the natural cycle of things

Many of the challenges we face today are results of our abandonment of the natural cycle of things. We've been lucky to live during the cheap energy bonanza, but let's face it; without a supply of cheap energy, our entire way of life is unsustainable. Recent studies confirm that we're using 1.5 earths supply of resources, and the population continues to grow.
Our use of these ancient gifts has enabled vast leaps in the quality of life, but it has also put strain on our environment and encouraged us to believe that anything is achievable when the facts tell us otherwise.
Change can be difficult, but it's also inevitable. We've survived this long because we've adapted, and we'll continue to do so. However, we have to reconsider every aspect of how we organize life and get back to something that earth says we can handle. Don't think of it as giving something up, but rather a recognition that we are just another part of the cycle of life, and the best path is one that rides within it's place in this world.

This is what climate change looks like

Hot enough for you? The MissouriNet reported this week that it looks like the worst summer since 1988 - the last period of prolonged drought we've had in recent history. Not surprising, after the mild winter following repeated years of record temperatures. Communities are canceling Fourth of July fireworks celebrations as wildfires rage around the country. Scientists say that this is what climate change looks like. We've had examples this year that eerily follow computer models for climate change. More moisture at inopportune times (spring planting season and fall harvest season), with longer periods of drought inbetween. Spells trouble for anyone who likes to eat - growing food just got a lot harder.
Not like we didn't have enough problems already.
The end of cheap energy is putting pressure on all of our systems - finance notably playing out in markets around the world. Some are pointing to rising oil and gas stocks as an example that we have ample supply, but that ignores the myriad of other issues at play. American oil use is down - and that's partially because high cost is driving some to conserve or leave the market. The glut is reducing prices - good for us, but bad for producers. You see, the surge in supply is coming because high prices support new techniques and riskier conquests. Tar sands and deep water is very expensive to produce, and falling prices only ensures that some of that will become uneconomical.
We're seeing it already with natural gas. The president of EXXON admitted "we're losing our shirts" on gas this week. The recent boom in shale gas drilling has produced a surplus - which lowers the price. Unfortunately, that means it becomes unprofitable, and many wells are now being abandoned.
All of these issues are related - we're creating more problems with climate change by continuing to burn fossil fuels. We're running out of cheap, available resources and the economy requires growth to pay for expansion. While higher prices enable new solutions, they also destroy demand, because we're already stretched too thin. And so we teeter on the edge, with boom and bust looming overhead.
Meanwhile, lives and homes burn, farms go bust, cities are flooded and landscapes torn apart. All because the Ameican way of life is non-negotiable.
And the meek shall inherit the earth.

Hot enough for you?

I've been meaning to post a few of these links lately, but I keep getting sidetracked on projects. It seems people are starting to figure out somethings wrong with the climate. Remember that awesome early spring? It's been followed by an early summer drought - and it's not even June. Farmers say if we don't get rain soon, you can kiss this year's crop goodbye.
That got me thinking, and then I read this article today about food. It's more important than you think.

End of growth

I watched bits of Meet the Press this morning between heavy rain showers and I am astounded by the Republican message. For the next six months, they'll say that the presidents policies aren't working and if we only return to Republican leadership, growth will once again be possible. The Bush tax cuts that kick-started the worst recession since the Great Depression are necessary (for the rich) and it's too much regulation that that is stifling growth (anybody think Wall Street needs less supervision?). The middle-class just needs to give a little more to corporations and wealth will rain down like West Texas Crude. 
And if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you.
Are we really that dumb?
Sadly, we may be. No doubt the economy is still weak, and if you understand how we use energy, it's not likely to improve. The big myth that Republicans are selling is growth. That if we make things easier for business, growth will return which will lead to jobs and retirement income. Only it won't. We've seen the end of growth. We have too much population on a finite planet with a system that requires infinite growth to sustain itself.
Game over.
There were some really great articles this week on Energy Bulletin, and I'll try to start linking more often. This one explains the difficulty with our economy, and why a steady-state economy is the only option.  The Archdruid has been doing some great analysis on the intersect of our nation's history, policy and strategy, and he mentioned another subject that is suddenly back in the news. Global warming has taken a backseat to the economy, and yet, recent reports suggest massive methane plumes from melting Arctic ice. These are things predicted by the climate scientists - remember, the alarmist science people who predicted most of the changes we're seeing in our climate?
Something else we've forgotten about - the Gulf oil spill. You probably figured that was all cleaned up, right? Just this week, authorities in Alabama shut down shrimping and fishing along the coast after fishermen and inspectors reported deformed and sickened sea creatures.
Keeping this charade going is the last thing we need. If you think the presidents policies aren't working, it's possible. If you agree with Republicans - that we need more tax breaks for the wealthy, fewer programs for the poor and less regulation for corporations - then you've been duped.
No one we elect is going to lower energy prices, or create jobs or save social security. No one is going to magically grow an economy that is already struggling against constraints. If you vote for someone because they promise you the sky, then who is to blame when it comes crashing down?
My hope is that we've heard enough to know we've heard it all before. It's time to send a message that we're serious - and we expect our leaders to be.

oops, there it is

While Republicans were busy blaming Obama's energy policy for the high cost of filling up their SUVs, an interesting article appeared in the KC Star last week. An AP study found no correlation between domestic drilling and the price of gas. Despite lagging demand and higher production than previous years in the U.S., the price of oil continues to rise. Pop!
That's the sound of delusions deflating.
Suddenly, all of those conversations about peak oil ring true. Global demand is what drives prices, and physics rule. Supply is only available at a premium price - it costs a lot of money to build pipelines to ship ecocidal tar sands to Asia. (oh, you thought that was OUR oil?)
Clearly, it's well past time to talk about alternatives to oil. And it's time to write a letter to our grandchildren. We can't undo the damage we've done. We can only start to do things the right way.

the downward slope

Here's the one thing you need to understand about gas prices. They will continue to rise because global supply has peaked. There's nothing we can do to change that. It's time to have serious discussions about how we use energy.

$5 gas

Gas prices continue to rise and we're hearing all the normal crazy talk about lowering prices. Of course, lower prices would be a boost the economy, but the dangerous thing with seeking lower priced oil is that solutions ignore the fundamental causes. Already, Republicans are blaming Obama's energy "attitude" for the price increase and people are fervently repeating calls to drill more, burn more, mine more, use more.
We can't grow our way out of a resource problem. The lack thereof is the problem.
The first step is to understand why gas is getting more expensive. Then get busy finding ways to use less.
Oh, and for all those who seem to think burning endless amounts of fossil fuels has no effect on the planet - everything has consequences.