[Ibon]

The reality of more expensive energy and the economic consequences will be the best educator to the masses, more than any documentary can do. Remember this CNN piece is being shown while everything continues to be rolling along quite smoothly. It's greatest service will be to help embed this sense of unease in the unconscious of the collective culture. Like the images of Katrina. It's not important how complete the story was or what was missing. What is important is that the fundamental logic that we are living unsustainably and that the day of reckoning is no longer far into the future was well presented. Sure, people will go back to their routines and forget about it but the underlying sense of unease will not go away. This is actually growing in our culture. Peak Oil, global warming, terrorism, along with the bird flu and the coming crash of the housing bubble market create ever greater anxieties for suburbanites to ponder while driving to work in their SUV's. That is when they are not thinking about how the hell they are going to pay down their debt and credit. Some of these fears are just myths like terrorism, used by the powers that be to prey on your fear. Others like Peak Oil couldn't be more real .

We are entering the first phase of what will lead to a huge cultural shift, for better or worse. the verdict is still out. The waiting is slowly coming to an end and events are imposing themselves. Just a short time ago the status quo seemed so solid, so intractable in its confidence of an every more abundant material life. But it is revealing itself more and more as a fragile house of cards. The culture at large does sense this in spite of their actual daily habits remaining unchanged. This cognitive dissonance on a collective level is starting to become undeniable.. When this happens change is not far away. At this point you can no longer use past cultural behaviour as a reliable guide to the future. We need some help again from reality, another jolt to move this to the next level. I wonder what it will be?

[Ache]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Leanan', 'S')omeone posted a Torrent:

We Were Warned (Torrent)

[falser]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ache', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Leanan', 'S')omeone posted a Torrent:

We Were Warned (Torrent)

[Hans]

"What I don't like is it makes the same error that Oil Storm did - that a sudden catastrophe is a requirement for an oil crisis"

Exactly my point, the growing imbalance between supply and demand can 'do the trick' without catastrophic events. A lot of programmes like this one are necessary before the general public in America and Europe wil understand this, I fear.

[Leanan]

The torrent link worked fine for me. Probably just a traffic issue.

Someone posted an alternate link upthread a bit. Try that one.

[TorrKing]

Remember that it usually take some time before torrents pick up speed. I downloaded at rates of around 500 K/s and uploaded at about 700 K/s so this torrent is really fast.

Haven't gotten the chance to see it myself yet though.

Torjus Gaaren

[Starvid]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MyOtherID', 'A')bsolutely horrible program. I wish the BBC would do something on this topic.

[Ibon]

Somehow the negative criticsms of the program seems absurd. If peak oil was a mental dilema amongst a small group of intellectual elites then many of these criticisms of course would be accurate. But peak oil is a problem of scale that effects every human being, including all those 90% who aren't yet aware of it or whose unconscious is not yet ready to hear it. Even the most cohesive factual documentary on peak oil wouldn't have changed that. Engaging the masses toward a collective cultural shift should be the main focus. It's not a choice of a CNN peak oil lite vs. a hard hitting independent or BBC documentary. It's actually all of the above, inclusive. We need all levels of documentaries on this subject covering the whole range of presentations from the beginner up to the expert, from a milder introductory presentation as per CNN to hard hitting knock you off your feet versions as well. Why are we criticizing
a documentary that two years ago we would have said never would have been possible in the mass media ?

[falser]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Torjus', 'R')emember that it usually take some time before torrents pick up speed. I downloaded at rates of around 500 K/s and uploaded at about 700 K/s so this torrent is really fast.

Haven't gotten the chance to see it myself yet though.

[LadyRuby]

I thought that overall it was very good. It could've gone further in talking about timelines, energy costs to produce other fuels, etc. But still, good information for the average person.

[Leanan]

Here's the alternate link:

http://www.mininova.org/tor/256424

The hurricane/terrorist attack thing didn't bother me. The next oil crisis is likely to be set off by something like a hurricane, a terrorist attack, or civil unrest...just as the last few have been. Of course the underlying cause will be scarcity. The oil industry has always been vulnerable to extreme weather events, political conflict, etc. The difference is, now there's not enough surplus to smooth over those inevitable bumps in the road.

