Ladies and Gentlemen, the world, as we know it is about to end!
Apocalyptic predictions have long been the domain of alarmists, religious zealots and nutbags who can be easily dismissed as we go about our day-to-day lives. That is why I can’t help feeling a bit uneasy aligning myself with them for this article. But the truth is… the world, as we know it IS about to change.
Whatever your beliefs about the matter, however things may unfold the simple truth is that in the next ten to fifteen years civilisation will succumb to its biggest challenge yet.
That challenge is the reality that the oil is running out.
”Oh dear” you say. “Here we go again. So what? We all know that petrol prices are going up. It’s those bloody oil companies screwing us again”. And so they are, but unfortunately it’s a little more complicated than that.
I, like most people had assumed that the current cost of fuel was just another ploy by big corporations to make massive profits out of the last remaining oil for the next fifty years or so. I foolishly assumed that being big money-making corporations they and the giant transport, airline and petrochemical industries that rely on oil would be ultimately looking after their future wealth with intricate plans for tomorrow involving the slow release of alternate technologies to keep the world running.
I have recently learned that unfortunately, they haven’t actually made those plans. The sad truth is, they, along with governments and even the well meaning scientists actually have no frigging idea what to do once the oil runs out. Worse still, it doesn’t actually even have to run out before the problems arise. Massive problems begin when the oil is on its way out. That is, once we are finding and producing less oil than we are consuming. And the good news is… that’s already starting to happen. For a full and rational explanation have a look at this site:
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net
You may not have stopped to consider it but have a quick look around. The computer you are using, the chair you are sitting on, the clothes that you are wearing and even the food that you may be eating are all made from or reliant upon oil. Oil for plastic production, oil for transport, oil for farm machinery, oil for mining equipment and oil as a commodity on which the economy is metered. Our whole civilisation and society is tied to and reliant on oil. If it runs out the economy isn’t just in trouble… IT STOPS!!!
The society that we know will crumble. There will be a market crash, there will be wars and chaos, there will be shortages of food. And the scary truth is that this could, and very likely will happen within the next 20 years. No kidding, no joking, it WILL happen. There are no more oil supplies to be found, there are no alternatives that can stop this happening. The crash will come and no amount of bio fuel, solar panels or nuclear reactors will stop it. The people with the power to fix it were supposed to do it thirty years ago. Unfortunately they didn’t get around to it.
The good news is… people will survive. Society will continue. But the way we live will be changed forever. Every facet of our lives will be affected and life will be very, very different.
I am not telling you this to upset you. I’m not telling you to be a smart-arse. I am telling you because you should start thinking very carefully about the way you live your life. This stuff will probably start to happen within the next ten years. Don’t be afraid and don’t be oblivious to it. Do some research and decide for yourself what you should do.
I’m personally trying to be pragmatic about it. Most generations have felt the sting of history whether it be war, revolution or depression and I don’t think I should feel special enough to be any different. We are starting to see the environmental effects of the oil that we have burnt so it’s probably about time humans paid the price. And society could do with a shake up. Money has taken precedent over health and well being for too long now.
Sure I’m a bit concerned about this bleak future. I hate riding my bike and I’m no good at gardening or sewing so I’m not sure how I’ll keep myself fed and clothed when the shops are empty because they can’t ship in new supplies. I guess I’ll learn to adapt or die trying. Either way it will be interesting to see how the world copes.
I guess when I think about it I’m really looking forward to the end of the world. Does that make me an optimist or a pessimist?
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