[jkritch]

Hello everyone. I'm writing a research paper for English101. The topic I chose was Peak Oil. My paper is going to outline peak oil, its effect on the economy, America's involvement in global oil production and consumption, alternative energies and what can be done to prevent further certain apocalyptic events. I also thought I'd touch base on the United States occupation of Iraq seeing as it might have something to do with petroleum. Anyway, I have my Argument of peak oil, but the problem is I need a few counter argument. Does anyone know where I can find information in support of the use of oil and against alternative energies? Not just these, but any other counter argument against any of the ideas i've proposed would greatly help me. Thank you!

[ReserveGrowthRulz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jkritch', '
')Hello everyone. I'm writing a research paper for English101. The topic I chose was Peak Oil. My paper is going to outline peak oil, its effect on the economy, America's involvement in global oil production and consumption, alternative energies and what can be done to prevent further certain apocalyptic events.

[coyote]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ReserveGrowthRulz', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jkritch', '
')
I also thought I'd touch base on the United States occupation of Iraq seeing as it might have something to do with petroleum.

[ReserveGrowthRulz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('coyote', '
')Wild speculation? You're kidding, right? Do you actually believe that we would ever have bothered with Iraq in the first place if it weren't in the middle of an oil-producing region whose political stability is vital to our national security (too bad we screwed it up so badly...)? All the way back -- would 'Desert Shield' have ever happened if oil were not a primary concern? Nearly everything we do in that part of the world has something to do with oil...

[seahorse]

jkritch,

In reading the responses you are getting, you have to understand the people who are responding to you.

Keep in mind that Reservegrowth does believe that world oil will peak and also believes that forecasting a peak in world oil production is not a waste of time. In fact, Reservegrowth has said 2015 is as good a date as any for a peak in world oil production. Does that make him pessimistic? If so, what does it mean to be pessimistic?

As you can gather from his posts, Reservegrowth disagrees that a peak in world oil production means the end of the world where we all start shooting each other. In fact, he chose the screename "reservegrowth" bc he believes that "reservegrowth" in oil reserves will lessen the effects of a world oil production peak and allow the world to change to another energy source or sources. Now, he can't tell you what those sources are, or how much they will cost, and who will pay for them, but historically, societies have found solutions, so shall we.

So, keep in mind that in trying to understand peak oil, definitions all aspects of peak oil are very important, the technical terms are difficult even amongst the "insiders" and also the social terms are difficult to define, like who is a pessimist and what will the ramnifications of peak oil be, if any.


Reservegrowth is right, that historically people have cried wolf about oil depltion, but even Reservegrowth acknowledges that some day world oil will peak, and he thinks as early as 2015, which is a fairly pessmistic date for peak oil. Therefore, its not crying wolf, society must change, the President of the United States is calling for change, and thank goodness you are interested enough to listen and try to understand. Only through understanding the issue, defining the problems, is there any hope that Reservegrowth is correct, that peak oil will not be economically catastrophic.

There are several government reports which are interesting reads: one is known as the Hirsch report to the Department of Energy, February of 2005, called "Mitigating the Effects of Peak Oil." There was a more recent report by the US Corps of Engineers. I can't recall the name of that but it can be found on several websites. I know there is a copy on the Oil Depletion Analysis Center website (ODAC for short). There is also a member on this site called TaskforceUnity that has a very comprehensive model with information on world oil peak. If you search for him and send him a PM, I'm sure he will link you to his report which is online.

[jkritch]

Right now I'm studying from a few books which I'm sure some of you are familiar with. The list goes: Hubbert's Peak ny Kenneth Deffeyes, Blood and Oil by Micheal Klare, Foreign Oil Dependence by numerous authors and a few alternative energy books. Right Now I feel really unsure of where I stand on counter arguments for this paper. It just seems like peak oil is a KNOWN problem and the things to be done about it are all positive. Would could be said that supports petroleum consumption or negates the idea of funding alternative energy resources as opposed to funding more oil drilling. I don't have to use just these arguments. Any ideas on other arguments I could throw in the mix that could be relative to this paper? I'm very appreciative of any of the help provided by you guys. This English class is huge for me. I'm planning on an English Major transfer to UCLA. LOL GL

[UIUCstudent01]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jkritch', 'R')ight Now I feel really unsure of where I stand on counter arguments for this paper. It just seems like peak oil is a KNOWN problem and the things to be done about it are all positive. Would could be said that supports petroleum consumption or negates the idea of funding alternative energy resources as opposed to funding more oil drilling.

[shakespear1]

It is good that you are tackling this issue. There is a lot of info on this website to give you both sides of this issue.

This will be THE ISSUE of your graduation class as the reprecussion will be felt by your class as you are about to want to start a family.

[bart]

One suggestion (and I think I'd make this for ANYONE writing about peak oil):

Don't try to cover too much!

Pick one aspect of PO that particularly interests you, or that you know about.

Surprisingly, you can communicate your ideas about PO much more effectively this way than if you take on the whole mess directly.

[Doly]

I'd say all the counter arguments are likely to be on the lines of the alternatives not being great. You can't really say that we should consume more oil, mostly because it isn't even physically possible.

[jkritch]

So I can counter argue that peak oil is a myth and alternative energies aren't so great.

[UIUCstudent01]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jkritch', 'S')o I can counter argue that peak oil is a myth and alternative energies aren't so great.

[jkritch]

Sounds good guys. Thanks so much for the info so far. I'll keep you updated on how my paper is turning out. I'm going to go work on it right now

[killJOY]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')ell...not according to the people who started it anyway...but there is nothing wrong with extreme conjecture in most English classes I've ever taken, [sic]most of the time getting the comma's[sic] in the right places seems more important than wild speculation.

[jkritch]

here is a rough outline of my paper. tell me if you guys think im missing anything that would be important to my argument. im going to be agreeing with peak oil. im still sketched about counter arguments

I. Intro - Peak Oil
A. Define Hubbert's Peak
1.The Origin of Oil
B. Predictions
1. The Future of Fossil Fuels
2. Alternative Energies
C. Counter-Arguments
1. Against Peak Oil
2. Alternative Energies Negatives
D. Thesis
II. Support - Global Petroleum Statistics
A. Leading Oil Production Countries
B. Leading Oil Consumption Countries
C. U.S. Energy Use and Population
1. Past, Present & Future
D. Petroleum and Gas Reserves
III. Support - Foreign Oil Dependence
A. U.S. Energy Dependence and War
1. In Support
2. Against
3. Bush Administration Energy Strategy
4. American Alliance with Saudi Arabia
5. Geopolitcs
B. U.S. invasion of Iraq to Control Oil Reserves
1. In Support
2. Against
IV. Support - Alternative Energies
A. Sun
B. Wind
C. Water
D. Earth's Core
E. Life
F. Stars
V. Support - Counter-Arguments
1. Peak Oil
A. Myths/Fallacies
2. Alternative Energy vs Petroleum
A. Positives/Negatives
VI. Closing - Final Thoughts
1. Personal Thoughts
2. Perosnal Predictions
3. Closing Argument/Conclusion

[killJOY]

That's for English 101??? That's a tall order.

How many pages do you have?

In my own English 100 class, I'm required to assign papers of 5-8 pages. You have enough material there for a Master's thesis.

[jkritch]

BTW, Anyone know where I can find informating against alternative energy use. Google.com has not been my friend today

[UIUCstudent01]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jkritch', 'B')TW, Anyone know where I can find informating against alternative energy use. Google.com has not been my friend today