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Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO world?

Discussions about the economic and financial ramifications of PEAK OIL

Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO world?

Postby cudabachi » Fri 10 Feb 2006, 11:41:04

And why?

I'm sure this topic has been covered before, but since I'm new here, I'd appreciate any thoughts fellow forum members might have on the subject.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby RonMN » Fri 10 Feb 2006, 15:08:28

Welcome Cudabachi :)

This has been discussed at length and what i've gathered is everybody seems to think THEIR area will be ok while the rest of the world suffers.

The truth is, since nobody can predict the future, none of us really know. Keep your eyes & ears open & have an escape route planned.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby gego » Fri 10 Feb 2006, 16:37:12

What is the sustainable population for your country? What is the current population? Those countries with the biggest portion of excess population will have the biggest adjustment (dieoff).

I don't think it will go well anywhere. If you compare a country like Cuba which is already down in the dumps to a country like the USA, then I think the USA will have a much worse experience. This is not an endorsement for Cuban communism, but a recognition that politically they already did to themselves what oil shortage will do the the "have" countries in the future; both will have significant deaths.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby thuja » Fri 10 Feb 2006, 16:49:10

I know this has been discussed in previous threads but I'll just put in my two cents...

1 Anywhere that relies on less fossil fuels or can pare down its use of them will do better than others.

2 Richer countries will do better than poorer countries in the short term

3 Land that is near resources and has good environmental conditions (abundant rainfall, arable land, harvestable timber) will do begtter than others.

4 Countries with open, more tolerant political systems will do better than countries that are repressed and corrupt (no brainer).

Now you pick which countries those are...
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby rogerhb » Fri 10 Feb 2006, 17:49:46

Zimbabwe seems to be trying to find out what it will be like.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby Seadragon » Fri 10 Feb 2006, 23:04:59

Sweden has my vote...hands down.
Exporting oil is an act of treason"-- Heitor Manoel Pereira, president of AEPET in Brazil, January 06, 2006
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby dub_scratch » Fri 10 Feb 2006, 23:38:53

Papua New Guinea

The highlander population there are barely going to notice oil depletion.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby jaws » Sat 11 Feb 2006, 01:53:21

Peak oil is a period of rapid change for society. The countries who are the best prepared for peak oil are those whose leadership is most responsive to change. Currently that means none of them.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby Falconoffury » Sat 11 Feb 2006, 02:49:27

I would say Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden. I guess central australia where they don't use oil, and tribal cultures in Africa. Cuba might not be too bad because of all the local farming. Brazil already has a pretty strong ethanol industry, so that would lessen the blow.

Rural North America in arable regions would fare alright as long as armed gangs don't take it all over (Mad Max scenario), but we are talking a minority of land and very small minority of people with knowledge and will to live rurally in North America. Arable land, good rainfall, and low population density are the places to be post peak.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby gego » Sat 11 Feb 2006, 13:10:50

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Falconoffury', '
')
Rural North America in arable regions would fare alright as long as armed gangs don't take it all over (Mad Max scenario), but we are talking a minority of land and very small minority of people with knowledge and will to live rurally in North America.


Rural USA is already an armed gang itself, so I doubt that the worst gang from the worst city would stand even a slim chance. I bet most of the city boys would be scared to death just to spend one night in the woods, much less be able to face a high powered hunting rifle at 200 yds. Holding a 9mm glock sideways may look cool in the hood, but it would be totally ineffective in a gunfight against aimed fire or even a pointed shotgun at 50 yds.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby Kingcoal » Sat 11 Feb 2006, 14:10:49

Prior to the hydrocarbon age, alcoholic beverages were so valued, they have been used as currency going back to the beginning of civilization. In fact, the purpose of the alcohol excise tax was to move farmers away from fermenting all their grain into whiskey.

Face it, if you're starving, homeless, wet and cold what do you want to do before you die? Have sex with a lovely maiden? Not available, sorry. Eat a great feast? Also not available. Get drunk? Can be arranged. Prior to our comfortable existence our ancestors worked for food and drink. A lot of you survivalist just don't understand the state of mind. Hungry people are weak and don't really feel like fighting. Alcohol helped them keep their mind off the fact that life was nothing but suffering. Everyone drank in the old days. Preachers, ditch diggers, politicians. President Grant was constantly drunk his whole life. When notified of that fact, Lincoln said "well find out what his brand of whiskey is and I'll send him a couple cases of it."

Brewers, farmers and distillers will do very well in a post collapse society. Geographic location makes little difference.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby rogerhb » Sat 11 Feb 2006, 14:31:12

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Kingcoal', 'P')rior to the hydrocarbon age, alcoholic beverages were so valued, they have been used as currency going back to the beginning of civilization.


Alcohol can be seen as a saviour of civilisation because it meant you could still drink when the water was unsafe, because (a) you are boiling the water (b) alchohol kills lot's of nasties.

Beer is basically liquid bread.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby cudabachi » Sun 12 Feb 2006, 15:13:43

Interesting response all, and thanks!

I've been developing my own ideas about which countries will fare the best, but some of the comments here have been good food for thought.

