The biggest problem of climate change and peak oil isn't the problem of rising seas or decreased EROI. The biggest problem is the human problem, how individuals and communities react to stress, especially how they react to existential threats.
Nicholas Kristof writes in today's NYTimes,
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'H')ere’s a forecast for a particularly bizarre consequence of climate change: more executions of witches.
As we pump out greenhouse gases, most of the discussion focuses on direct consequences like rising seas or aggravated hurricanes. But the indirect social and political impact in poor countries may be even more far-reaching, including upheavals and civil wars — and even more witches hacked to death with machetes.
PeakOil is You
Scapegoating
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Scapegoating
by wisconsin_cur » Sun 13 Apr 2008, 21:01:51
and later,
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')n the United States, for example, some historians have found correlations between recessions or declines in farm values and increased lynchings of blacks.
Paul Collier, an Oxford University expert on global poverty, found that economic stagnation in poor countries leads to a rising risk of civil war. Professor Collier warns that climate change is likely to reduce rainfall in southern Africa enough that corn will no longer be a viable crop there. Since corn is a major form of sustenance in that region, the result may be catastrophic food shortages — and civil conflict.
Now he goes on to suggest an idea at how we can re-imagine food aid to help divert this kind of violence (because it will only happen over there), which strikes me as a bit myopic but I guess it is his column to do with as he wishes.
Believing that food aid may become a thing of the past in the near future, we are left with the facts that started his column, human beings may, "go tribal" and we will be left to deal with the consequences of that. It is easy to see how that might work itself out in the cities, some of our own posters who live in cities can be very doomeristic, and rightfully so. The live in the center of the turf that will be contested by tribes.
But those of us in rural areas also need to be aware. There are other groups that might be scapegoated first, but I did move here. My historic roots are in a different place. My post-peak planning includes ways to make myself important to the area and make friends, while maintaining my own sense of moral compass.
I do not want to be a scapegoat. I want to be one of the tribe. If I can do that... everything will be just fine... I hope.
http://www.thenewfederalistpapers.com
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wisconsin_cur - Light Sweet Crude
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Re: Scapegoating
by Cloud9 » Sun 13 Apr 2008, 22:34:56
If this comes to pass, I hope you look, sound, and believe like the people around you.
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Cloud9 - Intermediate Crude
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Re: Scapegoating
by wisconsin_cur » Sun 13 Apr 2008, 22:38:38
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cloud9', 'I')f this comes to pass, I hope you look, sound, and believe like the people around you.
Or enough to pass for one of them... or to be of use to them... or at least aware enough to know when to get away from them...
http://www.thenewfederalistpapers.com
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wisconsin_cur - Light Sweet Crude
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