[mikela]

Wasn't sure if this fits better as a news item...

For those of you in Western Washington (USA) there is a radio program on KUOW 94.9 (NPR) starting at 10AM PDT entitled "Oil Depletion and the Pacific Northwest." Guests are Matt Simmons and Herman Franssen. I think this is one of the call-in shows the station has every morning.

For those outside the greater Seattle area who are curious, there is a podcast/RSS feed that may be in real time: http://www.kuow.org/weekday.asp

[BabyPeanut]

Wasn't sure if this fits better as a news item...
Don't worry most of the posts here aren't news.

[mikela]

The radio program avoided discussing what might occur if a move toward a more sustainable society does not happen quickly. These speakers think a very soft landing is possible, requiring little more than a correction in the price of oil to make alternative technologies competitive. I think even they see the likelihood of a darker future, but they want to motivate us to action by giving us hope rather than having us all throw up our hands in despair.

As it turns out, the radio program was meant to coincide with a conference in Spokane, Washington entitled, "GLOBAL OIL DEPLETION & IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST." It is being held at the Davenport Hotel, costs $275 (!), begins this evening at 6PM, and continues to about 10PM tomorrow (October 5). Speakers include Matt Simmons, Herman Franssen, various industry leaders and researchers, Governor Christine Gregoire, Senators Larry Craig and Maria Cantwell, Representative Cathy McMorris, and others. More info is available at: http://capps.wsu.edu/globaloil/

There are still seats available. It's a little too pricey, distant, and short notice for me, but it might be of interest to some of you.