Hoarding is exactly what the government is doing right now by filling the SPR, and frankly it's the best thing that could happen. It drives prices up. High prices encourage demand destruction. They also finance new well development. The hoarded oil gives us a buffer to fall back on once shortages become more prevalent. High prices are what we need in order to adapt to what's coming, and the sooner they happen, the better.
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
Howdy all, I was reading this comic "Luz" and telling a few people about it
and I got a lot of responses that this might be a good way to
introduce children to peak oil. No kids myself, but I'm sure a lot of you
have wondered how to explain to your kids what you're typing
about every night, why that backyard garden is so important to
you, that things can be different, that you expect things will be different.
This cartoon might be a good start and I'd like to hear other peoples
incites on introducing kids to peak oil and other changes you expect
in the world we live in.
By the way, I'm a doomer. But let me just say, this cartoon contains
no killing and a lot of neighbors getting together. This is sort of the
ideal Cuban response to peak oil scenario, which is a pretty good
middle ground for an introduction to kids. I think a Katrina/Kunstler
style scenario would be a bad introduction for kids. If you don't
know about Cuba's response to peak oil, here is some info about
Cuba and their response to being cut off from oil when the soviet
union collapsed.
Havana, Cuba -- At the Organiponico de Alamar, a neighborhood
agriculture project, a workers' collective runs a large urban farm, a
produce market and a restaurant. Hand tools and human labor
replace oil-driven machinery. Worm cultivation and composting
create productive soil. Drip irrigation conserves water...
I think Cuba type scenarios are a good place to start. They show
that people who adapt can move on, so the person reads but
doesn't panic. And these scenarios show that even though
alternative energy exists, when faced with an oil crisis they don't
scale up to fill the gap.
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
As the mother of a nine year old who has absorbed a lot about peak oil and climate change, I'll say that these cartoons have already gone over well. I posted yesterday about his current emotional situation.
I have not actually shown them to my son yet--but even for adults to pick up the serious-but-positive message of these drawings is great preparation for talking with young people. I had not thought of the link with the Cuba story, but it is a great one. (In fact, my son watched and loved that documentary!)
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6350 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
SC I'm thinking kids like most of us aren't as motivated buy doom as by enjoyment.
I never cease to be amazed by how much little boys are fascinated by chickens and little girls by baby calves, how most all kids love the feeling of riding a bike, have great wonder at the natural world and tending their own little part of the garden, soak up knowledge of all kinds like a sponge, look forward to helping gram make bread, build something with their own hands and put a few pennies in the Bell-Ringer's kettle.
Teach them hope and skills and reason and compassion and they will figure things out when their time comes.
Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 919 Location: Land of the Tongva tribe
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 12:41 pm Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
I agree with Pops. It would be smart to raise your children in a post peak oil lifestyle starting now.
Dont buy them ipods and cellphones when they turn 12 years old. Don't let them get suckered into dreaming of buying fast cars and big trucks.
Teach them to love the land, provide for themselves through hardwork (which happens to be fun when you are young), and help them realize the govt won't always be there to bail them out.
joeltrout _________________ ENERGY is the basis of our industrial civilization and sustains our standard of living. It is the foundation stone of our national wealth. A nation starved of energy.....will be a nation of starving people.
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
Oh Pops, you are so right! In fact, I would go so far as to say that the things you are talking about are important experiences for children in all situations. They are things that can be understood by children. We learn a kind of powerlessness when we only buy industrially-made things and never have a clue how to take care of ourselves. Learning that we can in fact make things happen, even if we never need to do it, gives us a life-long sense of confidence and ability--in the face of depletion or abundance.
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
Looks kids... peak oil is just like this clown.
And it's coming to eat you...
_________________ "We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time." - TS Eliot*
Joined: Jun 05, 2005 Posts: 342 Location: Portland Oregon, USA
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
I have 2 PO aware children, ages 7 and 4. That's right, we don't really sugar coat it for them. Sure, we leave out the biker zombies, but we give them no allusions that life will be changing significantly very soon. In thier childlike way, they believe that things will be okay, even fun - especially the horse-drawn wagons! We'll leave the mass starvation for later...
My first recommendation is to lose the TV pronto. That devilbox is responsible for grooming their consumer appetites for a completely unsustainable, irresponsible lifestyle. My kids are in the habit of entertaining themselves, reading books and using thier imaginations instead of aping what they see on TV (with the exception of the Avatar DVDs we had to buy. Man, that series is so totally cool. Check it out!).
May PO skeptical wife took the kids to school on our new triple tandem this morning. The kids beamed the whole way, singing and enjoying the day. No traffic in sight, unless you count the other bikers. This is Portland, afterall.
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
As I have posted in another thread, our daughter is aware of PO @ 7. Somehow, she wound up with a first grade teacher who weaves PO into her daily lessons at school. At home, our daughter has and will be part of our transformation and can tell you exactly why we are doing what we are.
As far as TV goes..we limit access to an hour 5-6pm...pbs...and watch movies as a family. I never watch the thing myself and refuse to pay for cable...we did have it a few years back and I have to admit missing all the grand cycling Tour coverage from Europe and Football (soccer)! But, there's more to life!
I think that if you don't scare the hell out of your kids, make them part of the prep, and LISTEN to their concerns, it should work out fine.
We're in for an interesting ride!
catbox _________________ President Bush: “There’s no question about it. Wall Street got drunk—that’s one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras. It got drunk, and now it’s got a hangover."
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
Wow this is very interesting. I'm a parent as well and I've just barely thought about this. I also happen to be somewhat of a first person shooter gamer and came across a video game called "Fuel of War" as I was searching youtube for peak oil videos.
It does a pretty good job of showing the complete idiocy and futility of fighting of killing each other fighting over some of the world's last energy resources. A quote from the game reads
"In hindsight, it should have been hard to miss what happened net. The price of oil jumped form $70, to over $100 per barrel. Aside from paying more for gas and heating your home, no one seemed to notice at first. It was conventional wisdom that the prices would go down again. But instead, oil prices begin an irrevocable rise that slowly began to weigh on global economies and advance energy to the forefront of national policies."
I lurked on over to the official game forums to see if the game's peak oil long emergency (and yes they did use the phrase LONG EMERGENCY in the game's opening storyline) scenario got anybody talking about the subject and sure enough it did. No one took it seriously as far as I could tell...but at least its getting kids thinking about this.
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 6:30 pm Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
Sorry guess i wasn't clear. No one took the subject of peak oil seriously as a result of this video game. However, at least it looks like it got a lot of kids thinking and talking about it in the forums.
Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 12:08 am Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
Pops, those are beautiful pictures, full of life.
My baby is too. Have been reading and learning about the natural world all along. It's weird trying to explain the food chain to a little one, but she just takes it in and wants to find out more. Unfortunately, sometimes she's seen mommy cry over things, but not so much any more.
At her age level, we're getting into how to treat other creatures. There's a huge fascination, along with which must go respect.
Already, though, kids notice different treatment. I tell her, I don't mind the ants outside, but if they come in my house to get my food, I kill them.
My thoughts for now. _________________ "I'm not old and I'm not black"
Vote PMS '08!!!
Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 1188 Location: Zoorope
Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 4:48 am Post subject: Re: Introducing Children to Peak Oil
I love when I hear my 8yo talking to friends and saying proudly: "Well, I won't have any car when I'll be grown up. I'll have an horse."
_________________ **no english mothertongue**
--------
Objects in the rear view mirror
are closer than they appear.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
News
Discussions
Resources
Members
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
'st-kidding
