Somebody Pinch Me: Activists and Politicians Work Together to Take On Peak Oil
by Treehugger Interns on 01.19.07
Peak Oil seems to be an issue that really concentrates the mind. While climate change is certainly a terrifying prospect, it is still somewhat difficult for many people to grasp exactly what the melting of polar ice means for them. Tell them that gas is going to get more expensive, and you immediately have their attention.
While some ‘peak oilers’ tend to adopt a “head for the hills” mentality, predicting catastrophic social collapse, others are taking a pragmatic, community based approach. Witness our posts on community groups planning for peak oil in Portland, and in Totnes in the UK. For a concise rebuttal of the “head for the hills” position, read Rob Hopkins’ excellent “Why the Survivalists Have Got it Wrong”. Now the latest installment of Peak Moment TV, whose previous shows we have also featured here, gives us even more insight into potential community responses as it delves into the Portland Group in detail. In particular, the show explores how the group have managed to get the attention of policy makers at Portland City Hall.
The show is essentially a conversation with Brendan Finn, Chief of Staff to Commissioner of Public Affairs and Randy White, Peak Oil Task Force, Portland, Oregon. The two discuss how a small group of citizens started out talking about energy security over pizza and beer, and ended up persuading the city to set up the peak oil task force, the first of its kind for any city anywhere in the world. We also learn a little more about the issues that the task force will be exploring, and the two share advice on how groups in other cities can follow their lead. Just look what pizza and beer can do. Let’s just hope it was local and organic…
Update: the Portland Peak Oil Task Force public comment draft report is online here.
[Written by: Sami Grover]
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Preparing for Peak Oil: Local Authorities and the Energy Crisis
- Another Quote of the Day: Two Views on Polar Bears
- 5 Years From Now Peak Oil Pinch Could Devastate the UK Economy, New Report Warns
- Will the Next New Deal be Transit-Based? Three Plans to Rescue the Economy and the Earth with Public Transportation
I applaud these peoples' attention to the concerns of the business community. You don't get anywhere by alienating people when you can get them on board. A truly free market is a great equal-opportunity leveler.
The strangest thing I've seen so far in the price spike phenomena was Bill O'Reilly attacking "oil speculators" last summer, when gas prices were at their temporary plateau. To see the Billmeister ripping into free markets was a phenomenon to behold. He sounded like the Kingfish. It was kinda pathetic.
Rowan Wolf, member of the Peak Oil Task Force and contributor to the local Portland WorldChanging blog has posted details of the task force recommendations plus links to the original resolution and public comments form here:
http://www.worldchanging.com/local/portland/archives/005873.html
(link in original post above is incorrect)