and 95 percent of our transportation fuel. Fossil fuels are used in growing food and in making everything we buy.

“Our response to Peak Oil has major consequences for the U.S., the rest of the world and, most importantly, future generations.”

Solutions to Peak Oil range between technological miracles and conquest of the Middle East, all in an attempt to maintain the status quo. What is required instead is a rapid change to a low-energy lifestyle. Such a way of life is not only necessary, it is also highly desirable.

At this conference you will:

– Hear from leaders who have begun working on
changes in the critical areas of agriculture, cities and small communities.

– Learn how you can begin making changes in your home, life and community.

– Understand the geopolitics of oil.

Be a part of creating a vision for the future.

Conference Speakers

Richard Heinberg, a leading educator on the coming global “oil peak,” will explain the problem in detail, giving the most recent
information. He will also lead a workshop on
strategies for communities to prepare for a post-oil world.

Richard Register is a pioneer in the ecological city movement, founder of Ecocity Builders and author of Ecocities: Building Cities in Balance with Nature. He will describe a plan for restructuring urban environments in a post-oil world.

Patricia Allison has taught Permaculture design courses for more than ten years, practicing it at Earthaven Ecovillage in North Carolina. She will explain how the principles of Permaculture are vital in the transition to a sustainable post-oil society.

David Blume is a prominent organic farmer, ecological biologist, activist, and founder of the Institute for Ecological Agriculture. He will talk about the dangers of trying to extend our growth-oriented way of life using highly polluting, non-conventional oils.

Harvey Baker is founder of 25-year old intentional community, Dunmire Hollow, in
Tennessee, and longtime board member of
The Fellowship for Intentional Community.
He will talk about the role of Intentional Communities in the coming energy crisis.

Pat Murphy, Executive Director of Community Service, Inc., will talk about the need and strategy for developing a low energy society. He will illustrate this with a description of Cuba’s creative response to the loss of Soviet oil subsidies in 1990.

Agrarian Speaker (to be announced)

More speaker information at www.communitysolution.org.

What Are the Experts Saying?

“The world is producing 82 million barrels of oil a day, globally. I think that’s all we’ll ever have.…The world is fundamentally changing as far as energy is concerned.”

– T. Boone Pickens, ex-CEO Mesa Petroleum

“I expect oil to reach $182 per barrel within the decade.”
– Matthew Simmons, oil investment banker, and advisor to the Cheney Energy Task Force

According to the Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO), global oil production is expected to peak around the year 2008:

“We now find one barrel [of oil] for every four we
consume. The general situation seems so obvious.

…How can governments be oblivious of the realities of discovery and their implications…given the critical importance of oil to our entire economy.”

– Dr. Colin Campbell, ASPO president, in his testimony to the British House of Commons

“[The Middle East] is the frontline of the Third World War, a war that has already influenced every single individual in the Middle East…[and] sooner or later, it is bound to overspill and come to impinge on the lives of most world-citizens.”

– Ali Bakhtiari, Director of Strategic Planning, Iranian National Oil Company

Registration Form

Full Conference Registration

Members (by10/26) ………………………… $90

Non-members (by 10/26) ………………. $105

Members (after 10/26) …………………… $100

Non-members (after 10/26)……………. $115

Students (with ID) …………………………. $75

Includes Saturday lunch and dinner and

Sunday lunch. (Vegetarian option available.)

If providing your own meals, deduct $15.

Single Day Registration (no meals or discount)

Friday night keynote is free and open to the public

Saturday & Saturday night ………………. $70

Sunday ………………………………………….. $55

Total amount enclosed

Lodging is not included. A list of area motels and hotels will be mailed to registrants, or can be found on our website at www.communitysolution.org.

Cancellation Refund of 50 percent after 10/26.

Some partial scholarships are available.

Directions and other information will be sent upon receipt of registrant fee or can be found at our website

at www.communitysolution.org.

Online registration and secure credit card payment
are also available at www.communitysolution.org.

Make checks payable to, and send registration and check to Community Service, Inc., P.O. Box 243, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387.
Info: 937-767-2161