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?...=Google+Reader

http://www.peakoil.net/files/Campbel...s_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/displaystor...ry_id=15065719