Get off that TV. Do it now. Don't let it live your life for you. It is lying to you. Life is way too short, trust me.
Here are the challenges facing your world. They are mostly a result of our bulding a civilization on a wrong premise. And for big profits, not humanitarianism. That premise was that we will forever have cheap oil.
Bad thinking, bad planning, bad execution. And many still believe that system is working, and will continue to.
We are all now totally dependent on fossil fuels from foreign lands for our daily lives.
Not a good place to be.
My most rewarding educational experience was being involved in the Experimental College at UNR in the early 70's. It fostered a life-long interest in conservation and alternative energy. It allowed me to look at the systems we live with, and see alternatives.
You are all going to have to re-tool and rebuild our commons. Decreasing liquid fuels will force that. You will have no choice. But you can prepare.
Let's look at our culture.
Half of our energy is spent heating and cooling our buildings, yet the temperature underground is a constant 50-55 degrees.. How are we going to fix this?
Our agricultural system is dependent on inorganic fossil-fuel created fertilizers and oil. Excessive fertilizer applications are poisoning our water supplys. Our sewage (which IS organic fertilizer) we treat by flushing into our rivers. Our sewer system is inefficient and uses excess water. The average person urinates enough fertilizer to provide growth for enough corn to feed you for a year. Pee on a Tree? Countries such as India have for years been anaerobically digesting their sewage which provides a supply of methane gas for fuel, and a compostable fertilizer afterwards. I am convinced from my research, that local solar evaporation of human solid wastes will eliminate the need for sewage pipes and that huge expensive infrastructure which it involves. We can process our wastes, on-site, especially here in sunny Nevada. How are we going to fix this?
Solar Photovoltaic Panels (PV's) are too highly touted as the solar solution to our energy problems. They are for the wealthy, and while extremely valuable to our retooling, should not be too heavily relied on for the ultimate power source. Solar heat boxes, solar water heaters, focussing solar furnaces, and other devices will reduce our energy demand significantly. PV's are good for electrical generation, but most people will have to pool resources to purchase small micro-power generating systems. PV's have a disadvantage that heat lowers their life expectancy. Yet a black surface provides the perfect mechanism for heating water. PV's are black or dark colored. Can we marry PV's with solar water heaters as one unit? How are we going to fix this?
We use, here in Reno, probably an extra gallon a day in transportation because of our poorly-timed stoplights. How are we going to fix this?
Most of us have too few true friends. We work at jobs we hate, that are unrewarding and mind-numbing, and spend too much of our free time being entertained by stupid sitcoms and commercials from a corrupt and corrupting media, or sitting in traffic. Too many of us know few of our neighbors, do not share tools, protect each other, shop communally, or share ideas. We cannot live our lives vicariously and without personal companionship. How do we fix this?
Most businesses we shop at are illuminated by electric lights. And we shop mostly in the daytime while the sun is shining. Tools available to fix this are skylights and solar tubes, which illumiinate WHILE the sun is shining, and for free. How do we fix this?
This is a very precursory, minimal list of things you will have to tackle. Let me suggest that you mobilize now, in whatever groups you can gather, to identify forthcoming problems, come up with solutions, and meet with others doing the same things. We are problem solving aniimals. We're really good at that, generally, but not lately.
Let me implore you to start your own experimental college. To meet with your fellows and to plan for the future. It is pretty obvious that WE have not planned for the future. It is in your court now, and I and many others will help you to begin this. As best we can, and as long as we are here.
God bless you and I pray for you.
Yours in Peace,
Craig