Russia won't renew Kyoto Protocol: Voice of Russia

Russia won't renew Kyoto Protocol: Voice of Russia: "Russia decided to discontinue its participation in the protocol because the world’s major producers of greenhouse gases – the United States, China and India – are still refusing to commit themselves to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

'via Blog this'

Robert Newman - The History of Oil

Exponential Economist Meets Finite Physicist | Do the Math

Exponential Economist Meets Finite Physicist | Do the Math: "Alright, the Earth has only one mechanism for releasing heat to space, and that’s via (infrared) radiation. We understand the phenomenon perfectly well, and can predict the surface temperature of the planet as a function of how much energy the human race produces. The upshot is that at a 2.3% growth rate (conveniently chosen to represent a 10× increase every century), we would reach boiling temperature in about 400 years. [Pained expression from economist.] And this statement is independent of technology. Even if we don’t have a name for the energy source yet, as long as it obeys thermodynamics, we cook ourselves with perpetual energy increase."

'via Blog this'

Capitalist economists are lying left and right

From Capitalism To Democracy: "“The vocabulary of physics is amoral—not antimoral, but amoral. Mass, force, and velocity have no moral implications because the laws describing them have no alternatives. The vocabulary of economics, in contrast, abounds in ethical terms. It is impossible to define ‘good,’ ‘service,’ or even ‘utility’ without making ethical judgments. Every object has mass, but not every object has utility. Moreover, some people may consider a certain object a good while others do not, but there can be no disagreement about the equivalence and direction of action and reaction. There is no other or better way for a body to fall in a vacuum than v(t)=-gt+vo y(t)=-1/2gt^2+vot+yo; this is not because physicists don’t happen to be interested in making this a better world. There is no unchanging price for a bushel of wheat; and this is not because economists don’t happen to be interested in a stable universe. The price of wheat depends upon what people do, but bodies fall as they do regardless of what people do or think... Economics is not value free, and no amount of abstraction can make it value free. The econometricians’ search for equations that will explain the economy is forever doomed to frustration. It is often said that their models don’t work, because, on the one hand, the variables are too many and, on the other, the statistical data are too sparse. But the physical universe is as various as the economic universe (they are, to repeat, both infinite), and Newton had fewer data and less powerful means of calculation than are at the disposal of Jan Tinbergen and his econometrician followers. The difference is fundamental, and the failure to understand it reduces much of modern economics to a game that unfortunately has serious consequences.”
—George Brockway, 1995"

Economics is the publishing of political agendas that are hidden within known-false assumptions. If one accepts these assumptions, then one accepts the hidden agendas. This brilliant method for subliminal programming has been very effective in instilling libertarian ideals into university students for half a century. 
—Jay Hanson

How do humans allow their civilization to fail?

From Capitalism To Democracy: "What were the Easter Islanders thinking? What are you thinking right now?"

Campaign for free public transport spreads to Bulgaria

Hello this group will be initiated the creation of a wider organization fighting for free or public transport (GT) in Sofia. The main tool of G. T. to be accessible to all who need it. The current system of charging citizens that restricts access while revenue from the sale of cards and tickets are insignificant against the backdrop of subsidies and compensation to the Center for Urban Mobility (TSGM) receives.
Our alternative is available (free) public transport, funded entirely by the public - taxpayers, accessible to all citizens and guests of Sofia - no restrictions!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/122546727901866/

Rio+20 Kari-Oca 2 Declaration: The Green Economy is a Crime Against Humanity and the Earth

Rio+20 Kari-Oca 2 Declaration: The Green Economy is a Crime Against Humanity and the Earth: "The Green Economy is nothing more than capitalism of nature; a perverse attempt by corporations, extractive industries and governments to cash in on Creation by privatizing, commodifying, and selling off the Sacred and all forms of life and the sky, including the air we breathe, the water we drink and all the genes, plants, traditional seeds, trees, animals, fish, biological and cultural diversity, ecosystems and traditional knowledge that make life on Earth possible and enjoyable.

...This inseparable relationship between humans and the Earth, inherent to Indigenous, Peoples must be respected for the sake of our future generations and all of humanity. We urge all humanity to join with us in transforming the social structures, institutions and power relations that underpin our deprivation, oppression and exploitation. Imperialist globalization exploits all that sustains life and damages the Earth. We need to fundamentally reorient production and consumption based on human needs rather than for the boundless accumulation of profit for a few. Society must take collective control of productive resources to meet the needs of sustainable social development and avoid overproduction, overconsumption and overexploitation of people and nature which are inevitable under the prevailing monopoly capitalist system. We must focus on sustainable communities based on indigenous knowledge, not on capitalist development."

Cars sales breaking records

Car sales drive economy around the world | Marketplace.org: "Carmakers are nearing the finish line for 2012, and they're closing in on a record year in sales. Never before have annual sales surpassed 80 million vehicles around the world, but they're on track to reach that milepost by year's end."

'via Blog this'

Capitalism and fossil fuels, a deadly mix

Since the IPCC was founded in 1988, two things have risen steadily, talk about reducing carbon emissions, and carbon emissions.

There has been a lot of success in developing sustainable energy alternatives, but due to the nature of capitalism, the only purpose they have served has been to reduce the price pressure on fossil fuels.

There is a path we can take that can prepare us for the post capitalist era. We can start now by changing away from car culture.

Nothing is worse than sprawl for social fabric

New research confirms central-city comebacks | Kaid Benfield's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC: "Nothing has been worse for our environment or, I would argue, our social fabric than the unbridled suburban growth that sprawled across our landscape in the second half of the 20th century, sucking investment and life out of our cities."

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Carbon emissions continue to rise as politicians talk. Time is running out.

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Run Rampant at the State Level – EcoWatch: Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Run Rampant at the State Level – EcoWatch: Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement: " in the aggregate, sub-national subsidies transfer billions of dollars per year to fossil fuel industries just like their federal counter-parts. They are additive to federal supports, further distorting the economics of specific projects and investment incentives across energy options. This review also illustrates that not only are subsidies purposefully targeted to oil, gas or coal large, but that the fossil energy sector captures a significant share of more general state incentive programs as well.    "

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Controlled #degrowth is the only way to save the human race

You Can't Say That!: " the real choice we face, is not between climate protection on one hand and economic growth on the other. It’s between planned economic contraction (with government managing the post-carbon transition through infrastructure investment and useful make-work programs) as a possible but unlikely strategy, and unplanned, unmanaged economic and environmental collapse as our default scenario."

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The one chart about oil's future everyone should see | Energy Bulletin

The one chart about oil's future everyone should see | Energy Bulletin: "With high oil prices and the hottest new technique unable to move the needle on worldwide production of crude oil, we should look at Glen Sweetnam's chart with considerable concern. We should ask ourselves whether it is wise to base energy policy on the fantasies of industry and government forecasters. Perhaps we should focus instead on the trends and data we can verify and prepare ourselves and our economies for a world that may not have the copious amounts of oil that the industry is promising."

