Future imperfect (or my most depressing post yet !!)

1. eating oil


2. peak oil


3. oil and medicine


If you want to be depressed, try reading these articles which are linked above... I've touched on some of these issues in an earlier post, but I just wanted reiterate to everyone out there that our future is not looking good. For anyone living in rich countries, the second half of the 20th century looks like it was a time of fantastic prosperity, and also a time when humanity destroyed its future. This is in retrospect, of course.

These are only predictions, but they are based on some reasonable science and assumptions, based on my reading so far. The question is, what good is this information to us now?

Well, if you're a Christian or religious, and you believe that the world will be ending within the next 50 years or so, then this really doesn't matter. (Except of course for those poor saps who get left behind.)

I'm afraid that most people aren't in that category though. Either you're not religious, or you are religious and you don't really think you know when the world is going to end. Until then, I think it would be wise to consider our future whenever we make any important decisions.

A few things that we should all consider (these are stated by many other people, but it doesn't hurt to list them here on my little blog):

1. halt population growth (actually it would be better for the world population to decline considerably)
2. conserve energy
3. pray for divine intervention or an incredible technological breakthrough


#2 is a huge category, but it means things like:

- buy a hybrid or a used car, or don't use a car at all, or decrease car use, and reduce flying
- stop or reduce eating meat
- conserve energy at home (improve insulation, use less heating & air conditioning)
- spread the word
- it would also help to stop wasting energy on things like wars

It's clear that our politicians will not get it done. Unfortunately, the general public won't get it done either, I'm afraid. Therefore, the rest of us will just have to make the best of it, and try to prepare for a future with a lower standard of living (at best) or a future with a catastrophic collapse of modern civilization (at worst :)

Anyway, one of my goals is to teach my children about these things. I realize that I have already personally wasted far more energy than the average human being. My penance will be to try to improve, and to have my children do the same. If we're lucky, young Ian will be a genius who will solve the world's problems. I encourage you to do the same. Good luck ! (BTW, this is not an April Fools Day joke !)