by Carlhole » Fri 15 Jun 2007, 20:58:03
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'O')h don't be like that. I posted this thread because I thought it was a cool Latin phrase to answer to all the 'relocalize' and 'mitigation' folks. The 'Oil Depletion Protocols' and all that. Let me ask you something, Carlhole: don't you find this current situation to be utterly absurd?
Yes. But unlike the Doomers, I don't pretend to know how the future will unfold.
It's fashionable here on PO.com to be something of a Luddite and to trash technology and all that. Most of them just seem to be endlessly contributing the tired, puerile idea that arrogant humanity will self-destruct and it will be a very good thing for the Earth and its ecosystems. I sort of agree that a depopulation would be desirable.
But even when you start talking in terms of new human-environment equilibria, you are still met with round condemnation by people on these boards who DO know the future beyond any shadow of a doubt whatsoever and the future is "The End Of The World, GODAMMIT, No Ifs Ands Or Buts!"
The go-it-aloners seem very misguided in their responses to the threat of PO, because any self-sufficient homesteads will simply be overrun, given the conditions they are preparing for. Haven't they ever read any early European history?
But I have a great deal of respect for human inventiveness. I look at Einstein's famous equation E = MC*C which represents an awful lot of energy. It's been estimated that 6 pounds of sunlight falls on the Earth every day, just to give you an idea of the quantities of energy implied by that formula. And it has not been disproven that converting the energy in matter to direct use is out of reach or beyond the intelligence of human beings.
I view Peak Oil as a tremendous threat that will have to be dealt with on pretty much a world-wide basis. It has tremendous political and military implications - which is why I concentrate on energy geopolitics, the Iraq War, 911, etc.
So I'm in favor of real leadership that galvinizes and coordinates the world's best and brightest to develop solutions to the looming crisis. It may turn out that there will have to be a de-population of some degree. I don't know - I don't pretend to know the future.
I just look at the the developing crisis and watch it play out. I've reached an age where I'm sort of philosophical about life and death - you know? I've kind of fully experienced the Being-Carlhole thing whether I kiss it goodbye next year or 30 years from now.
Bit of pain, bit of fear, what the fuck...