What would the World be like without oil dependence?

[Deathblow]

If the world was not as dependent on Middle Eastern oil, through say fusion power, what would be the effect on world and/or middle east peace and stability?

One could say that the countries of the world would be less interested in Middle East politics and less inclined to interfere in power stuggles, not having as vested a interest in the politics of the region. This would downgrade the nature of the conflicts to less of a world stage to more regional squabbling so the effect on the world would be more stability...

Or one could say that the economic wealth that these nations possess (like Saudi Arabi, Kuwait, Iran) is one of the factors that keep theses nations from all out war. As long as the government banks are full, the leaders well fed, and the populations banking off oil money then people have a reason not to act on their hate (even more than they do already).... Take this economic wealth away and the region just got a whole lot angrier and dishelved (even more than it is already). Genocide is iminent.... and the world would be pulled into the battle.

Or perhaps none of the above... the same intensity of conflicts would result without any real change to world stability. Just fighting over something else instead of oil.

[TteFAboB]

I could care less, I wish good luck to the people of those countries who depends entirely and solely on Oil.

[Deathblow]

Well, the fact that oil is there is what brings the entire world to arms when anything happens in that region.

Otherwise, how would be much different than Rawanda ( atroicities performed in the name of religion also completely ignored since no ones economy depends on the region.)

The oil is the reason that everyone really cares imho.

[CCIP]

They'll find something else to depend on. Look at the drugs industry. Look at the Eurofighter thread.

[TteFAboB]

Societies outside of the Middle East have changed, time and again, on some cases radically, and also in rather short periods of time.

Been there done that: From Oil to Coal to Oil to Ethanol to Gas to, this time, national Oil.

They want to sell me Oil, good for them, even though I don't need their's anymore, they run out of Oil, bad for them, and when they run out, things will change again, maybe radically, maybe in a short period of time, but life will go on, mankind will have to learn to live without Middle Eastern Oil for better or for worse, it may hurt, it may be a disaster, but it will be certainly worse for the Middle East, over there they depend on it and haven't endured as many changes in a relatively longer period of time, if the system that supports law and order suddenly gets cut, I can only wish them good luck.

Oil is a thing of the past, I'm not careless, I simply care more about the future, I'm more interested to know who will succeed in creating the world's first fusion reactor and who's gonna mine the Moon, if the Middle East had cared more about the future in the past, perhaps today they wouldn't lag behind Israel, an infant modern nation, in the scientifical field, and maybe they would present the world with the first fusion reactor.

[CB..]

problem is not wether the world will be more stable with or without oil dependance (no matter which countries have the stuff)

it's what the heck happens as we make the transition--

[Takeda Shingen]

The world would remain unchanged, as people would simply find a different reason for killing each other.

[Type941]

same sh*t.

[Marhkimov]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

The world would remain unchanged, as people would simply find a different reason for killing each other.

Originally Posted by Type941

same sh*t.

Yep, 3000 years of warfare, conflict, and killing... I doubt we will make any significant improvements within the next 100 years or so.

[M.Mira]

The less dependent on Middle East oil, the less dependent on instable, corrupt or fanatic regimes.
There would still be problems, but they couls be solved in a more rational way...
It would for instance be easier for the world to unite against the Iran nuclear weapons program, or against Muslim extremism in Saudi Arabia.

[Kapitan]

the same although canada hsa got this surface oi9l site which is said to hold more oil than all the arab states put together so the TV said

[Pigfish]

Originally Posted by Kapitain

the same although canada hsa got this surface oi9l site which is said to hold more oil than all the arab states put together so the TV said

Its called the Athabasca tar sands. They are located in the NE of my home Provence of Alberta.

A quick search/find so I don't have to explain: http://www.energy.gov.ab.ca/89.asp

I cannot possibly put into words the boom that is going on up here in the last 2-3 years cuz of oil and gas and the present world political situation. I work first hand in the industry.

My southern neighbors have a insatiable appetite that will never be appeased and there is now talk of major pipelines heading to the west Coast. (Prince Rupert B.C.) To help supply Asia's thirst.

Many big ones planned going south too. Not just the one from Alaska I see on CNN. :rotfl:

I really dont think most the free world knows how much fuel oil reserves we have and the extent of activity going on up here.

No shortage of work in Alberta.

[Abraham]

Personally, I wish that I could witness the last drip of oil being pumped out of the Arabian Desert. Then the Arab/Muslim political leaders would really learn what it takes to build a coherent stable society instead of enriching themselves and their families and corrupting their so called "nations", which in most cases are nothing more than fiefdoms with artificial borders, drawn by Colonial Powers and inhabitated by local tribes.

I think oil has been more a curse than a blessing for the average Arab, not taking into the equation of course the ruling olichargies with their foreign bank accounts and their regular visits to high class brothels and casino's.

And it would indeed be much easier to fight Arab/Muslim terrorism, which has been (or still is) secretly supported by those same corrupt plutocrats in order to keep the average Arab/Muslim distracted from his/her real problems and challenges, i.e. to build a modern democratic society and participate in the world community.

But then, builing takes a lot more than destroying...

[Type941]

Alright Pigfish, I'm moving to Canada. :hmm:

[Deathblow]

Originally Posted by Marhkimov

Yep, 3000 years of warfare, conflict, and killing... I doubt we will make any significant improvements within the next 100 years or so.

Yeah the conflicts will continue, but I guess the real question is whether or not the rest of the world would have to be drawn into the conflicts like they are now.

Originally Posted by Pigfish

I really dont think most the free world knows how much fuel oil reserves we have and the extent of activity going on up here.

Sweet. Go Canada! Learn something new every day.