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Split in 1% continues to widen over #climate

Senator says #climatecliff a greater moral obligation than #fiscalcliff

Insurance industry, oil industry, interests diverge on #climate

Climate change taken seriously by insurance industry, study says - latimes.com: "Paying out billions of dollars here and billions of dollars there has made the global insurance industry a believer in climate change, according to a new study that shows insurance companies are staunch advocates for reducing carbon emissions and minimizing the risk posed by increasingly severe weather events."

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Public Transportation Benefits

Public Transportation Benefits: "Public Transportation Saves Fuel, Reduces Congestion

• Access to bus and rail lines reduces driving by 4,400 miles per household annually.
• Americans living in areas served by public transportation save 796 million hours in travel time and 303 million gallons of fuel annually in congestion reduction alone.
• Without public transportation, congestion costs would have been an additional $17 billion."

The dirty secrets of "clean" energy

EconoMonitor : EconoMonitor » Green Illusions: The Limits of Alternative Energy: "Are solar, wind, and other alternatives the magic bullets that will solve the world’s environmental and energy problems? Take a closer look, says Ozzie Zehner in Green Illusions . Zehner not only argues that green energy has technological, environmental and economic limits, but also that without an appropriate policy context, some forms of alternative energy could do more harm than good."

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Democracy is not an option

Cartoon by Carlos Latuff

Falling EROEI, combined with unfettered capitalist competition means that climate change will be ignored, and democracy is not an option that the 1% will seriously consider.

Bill McKibben: "Make mass transit free"

Bill McKibben: Think About the Transportation Sector: " Make mass transit free, or reduce its cost dramatically, by taking the money we waste now on fossil fuel subsidies and redirecting it towards our transit systems. Senator Bernie Sanders has identified more than $113 billion in fossil fuel subsidies that can be eliminated over the next decade; that could fill fareboxes, which in turn would fill our buses and trains."

'via Blog this'

Oil wars continue to escalate as Saudi Arabia is attacked

Saudi Arabia says cyber attack aimed to disrupt oil, gas flow - Technology on NBCNews.com: "Saudi Arabia's national oil company, Aramco, said on Sunday a cyber attack against it in August which damaged some 30,000 computers was aimed at stopping oil and gas production at the biggest OPEC exporter."

'via Blog this'

People in Egypt not fooled by U.S. tricks

Egypt’s Morsi annuls most of contested decree, stays firm on Dec. 15 referendum - The Washington Post: "CAIRO — Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi early Sunday annulled most of an extraordinary Nov. 22 decree that gave him near-absolute power and has plunged this nation into a deeply divisive political crisis."

'via Blog this'

Pipelines are difficult to protect -- this is why the 1% needs totalitarian control

Yemen: 8 soldiers killed in militant ambush near oil pipeline - The Washington Post: "SANAA, Yemen — Eight Yemeni soldiers including a senior officer were killed in an ambush by militants while visiting a main oil pipeline that had been destroyed in an earlier attack, the defense ministry said."

'via Blog this'

Still struggling to understand the "war" in Afghanistan? This should help.

Pakistan, Iran likely to sign pact on gas pipeline - Tehran Times: "ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran are likely to sign an agreement on the construction of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project during the upcoming Iran visit of President Asif Ali Zardari, scheduled to start from December 7 (today)."

'via Blog this'

EROEI is falling. Capitalists plan to let millions starve and blame it on #climate.

Climate change will mean more malnourished children, experts warn | Global development | guardian.co.uk: "Food prices will more than double and the number of malnourished children spiral if climate change is not checked and developing countries are not helped to adapt their farming, food and water experts warned on Tuesday at the UN climate talks in Doha."

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Capitalism's mad, reckless race for the last drops of oil, as the #climate cooks

Vietnam state oil company says Chinese boats cut cables being laid by seismic survey vessel - The Washington Post: "HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam’s state-owned oil and gas company accused Chinese fishing boats on Monday of sabotaging one of its seismic survey ships in the South China Sea, adding to already high tensions over Beijing’s disputed territorial claims in the waters.

PetroVietnam said two Chinese fishing boats cut across cables being laid by the survey vessel Binh Minh 2 off the coast of central Vietnam on Friday."

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The link between #peakoil and #climate

Peak oil is real. Cheap oil has peaked, and capitalism will change personnel as EROEI drops. As one group of capitalists gets weaker, another will rise. Economic and financial collapse will not stop capitalism, they only change which capitalists will preside over our suffering. They will get around economic collapse by increasing debt and starvation.

Unfortunately unbridled competition is the very essence of capitalism and not negotiable. This means as oil runs out, the rush to squeeze the last drops of profit will become more reckless and frenetic. Even nuclear war is not ruled out. Carbon will be pushed into the atmosphere at a faster and faster rate.

Think this won't happen? It has been happening. It continues to happen.

What can we do? Don't wait for the federal government. Make public transit fare-free in your town. This will curtail the draining of wealth. Fewer cars makes urban life more attractive. As people see that cars are completely unnecessary, the subsidy for autosprawl will be seen as a burden. The culture will change gradually against energy-wasting lifestyles.

Moscow Investigates 190-km Traffic Jam on 'Russia' Highway - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

Moscow Investigates 190-km Traffic Jam on 'Russia' Highway - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency: "The Russian government has launched an investigation into the causes of a shocking 190-km (118-mile) traffic jam.

The horror traffic jam paralyzed a key Russian highway over the weekend, international media reported. The traffic jam was caused by a heavy snowfall late on Friday and was further complicated when the authorities manoeuvred a snow plough through the vehicles to clear the road"

'via Blog this'

People react in anger over corporate election rigging

follow #mexicohasnopresident #yosoy132

 http://twitpic.com/bi6j3j

http://twitpic.com/bi7m7c

Profits soar, wages dive

Business Insider

Free public transport is the future

Could public transport in the UK ever be free? - News & Advice - Travel - The Independent: "... Taavi Pukk from Savisaar's Centre Party: "There's no doubt that free public transport is the future." Pukk points out that 75 per cent of respondents in Tallinn's referendum on the issue voted "yes", though turnout was low, just one-fifth of those eligible actually voted. Savisaar claims he's set on turning Tallinn into Europe's greenest city and tells us that, as well as helping the poor, the free transport move will get drivers out of their cars. Something for nothing is a compelling proposition: a spike in public transport use of 15 per cent is predicted.

Neighbouring Lithuania and Latvia are looking on eagerly – both their capital cities, Vilnius and Riga, are considering following Tallinn's lead. Rich Helsinki, across the chilly Baltic, is reportedly interested, too."

'via Blog this'

If there is plenty of oil, why are the oil wars heating up?

