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Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curve

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Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curve

Unread postby mercury121 » Thu 05 Jan 2006, 23:12:08

What do you see as the benefits on being on the decline side of the energy curve? I see the possibility for local participatory democracies (where a community has members of roughly equal power) to form. I see the possibility that the gaps between the rich and poor shrinking and perhaps collapsing greatly.

I see the environoment healing. No more China imports, more organic farming, etc.

I see people becoming more independent. People will have more solar panels and wind turbines. Many will return to growing their own food.

I see communities forming closer ties and people generally getting along better with each other.

I see homeschooling becoming much more common, and homeschoolers will learn how to run their own businesses.

Of course the barriers are enormous. There will be resistance from those in power, and resistance from yourself as your gulp at what change will cost you personally.

I see changes and readjustments for every percent global energy declines.

I see people growing up to see the hidden consequences of their actions (like shopping) and taking personal responsibilty for their actions.

I see the decline in global energy to be painful but will benefit the human race and the planet in the long run.

I am sick of being negative about peak oil, I think it is time to think positively.

Just a humble rant... Brent Turcotte.
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Re: Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curv

Unread postby SinisterBlueCat » Thu 05 Jan 2006, 23:54:53

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('tinosorb', '
')
I see people growing up to see the hidden consequences of their actions (like shopping) and taking personal responsibilty for their actions.


I am not sure that this will ever come to pass.


and there you have it. Sadly, I have to agree with tino.
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Re: Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curv

Unread postby AmericanEmpire » Fri 06 Jan 2006, 03:12:36

The end of cell phone yacking, SUV driving idiots.
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Re: Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curv

Unread postby sameu » Fri 06 Jan 2006, 05:11:11

no more fat chicks! no more stupid fashion hypes!

I agree about the solar panels. My guess is when there is a solar breakthrough, as in reduce costs so everyone will be able to purchase one or more, we as a society will survive more or less.
It can be done, it must be done.
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Re: Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curv

Unread postby lardlad » Fri 06 Jan 2006, 06:13:59

I see almost everyone electing to have one or no children.

This will be the most profound change of all, radically altering the world in 100 years.

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Re: Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curv

Unread postby Battle_Scarred_Galactico » Fri 06 Jan 2006, 06:23:09

We'll lose the ability to destroy the environment on such a huge scale. That's the only positive thing I can think of.
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Re: Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curv

Unread postby Jake_old » Fri 06 Jan 2006, 08:33:53

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 't')inosorb wrote:


$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') see people growing up to see the hidden consequences of their actions (like shopping) and taking personal responsibilty for their actions.

I am not sure that this will ever come to pass.




and there you have it. Sadly, I have to agree with tino.


I see those who fail to see why we are where we are will suffer the most pain. In a way this is kind of divine justice.

However I was guilty at one point of mindless consumption, so who am I to judge.
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Re: Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curv

Unread postby SinisterBlueCat » Fri 06 Jan 2006, 12:20:02

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RedJake', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 't')inosorb wrote:


$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') see people growing up to see the hidden consequences of their actions (like shopping) and taking personal responsibilty for their actions.

I am not sure that this will ever come to pass.




and there you have it. Sadly, I have to agree with tino.


I see those who fail to see why we are where we are will suffer the most pain. In a way this is kind of divine justice.

However I was guilty at one point of mindless consumption, so who am I to judge.


who was judging? Not me anyway. If I look in the mirror and say, yep, I have a big nose...this is just stating a fact, not judging other people with big noses.
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Re: Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curv

Unread postby mercury121 » Fri 06 Jan 2006, 20:07:15

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')i]I see people growing up to see the hidden consequences of their actions (like shopping) and taking personal responsibilty for their actions.

I am not sure that this will ever come to pass.


Some people like me and you do see the hidden consequences and take action at least in part. Granted in a culture based on consumerism we are not common. But I believe our numbers will grow. How far they will grow no one can say and they could well shrink in the renewables age.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') think that living a radically simplistic life among like-minded individuals would darned well be utopian. But, I have searched all over this forum and I scarcely find any like-minded individuals. The very large majority of posters have kids, still eat meat, still drive (some more than one vehicle, some hideously destructive vehicles), still have big houses, massive beer guts and lots of excess poundage, and so forth.


Try the Simple Living Network forums http://www.simpleliving.net/forums/default.asp

I have seen many inspiring personal accomplishments on this website. People who are voluntarily car-free, people who achieve financial independence, one couple tried giving up products from China for a year, people who give up their TVs, people who minimize spending during the holidays, people who turn their thermostats way down, people who declutter their homes to achieve dramatic results, people who voluntarily reduce work hours for more leisure, etc.

No one is doing everything but people who are into simple living are making positive changes their lives. I see simple living as a way for everybody to make a difference. If you want to improve the world start with yourself.

Some things I have done: bought a Toyota Echo (small compact car) instead of a larger vehicle, bicycle to work most days from the spring to the fall, installed insulation in the basement, bought a small house with no intentions to move up (if I move up -- it will be just one more room, for our kids), do not leave the car running for more than 30 seconds before going in the winter, limit my consumption of meat, generally frugal with purchases, installed compact fluorscent lights throughout the house (all but two light fixtures), turn off my computer after every use instead of leaving it on all the time, unplug the freezer in the winter, do not go on long trips (usually within a fifty mile radius), and more.

This list is modest, I can do better and plan on it. Some things I have trouble with, I haven't kicked my long shower habit and I couldn't dream of turning my thermostat way down. I dream of becoming energy independent but it seems like a distant dream at the moment. I also worry a bit about our long term ability to pay off our house if peak oil happens soon.
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Re: Benefits to being on the decline side of the energy curv

Unread postby SeasonOfPain » Sun 08 Jan 2006, 01:00:17

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('lardlad', 'I') see almost everyone electing to have one or no children.

This will be the most profound change of all, radically altering the world in 100 years.

Oh, how I wish that were true. Unless forced to, most people will mindlessly breed until their equipment stops working.

In fact, considering their "energy slaves" will be gone, average birth rates (per couple) may actually increase. This at least seems more practical than squirting out a few offspring because it "personally fulfils you", or some such rubbish.

I'm as guilty as anyone of clinging to the dying ways, especially WRT technology. I'll surely miss programming, playing videogames, and recording music. On the bright side, maybe I'll finally get good at playing acoustic guitar. :)
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