[Cashmere]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Threadbare', 'W')e also have the ameliorating effects of empathy, both individually and collectively, and an ability to love and form attachments. Not only that, we are social animals striving to cooperate with one another. It's this spirit of cooperation and empathy, extended beyond the species realm into the animal, plant and planetary realm, that WILL save the planet. Greed and power have gotten WAY too much play in modern corporate fascist America.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'C')ashmere, I eat granola, wear socks in sandals, and DH is thinking of getting a prius, or some really small energy efficient vehicle. I've spent lots of times having coffee, shooting the breeze with other hippies. You seem gratuitously cruel, in a world that is going to place a premium on gentle kindness. Your world view is one that has to be defeated, more than anything else.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Threadbare', 'W')e also have the ameliorating effects of empathy, both individually and collectively, and an ability to love and form attachments. Not only that, we are social animals striving to cooperate with one another. It's this spirit of cooperation and empathy, extended beyond the species realm into the animal, plant and planetary realm, that WILL save the planet. Greed and power have gotten WAY too much play in modern corporate fascist America.

[Homesteader]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Threadbare', 'W')e also have the ameliorating effects of empathy, both individually and collectively, and an ability to love and form attachments. Not only that, we are social animals striving to cooperate with one another. It's this spirit of cooperation and empathy, extended beyond the species realm into the animal, plant and planetary realm, that WILL save the planet. Greed and power have gotten WAY too much play in modern corporate fascist America.

[threadbear]

Ahh Homesteader, a Canuck, too. That's cool (frigid in the winter, even!) Are you Metis? Most of my friends are. Strange isn't it. It's not like I make them fill out an application form, before we get to know each other, over lattes in our Birkenstocks!

[Pretorian]

Jenny, I think its great that you are trying to save polar bears. Since we pretty much all agree that all bad stuff, including polar bear's extinction comes from overpopulation, why don't you do something locally about it. for example, you can find a woman of colour in need and sponsor her sterilisation surgery. Its not that expensive. As a result, anywhere from 3 to 11 hilarious personalities instead of raping Mother Earth through consumption and pollution will be sitting peacefully in non-existance , playing along with my and Angelina Jolie son which was never born since i never met her anyway.

[Smudger]

Jenny
Welcome to this rather eclectic forum - the best of British!

as a tip I find a good hot cup of tea tends to solve most problems.

And don't worry about Cashmere he's just got difficult to meet needs but really just wants to be loved (probably got his head flushed at boarding school!)

cheers
Smudger

[Cashmere]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Smudger', 'J')enny
Welcome to this rather eclectic forum - the best of British!
as a tip I find a good hot cup of tea tends to solve most problems.
And don't worry about Cashmere he's just got difficult to meet needs but really just wants to be loved (probably got his head flushed at boarding school!)
cheers
Smudger

[manu]

I am also very keen on helping the polar bears. Since they are having a hard time finding food, the best thing in the short term would be to feed them. So volunteers are needed from Monsanto, Cargil, Dupont, the Fed, bankers, lawyers, and politicians. They will be thrown out of helicopters to help save the polar bears.

[Ferretlover]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('manu', 'I') am also very keen on helping the polar bears. Since they are having a hard time finding food, the best thing in the short term would be to feed them. So volunteers are needed from Monsanto, Cargil, Dupont, the Fed, bankers, lawyers, and politicians. They will be thrown out of helicopters to help save the polar bears.

[Ferretlover]

Welcome, Gus! Please continue reading, and don't forget to check the archives when you have time.
And, please feel free to ask questions when the need arises. In between the gallows humor and the occassional dust-up, there's loads of good information here!

[GoghGoner]

Welcome. Interesting post. The future looks really grim to me but I'm no psychic.

[socrates1fan]

