Peak Oil, Gaia, reasons to be cheerful not
Less than a year ago I watched the End of Suburbia and got familiar with the topic of peak oil, the thesis that oil availability has peaked and that the end is nigh for our fossil fuel dependent economy. Now the idea is becoming mainstream, and the RTE series of reports on 5/7 live on the subject is an excellent primer. Philip Boucher Hayes also covers Ireland's special vulnerability to shocks to the supply of natural gas. Compelling listening:http://www.rte.ie/radio1/fivesevenlive/1052492.html
Of course, from the point of view of the planet, the end of fossil fuel burning could not come quick enough. James Lovelock says we are near the point of no return in his new book, the Revenge of Gaia. All in all it is scenario that is to say the least challenging.
In terms of politics, it is interesting to note how the greens slogan Reduce Re-use Recycle , once a faintly heard murmur in alternative culture is now the accepted best practice. (The reduce bit seems to be little emphasised however).
It is a pity the Labour party (of which I am a member) is busy finding out from focus groups what prejudices of it should appeal to in order to increase its support, rather than providing visionary leadership on issues such as this. For a start it should begin a dialogue with the Greens as to some common negotiating ground to bring to the coalition negotiating table with Fine Gael.
These are the key issues of the time and Labour is muted, as it was muted on the international trade talks and the EU budget talks. Only a clear and distinct program of visionary policies will provide people an incentive to vote for an alternative government.
However a recent statement by Tommy Broughan on biofuels is a step in the right direction.
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