Russian expert warns of possibility of large-scale war in Middle East: Voice of Russia: "In an interview with the Voice of Russia, Russian analyst Konstantin Sivkov said: “Deploying these missiles in Turkey will be dangerous for Syrian military planes – this is obvious. A lesser obvious thing is that Turkey is getting ready for a war against Syria. If an attack on Syria from the territory of Turkey does take place, this will most likely be an attack not of the Turkish army, but of NATO’s forces.”

“The Middle East is getting ready for a large-sale battle which will very likely affect the Russian part of the Caucasus, and this, in its turn, will be reflected on the entire Russia,” Mr. Sivkov added."

'via Blog this'

Energy conservation and the Jevons principle

The Jevons principle is simple. If demand for energy is strong, efficiency is subsumed in greater use.

Currently fossil fuel energy is constrained mainly by price. So what is the effect of conservation measures such as insulation, and fuel efficiency? Both appear to affect demand, but in fact, they do not challenge autosprawl, a main source of the strong demand for energy. Consequently they simply facilitate more consumption by relieving price pressure.

Free transit, however, would begin a process of culture change. Cities would become more attractive. The critical mass of the auto would be broken. Sprawl would become more expensive. Autosprawl subsidy would be seen as a burden instead of a necessary expense. If the savings were used for education and health, the birthrate would fall. The suburbs could be converted to organic farms.

Oligarchy Sends Signal to Usher in the Illusory “Green Economy” | Wrong Kind of Green | the NGOs & conservation groups that are bargaining away our future

Oligarchy Sends Signal to Usher in the Illusory “Green Economy” | Wrong Kind of Green | the NGOs & conservation groups that are bargaining away our future: " One can safely assume that the ruling elite, in tandem with the non-profit industrial complex and the corporate-media complex having been working on rolling out the “green economy” onto the world stage since the Rio summit. What we witness now is the strategy being released, in waves in order to resonate.

What we are about to witness will be the greatest psyops of the 21st century.

Capitalism and humanity. Till death do we part."

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UN report says we are doing less than nothing on climate

Slow pace of carbon cuts brings catastrophic climate change closer: UN | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "The world is straying further away from commitments to combat climate change, bringing the prospect of catastrophic global warming a step closer, a UN report said on Wednesday. The warning came as nearly 200 governments prepare to meet in Qatar for international climate negotiations starting next Monday."

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Tallinn prepares for free public transport in 2013

Tallinn to Buy 40 New Buses | Society | News | ERR: "The capital's public transport operator, Tallinna Linnatranspordi AS, has announced a purchase tender for 40 new buses which, if all goes according to plan, should be cruising Tallinn's streets by December 2013."

'via Blog this'

Bakken shale oil another bump on a downward slope

Petroleum Truth Report

Petroleum Truth Report: "After production peaked in 1970, not even the discovery of Prudhoe Bay, the largest oil field in the U.S. (12.8 billion barrels produced to date), brought production back to the 1970 peak. Including the recent increase from shale oil, the gap between production and consumption is approximately 9 million barrels of oil per day, almost as much as 1970 peak production."

'via Blog this'

Response of capitalism to #climatechange, increase fossil-fuel subsidy

Fossil fuels get billions more in subsidies than renewables: IEA - MarketWatch.com: "The same IEA report also said fossil fuels attracted about $523 billion in government subsidies in 2011, up by 30% from 2010.  That compares to $88 billion for renewable energy.  The heaviest subsidies typically take place in parts of the Middle East and Africa, the study said."

'via Blog this'

Petrol prices spark uprising in Jordan

(AFP Photo / Khalil Mazraawi)

US not impressed with Arab spring reaching Jordan? — RT: "With more than 158 people arrested, 71 injured and one killed since the start of Jordanian protests on Tuesday, tonight Amman saw the escalation of the unrest in a way Jordan has never seen. Angry crowds have been shouting out Arab spring slogans and demanding King Abdullah go.
“Freedom, freedom, down with Abdullah,” protesters chanted, despite public insults of the Jordanian King being punishable with time in jail."

Bill McKibben, an advocate for free public transit - #dothemath

Activist in Residence: Bill McKibben — Plenty Magazine: "Now consider a much-discussed alternative, proposed by famed New York labor mediator and environmental advocate Theodore W Kheel: Double that fee for cars driving into Manhattan south of 60th Street (and raise it to $32 for commercial vehicles). And then use the extra revenue to make subways and buses free for everyone in the five boroughs. Drivers might howl twice as hard, but at least there’d be someone howling back on the other side—someone who wanted to ride the bus for no charge.
"

'via Blog this'

Free Public Transit a better solution than #carbontax

OK, show of hands: how many people really think that a carbon tax will be implemented quickly, simply, and in a fair manner. Hmm. Thought so.

Free public transit is a solution that is working now. It is transparent. Everyone can see the benefits. As it gains critical mass, people will see more and more benefits. Even the corporate media will jump on the band wagon. The reduction in collision and congestion costs alone will replace the "lost" revenue. Then the alleviation of parking problems, pedestrian danger, and stress will be front page in the "today" press. There will be "human interest" stories about how people who never ride a bus benefit greatly.

Support #occupysandy, many people still without lights, heat, or clean water

Rubin Moore - Relief Worker in Coney Island

Resource – Recent Coney Island Press/Media | Occupy Sandy Recovery: "Countless residents have been living in appalling conditions – stranded in high rise projects without lights, heat or clean water. Many are elderly or infirm and are stranded because they cannot navigate the pitch-black stairwells of their darkened buildings. They feel completely forgotten. There’s been barely any coverage of Coney Island in the mainstream media, so PLEASE distribute these pictures as widely as possible."

GO HERE TO HELP http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/

Campaign for Free Public Transportation in Serbia

(9) Campaign: Free Public Transportation - Bus Stop Plus - 99% of Serbia: "Independent Citizen's Initiative for building high-quality, sustainable, energy-rational, environmentally clean, and accessible to all public transport"

'via Blog this'

It's the demand, stupid

Billions of people want to live in U.S.-style car-dependent sprawl. As long as this is true, the fossil-fuel industry will have power, lots of power.

Currently, the autosprawl system of human shelter and transport has critical mass. Because most people travel by car, the massive public investment in autosprawl infrastructure is seen as necessary.

We can break that critical mass. But only by addressing demand. A carbon tax would address demand. But it would be easy oppose. People would rightly expect it to be corrupt.

Instead, we should make public transit fare-free. The payback is immediate and greater than the "lost" revenue. Free transit is simple and easy to see. There are no complicated carbon-pricing indexes to be manipulated. And the myriad benefits are out in the open for all to see: less noise, less congestion, less parking problems, fewer collisions, lower medical costs, etc.

More importantly, fare-free transit would break the critical mass of the auto as transport. Autosprawl public "investment" would be seen for what it really is, subsidy.

