[ohanian]

link Michael Ekin Smyth says "Peak oil is nothing but horse dung to fool the masses"
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'P')eak oil theorists are one sub-branch of this proud line, which reaches from Malthus through the Club of Rome. All energetically pluck at slightly different strings but the tune remains the same. We must limit the freedoms of the present generation for the sake of the unborn. Otherwise, how will our grandchildren survive this or that threat?

And, who is going to dictate those limitations to our freedom? Well, those who define the problem naturally. It is an old wheeze but a good one. Dictators and authoritarians use it all the time. It is a key to power and influence and, let's face it; it's a whole lot of fun. We really do enjoy a snake-oil salesman, particularly when he posits salvation or damnation.

Where this comes from is difficult to pin down. They have the same attraction as old time preachers and, despite the odd charlatan; they are, almost always, sincere in their beliefs. Sincerity is a winning characteristic. No cynics or sceptics these, they tend to be true believers. They really do think that this or that catastrophe is about to happen, or is already underway.

But, let’s not let them off too lightly. Malthusian ideas lead to protectionism and xenophobia. Resource shortage theories lead to rule by bureaucratic fiat and repression of fundamental rights. These are not harmless cranks. Whilst amusing they are socially reactionary and can also be politically dangerous.

[eric_b]

...plonk

[Aaron]

Hmmmmm...


Michael Ekin Smyth



Michael Ekin Smyth began writing for the voice as a journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the late 70s. Beginning his career as a newspaper journalist, he became a radio and television reporter.

Following four years as a speech writer for Prime Minister Michael Somare in Papua New Guinea he was a speech writer for the Chief Minister of Australia's Northern Territory.



Moving to Europe, he became an editor in the United Nations Information Service in Vienna and also worked on local English language radio.



In the early 90s he began a four year stint writing news and speeches for OPEC. In 1996 he joined Shell International as a speech writer. In 1998 he established WordSmyth Ltd.

[Taskforce_Unity]

well how about mathematics, second law of thermodynamics, geology and basicly common sense.....

[Wildwell]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Taskforce_Unity', 'w')ell how about mathematics, second law of thermodynamics, geology and basicly common sense.....

[Cynus]

What liberties is he talking about anyway? I don't see anyone talking about taking away liberties, only urging that something be done to forestall the disaster that will indeed result in the loss of liberties. Saying, let's use the billions of dollars that are being spent to construct and maintain soon-to-be-useless highways and airports to build solar or wind generators is not taking away liberties.

[killJOY]

He even looks like a dink. I hope he has a fleet of SUVs and lives in the 'burbs.

[Jack]

Anyone with a shirt collar that fits as poorly as this Smith fellow's should be careful about mentioning horse dung. Others may connect it to his fashion sense. Which is about the same quality as his logical reasoning.

Please notice that I did not use the minor honorific of "Mr." in connection with his last name.

[some_guy282]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cynus', 'W')hat liberties is he talking about anyway? I don't see anyone talking about taking away liberties, only urging that something be done to forestall the disaster that will indeed result in the loss of liberties. Saying, let's use the billions of dollars that are being spent to construct and maintain soon-to-be-useless highways and airports to build solar or wind generators is not taking away liberties.

[Wildwell]

In big cities and new garden towns, you could put in some sort of smallish underground goods delivery system. It could work on automatic routing codes, bit like a telephone exchange - similar to stuff now in warehouses and factories. The tunnels would not be much bigger than a large sewage pipe and could carry Tv, internet and other cables too. It would have to be durable and energy efficient, but it could be done. These ‘Automatic goods traverser systems’ would be connected to some houses, factories and localised centres. The whole lot connected to larger, semi-auto electric rail served distribution centres, working in pallets and containers. Orders would be made by Internet, Call centre etc and slots would be bought and quotas allocated to manage capacity and energy. This does anyway with the need for postal services, milk delivery, couriers and moving light goods, most shopping requirements and traffic. Therefore assuming the passenger side is taken care of with light rail and trolley buses for the 90% of the population in urban areas and the other 10% have hydrogen cars I think this Horseshit problem in cities is just that. Horseshit.

[tokyo_to_motueka]

I started to read the comments attached to the article, but there are so many and some of them are very long (the author's attempted rebuttles of critical comments seem to be the longest and most tedious) that i gave up.

But really, he says in the article (which was written in rebuttle of a PO piece) that PO theorists are wacko conspiracy theorists who want to take away our freedoms. Then when a whole lot of people write in the comments (let me paraphrase): "Doh! the oil's gonna run out dude, even the oil companies have admitted it", he comes back and says: "yeah, resources deplete, but so what? technology will make this irrelevant".

so which is it mr smyth? wackos or not? oil depletion, or not?

he's a washed-up, spin-doctor who sadly over estimates his own rhetorical skills. pitiful, really

[Lehyina]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '.')... they [peak oil theorists] are socially reactionary and can also be politically dangerous.

[aahala]

Let's take what we can from Mr. Smyth's comments -- horse dung
could be a future energy source.

[JoeW]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lehyina', '
')reactionary —adj. tending to oppose (esp. political) change or reform. —n. (pl. -ies) reactionary person.

[ararboin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')nyone with a shirt collar that fits as poorly as this Smith fellow's should be careful about mentioning horse dung. Others may connect it to his fashion sense. Which is about the same quality as his logical reasoning.

[Pfish]

Dude loooooks like he has been drinking moo tuch. Nice Rooosey cheeeks and all.

[oowolf]

Smyth should hang crepe on his nose; his brain has apparently suffered a post-natal abortion.
Horse dung=great investment. I'm buying up all I can get.

[wordsmyth]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lehyina', ' ')".... May be I'm just dumb but my impression is that peak oil theorists are the opposite of socially reactionary."

[wordsmyth]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pfish', 'D')ude loooooks like he has been drinking moo tuch. Nice Rooosey cheeeks and all.

[wordsmyth]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ohanian', ' ')Michael Ekin Smyth says "Peak oil is nothing but horse dung to fool the masses"