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July 30, 2009

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Michael Pinilla

Sebastian,

RE: “Once one steps over the line, all else falls simply (though not always easily) into place. "With commitment the world opens," is how an older saying captures this spiritual dynamic. I would simply expand on that maxim for political conduct by suggesting that we all have our personal Rubicons to cross.”

For the vast majority of ordinary, run-of-the-mill citizens out there, be it Australian, Canadian or whatever else, the notion of voluntarily stepping over the line and committing to being part of the solution in this dawning crisis is in my opinion expecting too much, too soon.

I find no fault whatsoever in your post and believe it to be the truth. The predicament we face at this stage in the game however, is no different to what it was ten years ago – education and proliferation. How can we expect our fellow citizens to form an educated stance and then furthermore act or commit to something they barely understand or are even aware of?

Our battle lies squarely with the mainstream, not the fringes and the mainstream requires a somewhat diluted, jingle-pop remix of the bare buttocks facts as far as peak oil is concerned. First, the mob needs to be exposed to peak oil on a mass scale via multiple mediums catering to the multitude of different tribes and cultures comprising it.

This means utilizing proliferation strategies we might not personally be excited about but if this is what it takes to reach critical mass, then we should take heed. Once volume is on our side, its simple mathematics that some will choose to ‘cross their own Rubicon’ and step over the line.

Political will comes with numbers and those numbers come by giving them what they want, how they want it. Proliferation needs to be launched as an exercise in mass marketing. Sell the consumer what they want, not what we want – and somewhere in there, you switch on the colourful blinking lights of peak oil with a catchy tune to boot.

It’s not the fault of the mob that the peak oil movement has made no definitive ground in the mainstream arena during the past decade. It’s the fault of the movement itself. We need to rethink our strategies and take lessons from the marketing guru’s. Again, this may cause a cringe response but its up to us to build a bridge and get over this.

Once the mainstream, diluted yards have been won – then and only then can we expose the masses to the nightmare looming in the night. The way I see it, we need to exercise discipline here. Your thoughts?

Michael

Sebastian Ronin

Thank you, Michael:

The quote that you have lifted from the position paper highlights for your readers, IMO, the political essence of our age. If this is not, firstly, perceived and then, secondly, accepted, whatever decisions and actions may be taken are likely to drift into the world as errant shots. We cannot afford to be releasing errant shots. Time is at a premium; it is everyone's scarcest resource and, it happens to be non-renewable.

We have either entered onto the Post-Peak Oil descent curve or we have not. It is a black and white condition; the luxury of sitting on an either/or fence of conjecture is not afforded us.

For those whose perception of things attaches to the latter scenario, i.e. we have entered onto, then decisions and actions will be an extension of that "truth." True to any major historical paradigm shift we do not "discover" our world as much as we "create" it.

Once one steps over the line, all else falls simply (though not always easily) into place. "With commitment the world opens," is how an older saying captures this spiritual dynamic. I would simply expand on that maxim for political conduct by suggesting that we all have our personal Rubicons to cross. Until one arrives at the point of no return, it is all play, pretend, drama. There is nothing particularly "wrong" with the latter, but within a context of doing what must be done it is safe, and nothing happens at a position of safe; safe is a void of philosophical posturing.

These are early days for Post-Peak Oil political organizing and conduct. Everyone and everything are right on schedule. Breath in, breath out.

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Books & DVD's I Recommend

  • Fraser Armstrong & Katherine Blundell: Energy...Beyong Oil
  • Post Carbon Institute, Global Public Media: Matt Simmons Energy Banker - Saudi Oil Presentation and Four Interviews
  • Post Carbon Institute, Global Public Media: Richard Heinberg Powerdown - Synopsis and Interview
  • Post Carbon Institute, Global Public Media: Colin Campbell Petroleum Geologist - A Seminal Interview on Oil Depletion
  • R. Hopkins: The Transition Handbook, from oil dependency to local resilience
  • J. Wiseman: SAS Survival Handbook
  • Jack Spigarelli: Crisis Prepardness Handbook
  • R. Lacey & D. Danziger: The Year 1000
  • Richard Heinberg: Peak Everything, waking up to a Century of Declines
  • J & G McPherson: Naked into the Wilderness

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