While we dither about the fiscal cliff, we sleepwalk to a carbon cliff

Mankind Approaching 'Carbon Cliff', Report Warns - AlertNet: "UXBRIDGE, Canada, Nov 06 (IPS) - A new international business report warns fossil fuel use is pushing humanity towards a catastrophic overheating of the planet, with temperature increases of four or even six degrees Celsius. No major developed or developing country is doing anything close to what's needed to prevent large parts of the planet from becoming uninhabitable, the report found."

'via Blog this'

Free public transit is affordable

When public transit is fare-free, immediate savings begin. First, the transit authority need not have expensive turnstiles and ticket machines. People who were accounting for fares may now be engaged in improving service, security, or cleanliness.

Ridership will go up. That lowers unit cost on both capital and operations.

Those are just the direct benefits. There is a long list of indirect benefits which amount to much more than the lost revenue. City parking costs are reduced. Less community money is exported out of the city for auto fuel. There are fewer collisions. There is less demand for policing auto traffic. Urban neighborhoods are more attractive with fewer cars, raising property value. There is less noise. There is less stress. Workers have more options to get to their job.

People will demand more buses. That will increase frequency. More will ride. A virtuous circle will be started -- one that cannot be stopped.

Soon the "necessary" costs of the private auto will be seen for what they are: burdensome subsidy.

Occupy Sandy Relief | InterOccupy Hub #occupysandy

MoRUS Occupy Wall Street bikes power to the people on Avenue C!

Occupy Sandy Relief | InterOccupy Hub: "Occupy Sandy is a coordinated relief effort to help distribute resources & volunteers to help neighborhoods and people affected by Hurricane Sandy. We are a coalition of people & organizations who are dedicated to implementing aid and establishing hubs for neighborhood resource distribution. Members of this coalition are from Occupy Wall Street, 350.org, recovers.org and interoccupy.net."

Poll: 3 of 4 Americans want more public transit options - News - METRO Magazine

Manhattan traffic image by ILMRT via Wikimedia Commons.

Poll: 3 of 4 Americans want more public transit options - News - METRO Magazine: "According to the nationwide public opinion poll results, two out of three support government investment to expand and improve public transportation and twice as many people favor new transit — buses, trains and light rail — rather than new highways as the best way to solve America’s traffic woes."

Climate-changing methane 'rapidly destabilizing' off East Coast, study finds - U.S. News

Climate-changing methane 'rapidly destabilizing' off East Coast, study finds - U.S. News: ""We may approach a turning point" from a warming driven by man-made carbon dioxide to a warming driven by methane, Jurgen Mienert, the geology department chair at Norway's University of Tromso, told NBC News.
"The interactions between the warming Arctic Ocean and the potentially huge methane-ice reservoirs beneath the Arctic Ocean floor point towards increasing instability," he added."

'via Blog this'

A vote for the Gas & Oil Party is a signal that you don't care about the biosphere

Jack Gerard, Top Oil Lobbyist, Positioned To Be Key Player In A Romney Administration: "The oil industry is used to pulling the levers of power. For decades, the industry has fought off efforts to combat climate change, first by funding public relations campaigns denying it was happening at all and second by pumping money into the political system to block legislation. The Obama administration has sometimes disappointed environmentalists with its support of "clean" coal and natural gas and its failure to pass climate legislation when Democrats controlled Congress. But the Obama administration has given the fossil fuel industry even more conniptions, by imposing new regulations on emissions and other climate change measures, while giving new financial support to alternative fuels. The White House regularly attacks oil and gas tax breaks worth billions a year and has put new curbs on oil and gas development on federal lands."

'via Blog this'

Megastorm vs #climatesilence

Article: ThinkProgress   Photo: Adam Welz

Approaching Megastorm Threatens East Coast - ABC News: "Tropical Storm Sandy was expected to make landfall early Tuesday near the Delaware coast, then hit two winter weather systems as it moves inland, creating a hybrid monster storm that could bring nearly a foot of rain, high winds and up to 2 feet of snow."

'via Blog this'

People of Brazil march for free public transit

Dissatisfied with transportation? Come to the March! | MPL Floripa: "But let's not fall for electoral promises nor passively accept anything. Florianópolis has shown several times on the streets, we no longer accept the fare increases and exploitation of transport users. We want a bus system quality and without charge, open to all residents, which guarantees the right to mobility and participation in the city."

'via Blog this'

Demand, not supply, drives capitalism

No serious business will expand based on having money to invest. The extra capacity would increase costs. Only when there is demand for that extra capacity will business expand. It seems obvious, but we still hear lots of supply-side talk about giving the "job-creators" more money.

The fossil-fuel industry is responding to very strong demand. Billions of people want to live the sprawl lifestyle. Attacking the fossil-fuel industry is not a solution. We must create an alternative.

If we make cities car-free, clean, and safe, people will choose them over sprawl. The first step is to make buses fare-free.

Saudi Arabia reveals plans to be powered entirely by renewable energy | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Saudi Arabia reveals plans to be powered entirely by renewable energy | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil producer, has plans to become 100% powered by renewable and low-carbon forms of energy, according to an influential member of the royal family."

'via Blog this'

Humans are flirting with anoxia and mass extinction

The Great Warming Extinction was Even More Deadly Than Believed « Climate Denial Crock of the Week: "Life about 250 million years ago was hard to come by. In fact, it was nearly non-existent. Scientists, studying why this period, known as the end-Permian event, lasted so long and have found a key ingredient: heat."

'via Blog this'

American Newspapers Give Far More Coverage To Climate Deniers And Skeptics Than Other Countries | ThinkProgress

American Newspapers Give Far More Coverage To Climate Deniers And Skeptics Than Other Countries | ThinkProgress: "America is unique when it comes to giving a platform to climate deniers and skeptics.
According to a new analysis of data released last year, American newspapers are far more likely to publish uncontested claims from climate deniers, many of whom challenge whether the planet is warming at all and are “almost exclusively found” in the U.S. media. The study was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters."

'via Blog this'

Major China cities seriously considering fare-free buses

Fare-Free New Zealand: "A free bus fare policy has been implemented in Chengdu, capital city of Southwestern China’s Sichuan Province, on the 10th October, which has triggered a heated discussion in Xiamen. "

If China goes to fare-free public transit, it will jump ahead of the world in energy savings and carbon emissions reductions. What a great example for the rest of the world.

Don't owe. Won't Pay. #globalnoise #13o

#October 13 against Debt | paris.reelledemocratie.net | Indignés de Paris: "We from the Occupy / Real Democracy Now / 15M  / AntiDebt movement call for public and private debt resistance and repudiation. Debt resistance includes: fighting for free public education, free healthcare, defending foreclosed homes, demanding higher wages and providing mutual aid. But also a first step to build a new economy, based in the principles of equality, solidarity and cooperation, and not greed, acumulation and competition."

'via Blog this'

Chengdu, China, buses are now free. Other China cities want the same thing.

