With litigation over Gulf health, jobs and liability issues almost certain to explode in all manner of cases, now is precisely the time when the public needs more confidence, not less, in federal civil and criminal decision-making.
Regarding the business of oil extraction itself, Baldauf says, "The era of low-cost, easy-to-get oil has come to an end, a moment of historic significance and one fraught with danger. The Gulf of Mexico disaster occurred because the quest for new supplies requires that we drill miles beneath the ocean surface."
Peak-oil advocates are eager to work on solutions, especially because they believe the U.S. economy already is already poised for significant new declines soon until public awareness and mitigation measures increase.
Dr. Roger Bezdek, a former U.S. energy delegate to NATO who briefed the staffs of both 2008 presidential nominees during their campaigns, told the Press Club audience this week that mitigation of both supply and demand issues can take years, if not decades. Trucks have a 25-year average projected use, he noted this week, and even if nuclear plants are again allowed they would take many years to plan and build.
A U.S. Joint Forces command study predicts worldwide peak oil in 2015.
Jagger, a human rights advocate for three decades, calls for an innovative legal concept of inter-generational responsibility for wasting finite resources.
Nader brings his lifetime of experience to describe the impact on consumers.
Baldauf, pointing to his group's site for further information, concludes:
Without affordable energy to drive our economy, we can expect price spikes and economic crisis to be the new normal. The debate about Peak Oil is over. It is time for bold action. If we do not change our current approach we will see tremendous global repercussions.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