[jmacdaddio]

I've got mixed opinions on this one. To CNN's credit, anything is better than nothing when it comes to trying to enlighten the masses on this. Unfortunately, there was no mention of the need to change almost everything that we take for granted. We will not commute 40 miles in Dodge Durangos powered by E-85. There isn't enough cropland to generate ethanol to power our national traffic jam as it is now, China and India's aspirations for easy motoring not withstanding. The shots of the tar sands operations, the sugar cane fields in Brazil, and the E-85 pumps in the midwest promoted the idea that technology will save us and allow us to continute our lifestyle as is.

[Taskforce_Unity]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Torjus', 'R')emember that it usually take some time before torrents pick up speed. I downloaded at rates of around 500 K/s and uploaded at about 700 K/s so this torrent is really fast.

Haven't gotten the chance to see it myself yet though.

Torjus Gaaren

[Grimnir]

EnergyBulleting is hosting a pretty negative review:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')It's a confused mish-mash. Worth watching though, for
several reasons. E.g. to see the show avoiding mention of
peak oil and the inexorable progressive decline of oil
production that will follow it. You can bet your bippy that
everyone involved in the production of the show knew a lot
about peak oil. You can bet your bippy that several of their
guests mentioned peak oil--Simmons at least. Several
utterance of "peak oil" must have wound up on the cutting
room floor. (Do they still have cutting room floors?
Probably not.) By the way, they did an excellent job of
making Simmons look like a nut.

It is interesting to ask oneself what constraint would have
kept them from allowing the show to mention the one concept
that would have given coherence and focus to the show, a
concept almost certainly well known to the producers.

David Delaney, Ottawa

[Novus]

After seeing it a few times I think CNN is trying have their cake and eat it too. In future CNN wants to be able to tell the American public when TSHSF 'hey you were warned it could happen.' 'We warned you not to drive SUVs living in the suburbs.' 'We told you E85 and tar sand can't save you or the American way of life.' But in the present they don't want to cause a major panic. If most people were peak oil aware oil would be trading above $100 a barrel. TBTB do not want the public to become aware of this thing. Overall this program's theme is along the lines of BP, Shell, Occidental petroleum advertizing. They won't speak in plain terms and tell the public how screwed they are. But they are saying enough that they can cover their asses and say to the public we tried to warn you. It is your own fault you didn't listen.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MyOtherID', 'A')bsolutely horrible program. I wish the BBC would do something on this topic.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

I think its just a starting point. I taped it and gave it to a friend (who previously probably thought I was a bit alarmist) then I got to tell her all the things they don't tell you on the show. When she watches it she will know more background than otherwise. (I was mean and didn't broach the subject till we were in the car on a 45 minute drive!!) '[smilie=iamwithstupid.gif]'

[Leanan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'Y')ou can bet your bippy that several of their guests mentioned peak oil--Simmons at least. Several utterance of "peak oil" must have wound up on the cutting room floor.

[The_Virginian]

I saw it...not impressed.

However, Matt simmons was a welcome addition. Brazil was looking good, and advanced system, and they visited a more modern farm w/ mechanical harvesters. Brazil has what we dont : Mui Rain, Mui Sunshine and the ability to grow Pure suger w/o starch conversion.

If you beleive the Brazilian Governments numbers its EROEI is 10 to 1...better than tar sands of Canada.

Woolsy was an intresting character, so wroldy yet so ignorant..driving the little hybred and a few solar pannels on his house...crying about Arabs etc.

Yah he'll make a diffrence and survive to boot!

The conclusion was we need to take action NOW or else...very pro- Corn Ethanol w/o a hard look at the facts...

[Eli]

Woosley to me came off quite well.

He knows what the hell is going on and making fun of him for driving a hybrid car and putting solar panels on his house just seems like sour grapes.

Woosley has made no secret of the oil problem we have on many occasions nice to see he is practicing what he preaches.

The show overall was mostly fluf and infotainment.

For a more fact based show I will wait until Frontline does a show on it.