China makes bus travel free to encourage public transport - Indian Express: "The company will continue to improve public transport services by adding bus shuttles and opening more bus routes, among other measures, to cope with increasing demand for public transport, the spokesman for the public transport company said.

Despite the complaints, netizens in other Chinese cities such as Nanjing, Ningbo and Shenzhen called for other cities to usher in such incentives."

'via Blog this'

Capitalism walking tightrope of debt and oil-price, but global warming inexorable

Those who are managing the world capitalist system desperately want to de-leverage, but too much too soon causes massive unemployment and revolution. On the other hand, they cannot grow their way out, because energy has become too expensive. Meanwhile carbon emissions and climate disruption just keep rising.

Why we can't bank on recessions to keep global warming in check | Duncan Clark | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "Greenhouse gas emissions rise when economies expand but don't fall as quickly when recession strikes, according to new research that emphasises the risks of relying on economic downturns to keep future emissions in check."

BBC News - Electric cars 'pose environmental threat'

BBC News - Electric cars 'pose environmental threat': "Electric cars might pollute much more than petrol or diesel-powered cars, according to new research."

'via Blog this'

Michael T. Klare calls unconventional oil, "tough oil"

The New “Golden Age Of Oil” That Wasn’t By Michael T. Klare: "Shale oil, for instance, is oil trapped in shale rock. It can only be liberated through the application of concentrated force in a process known as hydraulic fracturing that requires millions of gallons of chemically laced water per “frack,” plus the subsequent disposal of vast quantities of toxic wastewater once the fracking has been completed. Oil shale, or kerogen, is a primitive form of petroleum that must be melted to be useful, a process that itself consumes vast amounts of energy. Tar sands (or “oil sands,” as the industry prefers to call them) must be gouged from the earth using open-pit mining technology or pumped up after first being melted in place by underground steam jets, then treated with various chemicals. Only then can the material be transported to refineries via, for example, the highly controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Similarly, deepwater and Arctic drilling requires the deployment of specialized multimillion-dollar rigs along with enormously costly backup safety systems under the most dangerous of conditions."

'via Blog this'

Saudis looking to build more public transit, does that tell you anything?

Alarm bells on the longevity of oil wells in Saudi Arabia | GulfNews.com: "However, Al Sabban considered these reports as a warning bell and urged that Saudi Arabia reconsiders its domestic pricing policy as a key to conserve energy and reduce consumption. He also advocated a programme for public transport within and between cities."

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Energy transition: We need to do it fast and we’re way behind | Peak Oil News and Message Boards

Energy transition: We need to do it fast and we’re way behind  |  Peak Oil News and Message Boards: "Perhaps the most important thing that people don’t realize about building a renewable energy infrastructure is that most of the energy for building it will have to come from fossil fuels. "

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NRDC Poll: Americans Support New Transit Twice as Much as New Roads | Streetsblog Capitol Hill

NRDC Poll: Americans Support New Transit Twice as Much as New Roads | Streetsblog Capitol Hill: "When asked what would solve traffic problems in their community, 42 percent of Americans say more transit. Only 20 percent say more roads. And 21 percent would like to see communities developed that don’t require so much driving. Two-thirds support local planning that guides new development into existing cities and near public transportation."

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We are accelerating toward a cliff that we know is there

Global Warming's Terrifying New Math | Politics News | Rolling Stone

Global Warming's Terrifying New Math | Politics News | Rolling Stone: " So far, we've raised the average temperature of the planet just under 0.8 degrees Celsius, and that has caused far more damage than most scientists expected. (A third of summer sea ice in the Arctic is gone, the oceans are 30 percent more acidic, and since warm air holds more water vapor than cold, the atmosphere over the oceans is a shocking five percent wetter, loading the dice for devastating floods.) "

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Dollar no longer primary oil currency as China begins to sell oil using Yuan | Peak Oil News and Message Boards

Dollar no longer primary oil currency as China begins to sell oil using Yuan  |  Peak Oil News and Message Boards: "“On Friday, Sept. 7, Russia announced, that as of today, we will supply China with all of the crude oil that they need, no matter how much they want… there is no limit. And Russia will not sell or trade this crude oil to China using the American dollar.”"

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Humans have squandered oil, now what?

Do-the-Math blog suggests we migrate away from personal cars

Fossil Fuels: I’m Not Dead Yet | Do the Math: "Accepting behavioral changes could bring a fresh lemon to the scene. Another way to say this is that we will only see substantial improvements in vehicle efficiency if we change our expectations about what a car is supposed to do (or migrate away from personal cars as a primary means of transportation)."

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U.S. gives Israel USD 15M per day, and pretends it is an independent actor

Armada of British naval power massing in the Gulf as Israel prepares an Iran strike - Telegraph: "Battleships, aircraft carriers, minesweepers and submarines from 25 nations are converging on the strategically important Strait of Hormuz in an unprecedented show of force as Israel and Iran move towards the brink of war."

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Cars kill people much more efficiently than do terrorists

  Automotive Deaths Since 9/11/2001 - Death by Car: "From 1/1/2002 through 12/31/2011, National Highway Traffic Safety [sic] Administration statistics show that 392,621 people were killed by motor vehicle collisions in the United States. So, that’s about 100 9/11s. (And it does not count those who died from automotive air pollution and physical deconditioning.)"

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If you are going to borrow money to get out of a hole, then don't use it to buy a bigger shovel

The way capitalism is supposed to work, if you buy unsecured financial instruments, and they cannot be paid back, you lose your money. If these instruments are "insured" by swaps that are not backed-up, then the insurance is due and the insurer must pay or be liquidated.

It is not just the banks that are violating capitalism, the fossil-fuel industry is violating the principal of paying the costs that lead to profit. For many years profits have been made from the autosprawl system, but most of the costs have been deferred to the future or passed to the taxpayer.

Make public transit fare-free and stop subsidizing the private auto.

There is still time.

The price of oil should include the costs of climate disruption

The GREEN MARKET ORACLE: Mitt Romney’s Love Affair with the Fossil Fuel Industry: "The Republican presidential hopeful’s support for fossil fuels ignores the overwhelming price of extreme weather. With a cost of $81 billion and 1,836 dead, Katrina was the most expensive natural disaster in American history. About 20 years ago this week, Hurricane Andrew hit Florida; it cost $25 billion and killed 15 people. Hurricane Irene struck one year ago and caused an estimated $15 billion in damage while killing at least 67 people."

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Saudi oil well dries up – Telegraph Blogs

Saudi oil well dries up – Telegraph Blogs:
If Citigroup is right, Saudi Arabia will cease to be an oil exporter by 2030, far sooner than previously thought.
...The basic point – common to other Gulf oil producers – is that Saudi local consumption is rocketing. Residential use makes up 50pc of demand, and over two thirds of that is air-conditioning.

