Head in the sand: peak oil as a case of cognitive dissonance

[Skybird]

Two readings that should be seen in combination.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6100?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theoildrum+(The+Oil+Drum)&utm_content=Google+Reader

http://www.peakoil.net/files/Campbell_comments_20091110.pdf

There will always be popular and persuasive technological optimists who believe that population increases are good, and who believe that the human mind has unlimited capacity to find technological solutions to all problems of crowding, environmental destruction, and resource shortages. These technological optimists are usually not biological or physical scientists. Politicians and business people tend to be eager disciples of the technological optimists.

If you choose to comment, please refrain from equalling "peak oil" with "no more oil production", this is only misleading and experience shows that debates get upheated by mistaking these two messages. Peak oil means that beyond this peak, oil production isnot stopping, but stagnating and then falling. Oil will still be produced, but in falling quantities, and thus at climbing prices (if we are then still as depending on oil as we are now - and there is no real solid sign that this dependence is getting seriously tackled).

What peak oil means is that oil becomes very, very expensive long before the last drop of oil gets produced. With all effect this would have on world economy and markets, and the finance system.


additional relevant link:
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15065719

[Schroeder]

So what's new? "Head in the sand" is THE tactic of western governments.
Don't address the problems, live through your term and leave with your pockets full.
The problems have been known for decades, but it is too inconvenient to really do something about it. So let's buy the next Tuareg or Cheyenne to have some fun before we unexpectedly run out of affordable oil.:yep:

[Spoon 11th]

Here's an interesting video about fuel reserves and how long they might last.

(All parts about 1 hour)
The Most IMPORTANT Video You'll Ever See (part 1 of 8)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-QA2rkpBSY

[NeonSamurai]

Here is a cute flash game on oil production

Oligarchy
http://www.addictinggames.com/oiligarchy.html

[Onkel Neal]

Nice game, but where's the send in the troops option?

[Skybird]

Nice game, but where's the send in the troops option?
It only nows the option for global thermonuclear war. The red button on your PC's power supply. ;)

[NeonSamurai]

Nice game, but where's the send in the troops option?

Ya need an oiled president (split your funding during the elections so that both parties get as much money as they do votes) then start a war in iraq.

Oh ya and when it becomes available don't forget the human oil factories :DL

It only nows the option for global thermonuclear war. The red button on your PC's power supply. ;)

that's what happens at the end of the game (nuke war that is)