| Peak oil theory essentially predicts that oil supplies | | | | myself." Change has always ever been made by |
| are a finite energy resource and increasing | | | | individuals. You must simply have faith in the ripple |
| demand will see it run out sometime soon. | | | | effect of your individual actions - or just lie down |
| Merely a theory? Peak oil myth? Think again. | | | | now and let the peak oil wave wash over you. |
| There is an oil peak and many experts agree | | | | First, reducing your energy use is a primary |
| about that. Do you? Bet you do! | | | | strategy. In your home, transport and things that |
| A doubling in gas or petrol prices in a year and | | | | you buy. Do you really need all that stuff? You |
| rising. Predictions of $200 per barrel of oil by end | | | | can start immediately and if hundreds, thousands |
| 2008 mean continuing pain for you every time | | | | and millions of people would act, this would have |
| you fill up your fuel tank as you stand there | | | | an immediate effect. |
| thinking what else you could spend your | | | | Second, if you cannot switch to a hybrid car or to |
| hard-earned money on. | | | | alternative fuel just yet... from today, drive more |
| Some peak oil facts | | | | slowly, maintain your car properly, keep up your |
| Why? It's simple. | | | | tire pressure, accelerate slowly, avoid doubling up |
| 1) First, oil is running out. It is a finite resource and | | | | on car trips, use a bicycle or electric scooter. |
| rising economies such as of India and China balloon | | | | Take the bus or train. Walk even! Be amazed at |
| the demand - and therefore its price. | | | | your savings and think of the greenhouse gas |
| 2) Second, burning fuels made from oil are part of | | | | emissions you save. You'll meet more people too! |
| the global warming problem so we need to use it | | | | Third, if you can switch to an alternative fuel like |
| more wisely. Carbon offsets imposed on fossil | | | | LPG, biofuel, or even diesel if you have a recent |
| fuels increase their price. | | | | energy-efficient model diesel car, do so. |
| 3) Third, it is getting increasingly expensive to find | | | | Astonishingly enough it is now even possible to |
| and extract new oil reserves. | | | | drive on a gas, Brown's gas, produced by using |
| This development means that you may well be | | | | water to make your gasoline go much, much |
| staring at a unique time in human history where | | | | further. Best of all, it's within most people's reach, |
| more people than ever can afford a car, but | | | | at little cost. |
| cannot afford to drive it. When you need it, for | | | | Fourth, if you can afford a hybrid car, or full |
| work, to drop your kids off to school, shopping | | | | electric car or even just a small modern |
| and so on, and you cannot, that hurts. | | | | fuel-efficient car, that all helps. |
| When you feel with your back against the wall like | | | | And as we live on an interconnected planet, see |
| that it finally sinks home: "Oh, no. The planet is in | | | | what energy you can save in your home too. But |
| a mess! The things I took for granted are | | | | that's for another time. |
| crumbling before my eyes. What can I do to | | | | The fifth, most important strategy? Get to know |
| survive? What can I do to help the situation?" | | | | your neighbours. Combine resources. Help each |
| How to survive | | | | other out! Individuals working together! That's the |
| Well, let's start with survival and assume that | | | | kind of climate change we need. |
| you're not one of those who say: "It is up to | | | | Here's to your success! |
| everyone else. I cannot make a difference by | | | | |