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Paul Ryan claims that scientists lied on climate change - can you believe it? #lyinryan #agw

Romney’s VP Choice Paul Ryan: No Friend of the Environment | Comprehending the Climate Crisis: Everything You Need to Know about Global Warming and How to Stop It: " Ryan is also a vehement denier of global warming. He has accused climate scientists of a “perversion of the scientific method, where data were manipulated to support a predetermined conclusion,” in order to “intentionally mislead the public on the issue of climate change.” All of these accusations were proven false. I’ve never been able to find a good answer as to how 98 percent of all climate scientists around the world could ever coordinate such a conspiracy, or even what they might have to gain by doing so. In contrast, big oil companies which spread much of the misinformation have billions of dollars to gain by doing so."

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Democracy is over, but voting still matters

The corporate take-over of the U.S. is complete, and power, once gained, is never freely given back. Both parties are corporate-controlled parties. #Occupy is correct not to get involved. Even so, as individuals, continued participation by the 99% in elections is important.

First, many people still believe that elections can bring change. These people are our people, part of the 99%. We should treat them with respect and patience.

Second, there are splits in the 1%. Many corporations see that uniting with oil is no longer in their interest. Our push-back can exacerbate this split.

Our species is facing increased pain as oil ends and climate disruption increases. We must stay in the national conversation, no matter how unpleasant. If we withdraw from this front, and allow victory for those who openly advocate for more drilling and sprawl, what message does that send to the world?

Oil drilling in the arctic is "flirting with disaster." Oil could gush under the ice for six months.

Obama Administration Considering Extending Shell's Season, Mother Nature Not So Lenient | Chuck Clusen's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC: "The timeframe outlined in the current conditional approval is too tight to allow for error, everything would need to go exactly right to stop uncontrolled flow before Shell’s fleet must evacuate the site for the winter. The company could be forced to abandon an uncontrolled well, leaving oil gushing under the ice for half a year or more. The devastation of a spill of this type could be unprecedented.

Extending the drilling season by over two weeks—Shell has asked for an 18 day extension—is flirting with disaster. Winter comes quickly in the Arctic. On November 1st, the sun will shine on Shell’s lease site for less than 6 hours. If the deadline is extended by 18 days, the fleet could be attempting to drill a relief well as late as November 18th, coincidentally the last day the sun will rise at Shell’s Chukchi lease area until January 23rd. "

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Post Carbon Institute: Easy oil has peaked. Video

http://www.postcarbon.org/#

The Biggest Story You Aren’t Seeing on the News. Sea Ice in Free Fall. « Climate Denial Crock of the Week

The Biggest Story You Aren’t Seeing on the News. Sea Ice in Free Fall. « Climate Denial Crock of the Week: "What is astounding is that the record has been broken with three to four weeks of the melt season to go, and that the rate of melting this month is unprecedented in the modern record. "

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Peak cheap oil is an incontrovertible fact - Telegraph

Peak cheap oil is an incontrovertible fact - Telegraph: "Nothing has really changed since the IEA warned four years ago that the world must invest $20 trillion in energy projects over the next 25 years to feed the industrial revolutions of Asia and head off an almighty crunch. The urgency has merely been disguised by the Long Slump."

...“Oil has become an increasingly scarce commodity. A tight supply picture means that incremental increases in demand lead to an increase in prices, rather than ramping up production. The price of oil is in effect acting as an automatic stabilizer,” they said. If so, it is “stabilizing” the world economy in perma-slump.

The declining optimism of the oil forecasters | Make Wealth History

The declining optimism of the oil forecasters | Make Wealth History: "Here’s the Energy Information Administration’s forecasts over the last decade or so, mapped by an IMF research project."

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As ice melts, less energy is reflected, and melt accelerates

The Arctic Ice Crisis | Politics News | Rolling Stone: "And then came this summer: Without warning, the line on the albedo chart dropped deep into uncharted territory. At certain altitudes, the ice sheet in Greenland was suddenly four percent less reflective – in a single season. "I confess my heart skipped a beat when I saw how steep the drop was," says Box. "I thought it meant the satellite sensor might have degraded." Instead, weeks of "ground-truthing" – going out on the ice to gather data from imbedded sensors and inspect conditions – verified that it was the ice sheet itself that was darkening."

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IMF: Shale oil is a sign of desperation

We're still on the slippery slope to peak oil - opinion - 20 August 2012 - New Scientist: "The IMF paper also slays the belief that rising oil prices will liberate vast new supplies and vanquish peak oil. The team found that production growth has halved since 2005, and forecast that even the lower rate of growth will only be sustained if the oil price soars to $180 by 2020. "Our prediction of small further increases in world oil production comes at the expense of a near doubling, permanently, of real oil prices over the coming decade," write the authors. In this context, shale oil is not a "game-changer" but a sign of desperation. "We have to do these really expensive and really environmentally messy things just in order to stand still or grow a little," says Kumhof."

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Capital crisis coming for oil industry. Economy cannot support low EROEI oil.

Pipelines, glut of cheap crude raise doubts over oil sands expansion - The Globe and Mail: "However, Mr. Potter said the industry will have to raise massive amounts of capital – in debt, new equity and joint venture partnerships with foreign oil companies – to finance the vast expansion."

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Capitalism doesn't work

Libertarians love competition and hate government regulation. But competition leads to cheating. For example, people will put lettuce in a trailer that last carried hazardous waste. So, to make capitalism work, we make rules. But cheaters are creative. The rules made to help capitalism begin to impede.

If a group of people were stranded on a island, would people cooperate and work together for survival? Or would they pick up rocks and fight for dominance? The answer depends on whether the cooperators can achieve critical mass. Because a competitive minority can confuse and terrorize a majority, the default system is capitalism. That does not mean the majority wants it.

We are stranded on earth. To the degree that we move toward socialism and reduce the role of profit-motive, we can release the true productivity of the human race which is more strongly motivated by a desire for cooperation.

Paul Ryan - "avowed climate denier"

What Exactly Does Paul Ryan Bring to the Party?: " Ryan is an avowed climate denier. His proposed budget retains $40 billion in tax breaks for big oil, while slashing spending on clean energy R&D and implementation. According to ThinkProgress, as a Congressman, Ryan “voted: to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from limiting greenhouse pollution, to eliminate White House climate advisers, to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture from preparing for climate disasters like the drought devastating his home state, and to eliminate the Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E).”"

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More hidden costs of fossil-fuel systems - the water costs

The Drought of 2012 Teaches Us About the Value of Water: "The undisputed champion of the current U.S. energy debate is hydraulic fracturing or fracking. As conventional oil and gas resources become more difficult to come by, energy companies now have to dig deeper than ever to unearth the rich deposits of fossil fuels still available. In order to fracture shale formations that often exist thousands of feet below the surface, drillers use anywhere from 1 to 8 million gallons of water per frack. A well may be fracked up to 18 times. The water, usually drawn from natural resources such as lakes and rivers, is unrecoverable once it’s blasted into the earth, and out of the water cycle for good."

