Explaining
How do you make people aware of peak oil?
It's not easy.
Peak oil isn't a terribly difficult concept to understand; it doesn't take a rocket scientist. But it does take critical thinking skills and the elimination of so many commonly held misconceptions about the nature of our world.
But as for resources that explain peak oil, which one is best?
I like The Long Emergency for its eloquence and for the way it encompasses peak oil and its implications, but I don't like its lack of an index and a bibliography. The book isn't set up in the most logical sequence either and I think that Kunstler makes a few questionable assertions.
I like www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net for its links, data and thoroughness. But it's so long for a website that a lot of people simply won't take the time to read the whole thing, which means that they won't get the entire concept and grasp its seriousness. And just the fact that there are so many crazy websites out there makes people less likely to believe that this one is actually credible.
And both of the examples listed above come across as being too alarmist for some people.
On the other hand, there are resources like Deffeyes' book Beyond Oil: The View from Hubbert's Peak, which are good in that they get into the nitty-gritty science, but they really don't shed enough light on the societal implications of peak oil.
If anyone has any suggestions for the best source to recommend to people, let me know.
It's not easy.
Peak oil isn't a terribly difficult concept to understand; it doesn't take a rocket scientist. But it does take critical thinking skills and the elimination of so many commonly held misconceptions about the nature of our world.
But as for resources that explain peak oil, which one is best?
I like The Long Emergency for its eloquence and for the way it encompasses peak oil and its implications, but I don't like its lack of an index and a bibliography. The book isn't set up in the most logical sequence either and I think that Kunstler makes a few questionable assertions.
I like www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net for its links, data and thoroughness. But it's so long for a website that a lot of people simply won't take the time to read the whole thing, which means that they won't get the entire concept and grasp its seriousness. And just the fact that there are so many crazy websites out there makes people less likely to believe that this one is actually credible.
And both of the examples listed above come across as being too alarmist for some people.
On the other hand, there are resources like Deffeyes' book Beyond Oil: The View from Hubbert's Peak, which are good in that they get into the nitty-gritty science, but they really don't shed enough light on the societal implications of peak oil.
If anyone has any suggestions for the best source to recommend to people, let me know.
posted by Utah Peaknik at 8:14 PM
3 Comments:
Good questions.
Keep asking.
I've been studying the issue of why "their eyes glaze over" re the Peak Oil thing for quite a while.
It turns out that human beings are not "rational". We are emotional creatures with lizard-chicken brains which is why so much of the negative political rhetoric you see during election years actually works.
First and foremeost, to get your fellow homo sapiens to accept Peak Oil, just keep repeating about it.
Familiarity breeds acceptance.
I haven't had much luck talking anyone into reading books, but they will watch documentaries. I lend people who I think there may be some hope for my copies of "End of Suburbia" and "Community Solution-How Cuba Survived Peak Oil".
My Wyoming oil man uncle, after seeing "End of Suburbia", commented "You know, that's not bullshit".
Peaknik, if you haven't seen these I will lend you my copies. pm me at lowonoil(AT)xmission(DOT)com
Dear Utah Peaknik,
I hope you read this comment page nearly a month after your posting. I think this is an excellent question, and I answered it for myself by writing an article on Peak Oil for the October issue of Catalyst magazine. If you live in or near Salt Lake, perhaps you saw it. I've now been involved in starting a local Peak OIl awareness group called Post Carbon Salt Lake. We are hosting a screening of the film "End of Suburbia" on Friday the 19th at the First Unitarian Church at 7 pm, with discussion following.
Head Lem is right...the message needs to be heard over and over. Even though people in my life have read my article, mostly they still don't seem to get it. But eventually they will.
If you see this message, and want to connect with me or get added to our group's list, email me: jeanarnold (at) comcast (dot) net. I can also send you a link to the Catalyst article online.
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