I'll give the subject a bit more thought and then post my ideas.
Last edited by cudabachi on Sun 12 Feb 2006, 20:25:22, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby TheTurtle » Sun 12 Feb 2006, 16:15:55

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Leaf', '
')Top 5 worse nations Western Nations post peak oil

1. USA 2. The UK 3. France 4. Italy 5. Belguim -Netherlands

My top 5 Better West Nations Post peak-

1. Finland 2. Maybe Norway 3. Iceland 4. No one 5. No one



The USA is a very large country with significant political, economic, geographical and climatological differences from coast to coast. The USA has a total area of 9,629,091 sq km compared to 9,938,000 sq km for all of Europe. All 5 of the other countries in your top 5 worse nations have a combined total area of just over 1,165,000 sq km.

Given that the USA has a population of somewhere around 300,000,000, it has a population density of about 30 people per sq km which is far closer to that of your three favorite countries than it is the other 5 (which have population densities between 100 and 400 people per sq km).

I agree with you that PARTS of the USA will be survival hell after PO finally manifests itself. But there are a great many parts of the country which will fare relatively well (good climate, plenty of open spaces, arable land, good water, few people).

On the other hand, given that the gulf stream is about to shut down and a mini ice-age will soon descend on northern latitudes of Europe, I'd recommend packing lots of warm clothing to anyone who decides to move to Finland, Norway or Iceland. :P
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby TorrKing » Sun 12 Feb 2006, 16:46:37

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheTurtle', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Leaf', '
')Top 5 worse nations Western Nations post peak oil

1. USA 2. The UK 3. France 4. Italy 5. Belguim -Netherlands

My top 5 Better West Nations Post peak-

1. Finland 2. Maybe Norway 3. Iceland 4. No one 5. No one



The USA is a very large country with significant political, economic, geographical and climatological differences from coast to coast. The USA has a total area of 9,629,091 sq km compared to 9,938,000 sq km for all of Europe. All 5 of the other countries in your top 5 worse nations have a combined total area of just over 1,165,000 sq km.

Given that the USA has a population of somewhere around 300,000,000, it has a population density of about 30 people per sq km which is far closer to that of your three favorite countries than it is the other 5 (which have population densities between 100 and 400 people per sq km).

I agree with you that PARTS of the USA will be survival hell after PO finally manifests itself. But there are a great many parts of the country which will fare relatively well (good climate, plenty of open spaces, arable land, good water, few people).

On the other hand, given that the gulf stream is about to shut down and a mini ice-age will soon descend on northern latitudes of Europe, I'd recommend packing lots of warm clothing to anyone who decides to move to Finland, Norway or Iceland. :P


I agree to most of what you say. I think both Finland and Norway will become destabilized by collapsing neighbours. Iceland, could due to its isolation, fare pretty well (if they don't fish up all the fish, chop down the rest of their forest and erode the rest of their top-soil).

Many parts of the US will do good, but remember to blow up the bridges or people may use the rest of their gasoline to reach these locations.

And by the way, many parts of USA is much colder than Norway, Iceland and Finland. Have you heard about the gulf stream? :-D

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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby kerosene » Sun 12 Feb 2006, 18:18:03

"I think both Finland and Norway will become destabilized by collapsing neighbours. Iceland, could due to its isolation, fare pretty well (if they don't fish up all the fish, chop down the rest of their forest and erode the rest of their top-soil). "

I am from Finland. Our collapsing neighbor Russia has plenty of oil for itself and it has already financially collapsed once in my lifetime. Second - Finland is a handy country because all we have is forest, blanaced society and know-how. Russia has forrests for themeselves and know-how is triicky to steal. We don't even hold handy routes to water passages that Russia wouldn't already have.

Iceland with its 300 000 people population and geothermal energy will probably be fine.


h
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby cudabachi » Sun 12 Feb 2006, 18:47:25

One question that comes to my mind when discussing countries like Norway, Finland, and Iceland is what percentage of typical foods....meats, poultry, vegetables, and the like, are imported versus home-grown?

While I know the days are long during the summer months, there are basically an equal number of days with very limited daylight.

Are vegetables produced during the winter months cultivated via artifical lighting and heating conditions.....for example, hydroponics?
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby jaakkeli » Sun 12 Feb 2006, 20:07:33

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cudabachi', 'O')ne question that comes to my mind when discussing countries like Norway, Finland, and Iceland is what percentage of typical foods....meats, poultry, vegetables, and the like, are imported versus home-grown?

Are vegetables produced during the winter months cultivated via artifical lighting and heating conditions.....for example, hydroponics?


Huh? This is Finland. No vegetables are produced for half of the year.
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Re: Which countries will be best prepared for a post-PO worl

Postby cudabachi » Sun 12 Feb 2006, 20:23:43

Sorry my question sounded silly, I honestly didn't know.

So, if vegetables aren't produced for half the year, after PO is well-entrenched, can enough vegetables be produced during the summer to last for the winter?

Now a question about the farm animals. What do they eat during the winter months when the pastures are not productive? Do the animals live outdoors or are they kept in barns? Are the barns heated?
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