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Prepare for gasoline rationing

WASHINGTON: The next great oil crisis - Opinion - MiamiHerald.com: "One outspoken Energy Department consultant, Robert Hirsch, alleged that the administrations of both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have engaged in a cover-up of the likelihood of an oil shortage. Hirsch predicted a shortfall will hit in the next four years and send shockwaves through the world economy, possibly leading to gasoline rationing. Few governments have implemented intensive conservation programs to stretch out supplies during a decades-long transition to more fuel-efficient vehicles."

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White House bestows honors on Foothill #transit -- soon to be fare-free

Seneca, bus company honored at White House » Anderson Independent Mail: "Foothill Transit was the first to put the all-electric bus to work in its fleet about three years ago. In 2013, Seneca intends to switch its entire gas-powered buses to an electric fleet. Seneca city administrator Greg Dietterick attended the ceremony. He said it offered a chance to publicize the fact that in 2013, Seneca will become the first all electric, fare-free, public transit fleet in the nation. Dietterick said the city will soon be hosting visitors from across the globe, wanting to see an all-electric bus fleet in action."

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Corporate media throws the poor under the bus, while bankers rip-off #publictransit

The Boston Fare Strike Coalition: "How about instead of throwing the young and the poor under the clattering, underfunded bus, we support our fellow T riders and place the focus and the blame where it belongs: a social economic system and a public transportation system that are both in need of fundamental restructuring?"

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What’s important – Guy McPherson's blog

What’s important – Guy McPherson's blog: " In the Arctic Sea, we are seeing even greater changes in methane concentration in a very short period of time. Methane levels diverged from their seemingly constant increase in 2010 and spiked from 1850 ppb to over 2000 (approximately 2100) ppb. Because methane is such a potent greenhouse gas, this could imply that increased methane levels from methane hydrates are having a local warming effect which in turn leads to a further increase in atmospheric methane. If we were to apply this as a linear tendency, it would argue for a concentration of atmospheric methane equivalent to that of the Permian extinction in 2050."

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Carism and Social Injustice – Carbusters

Carism and Social Injustice – Carbusters: "During the past century in the West, the automobile has dominated all other forms of transportation. Despite the fact that the automobile does not serve all citizens equally, authorities protect the automobility system as a way of life. They support auto-oriented land use and transportation design, subsidize automobile and trucking industries, and enforce laws that favor cars over other forms of transportation. In a word, authorities and the institutions they represent engage in ‘carism’."

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How corporate media lies: what they report, and what they do not. The fossil-fuel industry are the arsonists.

Oklahoma governor tours town burned by wildfire - Houston Chronicle: "LUTHER, Okla. (AP) — Firefighters in Oklahoma have under control a wildfire that's suspected to be the work of arsonists."

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Fare Free Friday in Quincy, Mass

Fare Free Friday in Quincy: "On Friday morning at 8 am, the Boston Fare Strike Coalition will be joining Occupy Quincy for a fare strike action at Quincy Center Station. We will meet on the platform between Red Line trains. There may also be a follow-up evening commute action depending on attendance and interest at the Thursday meeting."

Transit foes talk accounting. We need to think economics.

Transit foes, such as the oil industry and sprawl profiteers, would like you to think of public transit fares in terms of budget and expenses. They are successful in having the corporate media focus on taxes and the budgets of your transit authority.

But if you take the economic view and look at public transit as part of how we organize our means of survival, you can see that public transit mitigates the many costs of the car-system that are a drag on the economy: congestion, collisions, road repair, drainage, carbon emissions, obesity, oil wars... just to name a few.

Fares for public transit are for rationing, not revenue. Transit is a public investment. Removing fares increases ridership which lowers variable unit-costs per rider, and raises the return on fixed costs of investment in equipment. The costs of collecting fares are often more that 50% of the revenue collected--and if you include the security needed to prevent free riding--can be 100% of revenue.

Don't let the discussion be just about revenue and budgets. Ask how much is being saved when someone takes a trip on public transit -- whether they pay a fare or not.  

Jeremy Leggett: [what if] descent hits an oil-dependent global economy years ahead of expectations

Monbiot says he was wrong on peak oil but the crisis is undeniable | Jeremy Leggett | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "There is more than enough potential oil resource below ground to create the climate disaster he refers to. Peak oil is not about that. It is about when global production falls never again to reach past levels: a disaster, if the descent hits an oil-dependent global economy years ahead of expectations. [our emphasis] This descent depends on flow rates in oilfields, not the amount of oil left. What worries those who believe the global oil peak is imminent is the evidence that the oil industry will not be able to maintain growing flow rates for much longer."

This is the essence of the peak oil concern. There is so much fixed capital invested in liquid fuels: refineries, ships, pipelines, trucks, highway systems, armies -- and there is so much denial, and so much propaganda. This bubble is bursting now and still nothing is being done. The pain of peak oil may even be greater than that of climate change. We don't need more science or technology. We need partisans! We need to occupy public transit and make it fare-free.

Why #peakoil matters - the liquid fuel infrastructure and steep #collapse.

Conventional [easy, sweet] oil has peaked. The #tarsands prove this. Tarsands actually use more energy than they produce, as do most unconventional fuels. The problem they are trying to solve is the need for liquid fuel to support the existing infrastructure which may be worth up to $100 trillion dollars. Those who profit from the liquid-fuel system will try to keep it as long as possible. They are ramping up their anti-peakoil propaganda to delay policy shift. The more successful they are at delaying transition, the more painful that transition will be.

Asia Times Online :: Oil, politics and resource wars: There is something like $50 trillion to $100 trillion of capital equipment worldwide that is built to operate on liquid fuels - and I am talking about cars, busses, ships, trains, airplanes, and golfcarts. You don't quickly convert those or replace them, particularly if the problem takes place in a worldwide recession - there is less money available, governments are already weakened because of the present recession, governments will not be able to afford to do this kind of a thing.

So it's going to be very difficult and it is going to take a considerable amount of time to either convert an existing piece of equipment to operate on something else or to build a whole new one and have it put into operation, because what we are talking about is a scale that is absolutely enormous as far as the world is concerned.

Defending pipelines requires massive military presence, hence democracy not an option

Explosion shuts down Iraqi-Turkish oil pipeline, authorities suspect sabotage - The Washington Post: "ANKARA, Turkey — An explosion and fire have shut down a pipeline that carries oil from Iraq to world markets, an official said Saturday. No one was hurt in the blast.

The explosion late Friday hit a section of a pipeline that takes oil from the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, near the southeastern town of Midyat, said an Energy Ministry official. A second line that runs parallel was not damaged, but was also briefly shut down as a precaution, the official said."

