Preparing For Life After Oil
Hannah Robson
What is the issue?
We all know about global warming and climate change and we all know about the rising price of petrol, but do you know that ‘cheap’ oil WILL RUN OUT?! The world is so dependent on oil, but it is becoming increasingly expensive, we are running out of easily accessible oil and soon it will take more energy to extract it than it is actually worth.
Who is it going affect?
The consequence of Peak Oil is a potential energy crisis and, like global warming, will affect EVERYONE. Oil is used for so many things in today’s society, from the fuel in our cars to heating, food and clothing production, petroleum products are used to make plastics, fabrics, even cosmetics and medicines. Basically, your parents will start complaining about the cost of petrol and everything else (even more than they do now!), and from there petrol will become so ridiculously expensive that no one will be able to afford it. This is going to have a dramatic affect on us and change the way we live our lives. The cost of transport will mean we will travel less, trade fewer goods with other countries and we will have to give up or find alternatives for many everyday objects, from lip-gloss, to fertiliser to CDs!
What are people doing about it?
While some people (mostly scientists and politicians) are focusing on new technology and other sources of energy, over 500 communities all over the world (including New Zealand) are facing the challenges of climate change and peak oil by looking for ways to become less dependent on oil and reduce their impact on the planet. These towns are known as Transition Towns and their aim is to create vibrant and thriving communities that are prepared for life after oil. There are dozens of these communities all over Britain, as well as the Sunshine Coast, Australia and New Zealand’s very own Waiheke Island, Orewa and Kapiti Coast. All up over 1,527,000 people are involved!
While this is happening at a local level there are also national and global principles in action. Nationally, some governments use energy rationing systems to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and globally, the Oil Depletion Protocol encourages nations to collectively reduce consumption, both oil producing and consuming nations.
What can we do?
There are lots more towns around New Zealand that have expressed interest in participating in this initiative. What about YOUR town?
The 12 steps of Transition
Curing our addiction to oil.
1. Get a team together – you need a group of keen and dedicated people to get the project going
2. Awareness raising - start informing people and get them talking about the issues, show some films like A Crude Awakening: the oil crash or An Inconvenient Truth, get some speakers in….make some noise!
3. Lay the foundations – find out what people are already doing in your community, start networking and build relationships with local businesses, schools and community groups.
4. Organise a Great Unleashing – have a (eco!)party and share your vision with the whole community.
5. Form working groups - get people focused on specific aspects of the process like food, water, transport, waste etc.
6. Try Open Space – bring everyone together and explore a particular topic or issue, with no agenda, no timetable, no coordinator and no minute takers, just let the ideas and discussion flow and see what happens.
7. Less talk, more action! Don’t just organise lots of meetings, show people what you are achieving.
8. Facilitate the Great Re-skilling – we seem to have forgotten how to do lots of things. Organise workshops on cooking, cycle maintenance, sock darning, gardening and food growing etc.
9. Make friends with your Local Government - Whether it is planning issues, funding or providing connections, you need them on board.
10. Honour your elders – Our grandparents lived in a lower energy society, before the age of consumerism and convenience. We could learn a lot from them.
11. Go with the flow – once your community is behind this it might not always go as your planned. Be flexible.
12. Create an Energy Descent Plan – Sounds serious doesn’t it? This is about combining all the work and plans so you cope as oil gets more and more expensive.
For more details on the 12 Steps to Transition and heaps more information go to www.transitiontowns.org.nz
TAKE ACTION
You don’t have to be involved in Transition Towns to take action you could leave the car at home and catch a bus or train or walk– if you don’t need to drive, DON’T! – come on guys, you know the drill. Buy less, grow your own food, recycle. Don’t let the Peak Oil Crisis be another global issue that isn’t addressed until it becomes even more difficult Stop making excuses – it’s time to make ourselves aware and show we care!
LEARN MORE
- Check out Beyond the Petrol Pump, by Omar Hamed
- Borrow A Crude Awakening: the oil crash, An Inconvenient Truth, Syriana and loads more DVDs from the Global Education Centre
- Check out the Green Party’s Peak Oil Campaign
- Go to www.globalcool.org.uk and www.4million.org.nz for loads of ideas on reducing your personal carbon footprint
- Check out some great tips for organic gardening at www.sustainablehouseholds.org.nz
