by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Dependent on who you want to believe we have either already reached Peak Oil, are not far from it or have still a long way to go.
Whatever, the truth remains that oil and other fossil fuels, that is to say coal and natural gas, are finite resources and are not far from being depleted, at least the easily exploitable deposits.
Some experts, in fact, claim that we are basically well over Peak Oil by now and even the explorations planned for the Falkland Islands, aka Islas Malvinas, will not make the slightest difference, as far as our ability to have cheap transport fuel and heating oil is concerned.
Are you able to continue to drive a car when gas will be at US$15 or US$20 a gallon? I do not think so, and palm oil based bio-diesel and bio-ethanol will not help either.
The time of the internal combustion engine is coming definitely to an end and so will be the world and life as we know it, presently.
But industry and governments are not prepared to tell you that, unpalatable, to some, truth.
While this truth may be hard to swallow for some the fact remains that we will have to change our ways, especially as to personal travel and also other aspects.
The end of cheap oil, and of oil in general, will also mean a lack of aviation gas, or none at all, even, which is commercial kerosene and hence an end to cheap air travel.
As I have said, our way of life is going to change and that rather drastically and dramatically.
Many people try to tell you different and especially that politicians, regardless of country, but do not believe them. Instead prepare for what is going to come to pass.
Change to our way of life is now inevitable and it is better to fully prepare for this before it hits us; and the time for preparing for it is NOW!
Let us consider all the things that are dependent on (cheap) oil and how we can adapt.
Transportation
This is personal and goods and this is where things will end up to real different and we better start envisioning horse and cart again too. I am rather serious in that respect and also about that we will need to look at reusing the old canals of the country and also the inland waterways, if need to, be used with small barges of old even, including them to be drawn again by horses along the towpaths.
Life as we know it definitely is going top change when the oil is gone or has become so expensive that is has become unaffordable to the most of us.
This will affect all of our transport needs and for personal transport we may, nay will, have to go back to walking and cycling and if we can horses, unless there will be electric cars that ordinary people can afford.
So, I personally think that the bike and walking will be the only option for many of us, because the horse will not be the option for most of us, as keeping a horse will not be possible due to lack of space and money. I mean, come on, where do you keep horse when you live in an apartment block. Unless, that would be, that any such blocks of flats would have stable attached to them.
In rural settings this will be different, as regards using horses, and horses and carts, no doubt, and horses there may, indeed, be then in use again for personal transportation again when the oil is going or has gone.
We better start getting our heads around this now and prepare for this.
It would also be good if we changed the way that we travel now and would do more walking and cycling. The Planet and your body and health will thank you for it.
© 2010