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People of Mexico fill the streets to protest rigged elections

Easy oil peaked in 2005, so oil has been redefined to keep investors fooled

Commentary: How Changing the Definition of Oil Has Deceived Both Policymakers and the Public : ASPO-USA: Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas: The limitations on oil supplies are now upon us. The salient issue is the rate of production, not the supposedly huge resources that optimists may conjure up in their imaginations. How much oil you can get out of the ground on a daily basis is what counts, and it’s getting harder and harder to extract the amount of oil we desire from the Earth’s crust each day. We extracted the easy stuff first. We cannot now expect to extract the difficult stuff at the same high rates as the easy stuff. And, we cannot expect that total percentage recoveries from the smaller, more complex and challenging reservoirs which we are now forced to exploit will be as high as those we’ve gotten from large, simple, straightforward reservoirs in the past.

Facing up to this reality will be difficult because it will require so many changes in our thinking and our society. And, it would require the immediate markdown of the value of one of the world’s largest and most powerful industries because it now faces contraction in the not-too-distant future. No wonder the powers that be decided to change the definition oil instead of accepting reality.

http://aspousa.org/2012/07/commentary-how-changing-the-definition-of-oil-has-deceived-both-policymakers-and-the-public/

Free transit would save ten times what it costs

The Case for Public Transportation, in Infographic Form - Commute - The Atlantic Cities: ...the benefits of public transportation to individuals and to society. The very well-made display was created... by Boris at Credit Donkey, ... based on research by Kelly Teh.

Chunk of ice twice the size of Manhattan breaks off Greenland as sheet nears tipping point

Glacial Change Ain't What It Used To Be: Petermann Calves Another Huge Chunk of Greenland Ice | ThinkProgress: "Petermann Glacier has calved another gigantic ice island, larger than twice the size of Manhattan, not quite as large as the calving of two years ago. A study this month found that the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet is nearing a critical “tipping point.”"

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Many households have no car, depend on #publictransit

Public Transportation Struggles To Connect Workers To Jobs | Care2 Causes: "Access to both transit and a job might not be a big deal to the average car-owning American worker. For poorer Americans, though, the struggle to use public transportation to get to work restricts which jobs they can take. “The costs of owning and operating a vehicle are such that ten percent of American households in the nation’s largest metro areas do not have access to a private vehicle,” the report states. “Compared to their car-owning counterparts, zero-vehicle households are more likely to earn low incomes, live in cities, and take public transportation to work.”"

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Easy oil is over. Without it, we cannot afford #tarsands, etc.

The Oil Drum | Tech Talk - The "Best of the Rest" in Saudi Arabia: "Fom the viewpoint of those who suggest that there is no problem, the discussion that swirls over the future of global oil supplies often seems to focus on the large volumes of oil that still remain in place around the world. The critical point, however, is not that this oil exists, but rather the rate at which it can be recovered. This is perhaps most obviously pertinent to the discussion of oil coming from the Bakken formation in North Dakota, where the rapid decline in individual well performance means that a great many wells must be developed and remain on line in the out years to sustain any significant flow past peak. As I noted last week, it is a point that clearly was missed by Leonardo Maugeri, and equally by George Monbiot, who has finally been swayed to the side of the cornucopians, after years of doubt."

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Making #transit free for youth in San Francisco would stimulate the economy

CPA-SanFrancisco speaks out on #freemuniforyouth

@CPASF

The Automatic Earth: The paradox of unconventional fossil fuels

Peak Oil: A Dialogue with George Monbiot | Energy: Finance can only temporarily allow people to ignore thermodynamics....
Unconventional fossil fuels are caught in a paradox - that their EROEI is too low for them to sustain a society complex enough to produce them.
Read more: http://theautomaticearth.org/Energy/peak-oil-a-dialogue-with-george-monbiot.html

To put another way. The unconventional fossil-fuels are only affordable as long as the clean and easy oil keeps flowing. The human economy will simplify. The population will contract. How will this happen? Will we make a smooth transition? When social upheaval comes will we have a plan? Regardless, cars will go away. Why not start getting rid of them now.

Expect a major bailout of Euro credit by the U.S. Federal Reserve

Default is the only thing that will work in Europe. The example of Iceland is right there for everyone to see.

But making bond-holders take major losses will shake the system in ways that LIBOR manipulation and MFGlobal-style outright theft have not.

Bond confidence must be maintained.

The US major banks "insure" a large chunk of Euro credit. These banks must be saved, so the Euro bubble must be addressed.

Expect a major bailout of the Euro zone by the US Fed.

Insurance industry understands the dangers of #peakoil and #climate -- next #oilshock due sooner rather than later.

Civilization and the Price of Oil  |  Peak Oil News and Message Boards: "The data he bases his talk on, all freely available on the Internet, checks out. In fact the scariest document I came across was from the world’s most famous insurance company, Lloyd’s of London. It advises the businesses they insure to begin “scenario-planning exercises” for the oil price spike they expect in the “medium term”"

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War is not the answer? Well, if you have two or three cars in the driveway, then, well, war IS the answer.

The Long Emergency | James Howard Kunstler | Orion Magazine: "On facing the New Reality. We can begin to envision and to build a post-oil “American Way of Life.” But are Americans ready? (Are they even listening?)"

No money for #publictransit? Here is where it went.

The Scam Wall Street Learned From the Mafia | Politics News | Rolling Stone: "The defendants in the case – Dominick Carollo, Steven Goldberg and Peter Grimm – worked for GE Capital, the finance arm of General Electric. Along with virtually every major bank and finance company on Wall Street – not just GE, but J.P. Morgan Chase, Bank of America, UBS, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Wachovia and more – these three Wall Street wiseguys spent the past decade taking part in a breathtakingly broad scheme to skim billions of dollars from the coffers of cities and small towns across America. The banks achieved this gigantic rip-off by secretly colluding to rig the public bids on municipal bonds, a business worth $3.7 trillion. By conspiring to lower the interest rates that towns earn on these investments, the banks systematically stole from schools, hospitals, libraries and nursing homes – from "virtually every state, district and territory in the United States," according to one settlement. And they did it so cleverly that the victims never even knew they were being ­cheated. No thumbs were broken, and nobody ended up in a landfill in New Jersey, but money disappeared, lots and lots of it, and its manner of disappearance had a familiar name: organized crime.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-scam-wall-street-learned-from-the-mafia-20120620#ixzz1zfn1hk9h "

End of #peakoil? No.

The credit bubble is pulling out expensive oil. This will not last. A combination of default, deleveraging, and money-printing will be tried, but there are externalities which cannot be overcome.

• War, first and foremost. There are plenty of oil wars on the drawing board. As the U.S. loses more and more it will go nuclear. Oil storage and shipping will be a major target. 
• Food collapse. Drought and flood will destroy farmland and more oil will be needed to keep food production up. 
• Ecological collapse. The resources needed to fix climate disasters will compete for "money" needed for oil. These disasters are just getting started.

Peak oil has never been solely about physical supply. The curve is about supply and demand, which is changing slightly right now. But there is a misunderstanding about what is affordable. There is an assumption that all the world can be like an American suburb. Not gonna happen.