My Thoughts on World Oil

I like to write about everyday happenings in my life but occasionally I like to pursue ‘deep’ topics that are near and dear to my heart.  Peak Oil is one of them.  “Peak Oil” is the point at which the production of conventional crude oil begins an irreversible decline.  The effect of this is that scarcity-induced price increases will require huge changes in modern industrial societies.

I can barely remember the 1973 oil crisis of the seventies as I lived in an apartment and we had an old ’65 Chevelle, which we filled up for about $0.36 (yes that’s cents) a gallon!  I actually had to research that oil crisis online to refresh my memory.  I am really in my infancy when it comes to knowledge about the world’s oil, peak oil, all the products made of oil, and how all this affects every single one of us in every aspect of our lives, now and in the future.   Let me share with you what I’ve learned, because knowledge is power.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fanatic, just an informed citizen!

One thing for sure is that “the 1973 ‘oil price shock’, along with the 1973-1974 stock market crash, have been regarded as the first ever event since the Great Depression to have a persistent economic effect.”* –  the price of oil suddenly quadrupled…..to $12 US a barrel…..oooooooh (sarcastic).  The developed world had been used to inexpensive fossil fuels since the second world war and created a life around it.  I watched a video recently about the relationship between cheap fossil fuels and how it has moulded our entire lives.  I was astounded to learn that the auto industry was instrumental in

Our Post WWII House 1955

the development of post WWII suburban subdivisions and financed building the roads leading to them – to sell more cars which used all that cheap oil.  After the deprivation during the war, people wanted stuff and lots of it, from homes in the suburbs and everything that went in them to shiny new cars to get them there. (if anyone knows of the video I’m referring to, please share the link).  It made ME think about how my parents, us, and our childrens’ generations have been manipulated for profit…..mind boggling!

Just about everything in our lives has a connection to oil:  from the food we eat, the plates we eat it on, every day containers, beauty products…..not just fuel for our vehicles.  Oil is utilized in most products either in the making of them, actually an ingredient in them, or transporting them.

.......from far, far away

Oil has such a profound influence on our lives, so can you imagine what life would be like with much less oil?  It’s a known fact that the world has already reached its maximum production of oil.  The Oil Sands project in Alberta is an example of how much harder it will be to extract oil from the ground…..and how much more expensive it’s about to get for less oil.  Can you imagine our world with fewer products we presently rely on?  Less fuel, albiet more and more expensive to purchase, to warm homes, transport food and goods, and get people from all those suburbs to their jobs?

So what is a person to do?  Are there ways to simply decrease our personal dependence on oil?  Yes!  First, BUY LESS STUFF!   It’s pretty simple that the less we consume, the less oil utilized because producing and transporting nothing uses nothing…..duh!  It’s a real learning curve to buy less stuff than you are used to, either out of habit or convenience.  Secondly, BUY LOCAL.  Anything!  Everything!  That’s a no-brainer.  Yes for sure it takes time to source out local goods and services, but I think WE and our world are worth it.  Back in the old days, 70-80 years ago, most goods and services were local.  NOTHING came from China.   Every town and city area had its own bakery, cobbler, creamery, mill, cheese factory, cabinet-maker, and farmers market.  My Nana Lil told us that back in the ’20s and ’30s most people in her city neighbourhood had a few chickens in their backyard and a big garden, feeding families much larger than today.  Anybody can have a garden!

Spring 2011 new 'Kitchen Garden'

Apartment dwellers can rent a plot from the city for a nominal fee and homeowners can turn any patch of grass into a garden.  Third, I feel we need to SIMPLIFY.  I shake my head when I see a new gadget ‘invented’ to do the same job of another – and people feel they NEED to have it.   And of course, DRIVE LESS.  There are many other ways to reduce our dependence on oil.

Like I said before, I’m just learning about all this oil stuff.  It’s very thought-provoking and is instilling a sense of committment to our planet in a greater sense than once a year on Earth Day.  Thanks for listening to my rant……..  and next time, I promise, I’ll post a recipe!

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_oil_crisis#cite_note-Perron1988-2The