[medicvet]

I am getting together a library of sorts of practical 'how to' books. Plan on getting a fireplace/woodstove within the year, and planting a spring garden. Also plan on learning how to make my own candles, not using tallow, but through other means, and am practicing sewing and mending my own stuff. My stitches are pretty good and even, but still need help making the friggin knots..very frustrating. Also want to learn to crochet..my daughter knows how, and it doesn't look incredibly difficult.

I think that knowledge of some practical tasks, as well as staying armed, are going to be very important in the future, as well as building a sense of community, both where I am, and with likeminded people around the country.

[medicvet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('retiredguy', 'A')s I see it, the only hope is to create a grassroots organization that would be large enough to be politically/economically significant.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('medicvet', '
')
Not sure who would be up to it, but I think the organization of like minded fellows formed to help each other out during and after PO would be a GREAT IDEA, and I for one would love to see it happen and would be willing to help wherever I could!

[medicvet]

Well then count me in for sure! Anyone can PM me for details.

[waegari]

I may have missed something, but there seems to be no mention of political parties in this discussion.

As for me, I could envisage an international peak oil party, say POP, much like the European Radical Party, which is a truely international party, not a conglommerate of national parties for the sake of EU government. In like manner such party could, say in Europe, set as its goal making EU citizens aware of what is ahead of them, and daring to speak out on this, wanting to discuss options on a political level, and searching for legal structures to make the transition be viable. In the meantime it could work at building a net of such parties globally.

I'm much disappointed by Dutch Green party, that is Groen Links (to be translated as Green Left, as in opposed to Right, not as in opposed to Kept ): they haven't shown any awareness about the fact that their beloved alternative energy options will simply not work within the peak oil time frame. They have no clue about the problem, let alone about the fact that the ever rising interest in biofuel will only serve to annihilate rainforests at an even faster rate than ever before.

Some weeks ago at a Berlin bookstore I leafed through the recent book (in German) by Joschka Fischer, the former leader of German Greens and the soon to be replaced German Minister of Foreign Affairs. It's a book on the international politics that's ahead of us, and though it seems to offer some interesting ideas when it comes to global warming, any awareness about peak oil is lacking. I find that rather disturbing.

I do feel that grassroots movement are indeed absolutely necessary, but also that it does also require some sort of political representation, just to have a greater chance of being effective.

And then of course, wherever you can, trying to influence media and press would not be a bad idea either.

Well, just some ideas.

[rkerver]

Macsporan: I really enjoyed your post a lot. Anything is possible and the Stars do indeed Beckon. You're one. However, about Bush <being> powerful largely because no one is challenging him... I've done nothing but oppose the SOB since before his 2000 election and have been relentless ever since. I was in the minority and now that America has woke up a little, I'm in the majority. We're going for Cheney's jugular and once he's out, Bush will only be able to limp to 2008 without inflicting any more damage.

deconstructionist:$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')color=darkblue]global community solution-- work locally (i wish i could find a job in my hometown other than waitstaff), buy locally, support local agriculture. walk more. bike more. drive less. turn down the heat in the winter, use less A/C in the summer, get to know your neighborhood and the people in it. get involved in local politics. start building grassroots democracy from the ground up. take the power back.[/color]

[waegari]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rkerver', 'N')o new parties please! I'm pushing for the progressive reform of the democratic party. In part that means voting Green in local elections, pushing further for reform, and always voting democratic in national elections. Nader screwed us all by helping the GOP defeat Al Gore in 2000. Not a second time, please!