PORTLAND PEAK OIL PRESENTS:
OREGON AT THE END OF THE OIL AGE
10am- 2pm
Saturday May 6th, 2006
Multnomah County Library
801 S.W. 10th Avenue, Portland
Prominent geologists are warning us that global oil production is now or soon will be at its highest. After that point, called the Peak, oil will become ever more difficult and costly to produce, and its production will follow an irrevocable downward slope. What will this mean for a society so dependent on this finite resource? What solutions are at hand to prevent a crisis from unfolding? Come to this important event to hear what we have learned so far and to participate in the discussion of this vital issue.
10 am: John Kaufmann, Oregon Department of Energy
John will outline what peak oil is, why it's important, expected impacts, and what can we do about it. John led Oregon's efforts to adopt the most energy-efficient residential and non-residential building codes in the U.S. and received the American Planning Association Professional Achievement Award for getting 26 local governments in the Portland metropolitan area to jointly adopt a series of solar ordinances. He is currently senior policy analyst for the Conservation Division.
11 am: David Yudkin, owner of Hot Lips Pizza
David will explain the threat Peak Oil poses to our conventional food systems and how we can instead focus on local, sustainable food production for the future. David has made great strides in sustainability, reducing Hot Lips' impact on the environment and energy systems and building valuable relationships with local farmers, producers and food purveyors.
12 noon: movie screening, The End of Suburbia
This film outlines how urban sprawl and poor planning sealed our reliance on cheap available energy, and how Peak Oil may turn every suburban street into a cul-de-sac with no way out. Discussion to follow.
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Those were the days when climate change was an adjustment of the air conditioning. The Iraq War was justified because Saddam was building nuclear weapons, or aiding terrorist, or just a bad man. Well whatever the reason was it wasn't because of oil. No we were going there to defend ourselves and give democracy to the Iraqis. Besides we had a right, as Americans beloved by God, to those oil reserves.
The bottom line is might makes right. That's why drivers of mighty SUV's laugh at the mere mortals driving compact cars, at least until gas hit $3 a gallon. There's nothing funny about paying $80 to fill your tank. But the sting doesn't stop there. Raw goods must be shipped to the manufacturer, manufactured goods have to be shipped to the consumer and many products are made of oil and oil byproducts.
The cost of oil reverberates through the economy and inflation is building momentum. But these are financial costs. The cost of America's oil addiction cut much deeper. Moral and ethical boundaries have been crossed so many times our allies don't know whether we can be trusted. In the name of a "War On Terror" we have spied on our own citizens without warrant, kidnapped, tortured and killed. Most of the victims had no ties to terrorist. How can we bring democracy to other nations while destroying it at home?
But I digress; the point I'm making is oil addiction has economic, ecological and moral consequences.
Some people think they've done their part by driving a fuel-efficient car, some like Critical Mass, go a little farther by combining activism and exercise with transportation. I think we need to take one more logical leap. When buying goods consider choices that use less oil during manufacturing and shipping.
My personal fight against oil addiction includes growing vegetables in a backyard raised bed garden. I till the soil with a spade and I use no oil to walk it in to the house. The opposite would be to go to Supermarket to buy veggies from south of the border. You don't know what chemicals or conditions they were grown in. My wife likes to mow the yard with a push mower, great exercise and lower maintenance than a power mower.
Remember all those manufacturing jobs that were shipped overseas? Well all that shipping uses a lot of oil and sends our money overseas. Global trade is one hell of a boondoggle for the oil companies. The "Free Trade" myth has made wealthy folks much richer, but most of the world, including you, me, and future generations are worse off.
If you are concerned about your local economy, global ecology or just removing the motivation for the horrendous behavior by our government, vote with your wallet. Limit your consumption. When you do need something support shops and manufacturers based locally, buy second-hand goods, plant your own garden or buy food from farmers markets, bicycle, bus, and laugh at those poor fools still driving SUV's.