Hi, I'm new here.
I'm finishing up middle school and I learned about PO recently.
Once I become very interested in something nothing else matters for a few hours and I research it like a mad dog.
I am no expert and I probably don't have as much knowledge as the adults on here but I really wanted to join PO to find out as much as I could.
I don't believe it will be deadly( at least here in the US.) because there is enough farmland to feed everyone in the case of starvation but I can imagine a future where people depend on public transportation much more then they depend upon cars.
Interstates, highways, and multiple back roads will be used far less.
Steam will be used again in trains I believe and solar, wind, and biofuels power will replace a lot of things so that we can have water pumps and electricity.
We humans are witty in times of need. I do believe that people are going to have to be more resourceful in order to prevent dependence on a big box store or a country with questionable loyalty.
I do think people don't realize that gas prices are to an extant due to peak oil. I believe since we have reached about half of the world oil supply in the past century and a half that we shall be experiencing reduction.
The idea that as many Americans began to use public transport that we won't suffer peak oil seems ridiculous to me.
Unless gas becomes beyond levels of practal people are going to use it.
The environment and local suffering didn't stop people from using it before.
I think the issue is far worse than the government or oil companies wish to tell the over all public but I don't think it is a big conspiracy either.
I know people who have had to sell valuables that have been passed on in their family from as early as the civil-war so that they can pay for gas and groceries.
A lot of people here also have to choose between their mortgage and electric bill which I find very sad.
Groceries are becoming very expensive especially in grain and corn based products. Things that make up a great deal of not only my family's diet but also everyone’s diet in this region.
I think all too often we think it will pass and we pay to much tribute to past events. It always shocks me that professionals would say the things they would while scientists are telling people to be resourceful and work together to soften the blow of peak oil.
Ever since I've been trying to use gadgets less, walk more, eat healthier, eat less junk, use less water, and try and take advantage of the features in my older home. Large windows that allow air flow and natural light save a lot on the electric bill (which is supposed to be raising here soon.) and being wise about using water will also help I assume.
My family was never rich to begin with. We are lower-middle class and we have a 30mpg car and we live in an urban area so we don't have to spend a lot on gas but often we have to cross the region to visit relatives and do business(my parents work in the photo business.) and it costs us a lot to travel on interstates.
We often talk about how great it would be to have a train between so and so location and our destination so we don't have to spend as much on traveling.
Living in the city and having a yard where the landlord poured chemicals has made it impossible to have a functional garden or grow herbs and spices. Regardless if PO was here or not I want to have a garden for quality and health and I want to be more independent.
At my age I wish to continue my education until I am out of college.
My choice of major does not get me much money but i believe in the long run money won't matter.
A lot of people on here are all doomsday. The only doomers there should be is for Africa and parts of Asia because they are bound to suffer much more.
I have always had a general knowledge of Midwestern history and urbanism which is why I adore my region and couldn't leave in the face of danger. I am not about to give up Victorian row-houses and gothic steeples for endless plains and 20 year old towns.
Fortunately my region has great soil. The English actually thought the French who established many Midwestern towns were trying to hide it from them.
My aunt and uncle used to have a large garden that had green beans, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, corn, and strawberries.
I remember many times we had meals made from that great garden and it produced vegetables almost weekly.
Hard times hit the parts I lived in badly and many are unaware of the reason behind rising grocery and oil prices. I was unaware until recently.
Making ends meet my family cannot buy a plot of land out in the countryside for it costs quiet a bit and property taxes are not something we can afford.
I talk to my family often about getting a garden and my Dad encourages self-dependence amongst us.
Livestock maybe in the future but right now I think a garden would be best.
The trick is planting it and having available CHEAP food until its producing food itself.
Since I learned of PO it really made me realize the god-awful lifestyle we have. Never should we socially go backward, but our lifestyles are so snobbish. We haven't lived within our means for decades and it’s not good for us.
Since then I've improved my skills in sewing, cooking, and over all ability to scavenge when things get tight or to save a few bucks.
Unfortunately many of my neighbors know little of PO but many are turning to electric scooters and turning off lights during the day.
I believe the world will not end, but it will have to change. The world is over populated and too designed for humanity.
We need to deal with the fact that to remain here longer we must be okay with nature being in control and a society based off of ancient carbon-based life form juices is not a stable one.
Dooming won't help. We must prepare for hardships and not be so quick as to abandon fellow human for our own selfish desires.
Things will be more expensive and crime will go up but eventually things will become better, but our lifestyles will be very different.
Cars will not be gone but there shall be far less and cross country travel will be impractical.
I don't understand why the media always tries to avoid issues like PO.
Sometimes I wonder if it is in the government's best interest or oil companies?
Just my thought though.:D

[wisconsin_cur]

Welcome, please feel free to look around the freak show. There is a lot of good information but, please, if a contributer seems to be just a little off their rocker, just remember, we are just folks on the internet. Nothing more.

Sounds like your parents are good resources and that in the little time you have concentrated on the topic has paid off. Keep up the good work. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Cur

[fwboodol]

I am new here and looking to have a great time and learning experience
within your community.

[wisconsin_cur]

Let me say "welcome" I hope that you stick around a while, look around and ask if you have any questions.

I did, however, move your introduction to the Welcome forum. It is just an attempt to keep things orderly so that it is easier for people to find what they are looking for

cur

[Scout]

Ok, so I've been lurking for about 3 weeks. I have to say, I'm a bit freaked out. And overwhelmed. That's a good thing. Glad to be here. And, I must admit, I've developed a healthy crush on Aaron, Pops, Mr. Bill and Big Tex. Thanks, you guys, for your wisdom and level headedness - and the many others as well. Lots of good, practical information here. Thanks for taking the time to share.

My husband is completely freaked out about my being here, however. He doesn't agree with PO. But then again, I'm a preparer and he's a live in the moment guy. Told him not to panic until I start buying things to prepare for disaster.

I have questions about the fall of the education system. What's going to happen to the schools? Can anyone project what might happen?

[Aaron]

Welcome fellow Houstonian.

Glad to have you here.

[Cashmere]

Aaron - I think I may stand corrected.

Every time one of these Neos is ripped out of the warm fluid pod and pulled out of the Matrix I think - man, at least there's a small fraction of the population that is waking up.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'M')y husband is completely freaked out about my being here, however. He doesn't agree with PO.

[misterno]

Glad to see peak oilers from Houston.

It's ironic that most people here in houston makes a living someway or another from oil and gas and yet some of us are also peak oiler.

Funny it seems....