tobymiller.com :: The Energy Crisis Curewritten by Toby Miller on June 19, 2008 June 19, 2008
We are in an energy crisis and we need a cure. Is it really that hard to come up with a solution? No. Is it really that hard to admit what the solution is and follow through with it? Yes. The truth is that it's everyones fault, we just don't seem to realize it and even when we do we do nothing about it.
Supply
Who generates it and who do they answer to?
Big Oil and Coal account for almost all of the energy in the world today and they're exceedingly good at what they do. They provide a commodity that everyone needs which is incredibly lucrative for them. So they do whatever they need to in order to keep the money tap open. So far nothing seems so bad so what's the problem? They are at the top of the chain in business and government so they really don't have anyone to answer to. They do what they want when they want because everyone with the power to speak against them are actually in bed with them.
Demand
Who uses it and how much do they use?
We use it and we use as much of it as we possibly can which is the only reason why we keep needing more and more of it. If you did not grow it, pick it and use it then energy was used to get it into your hands. It had to be researched, marketed, developed, processed, packaged, transported, sold, delivered and even possibly recycled to start all over again. Whether it plugs into your outlet or not it uses energy. There are no free meals.
Desire
Who wants it and why?
We want it because we are following in the footsteps of our friends, families, co-workers, neighbors, celebrities, strangers and so on. We are a raised civilization of copycats. It's how we learned to walk, talk, run, play, work and live. Once in a while someone does something new, but for the most part people do what other people do because they saw them do it. You are people too.
Necessity
Who needs it and why?
Premature babies need it so the machines can help them survive the trauma of an early birth. Trauma patients need it so crash carts can start their heart beating again. Scientists need it so they can run tests to find cures for diseases. Everyone else needs it for communications because that's what keeps us from reverting back to the stone ages. Everything else that we need produced energy for is really only necessary for luxuries. We were feeding, sheltering and entertaining ourselves for many years before electricity yet somehow now we can't live without it. The truth is that there really is no energy crisis, we have merely become spoiled at getting what we want when we want. We all have the ability to change this.
Problem
Deception is rewarded and honesty is punished.
The real problem is that we seem to have a distorted view of what is good and bad which has led us to this place. Blame this on whatever is convenient for you; power, money, religion, prestige, etc. There's an old saying that goes "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, Teach a man to fish and he eats for life". Here is a new saying that is more fitting for our modern times that goes "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, Sell a man a fish and he'll come back tomorrow". The very concept of money has ruined all of us. We need to start thinking of each other, our children, our children's children and so on. Money is truly useless.
Solution
Redefine your worth and act accordingly.
- Almost everything can be accomplished without power, learn how.
- Most food can be grown in your backyard, start farming.
- Practice passive heating (solar radiation, thermal mass, insulation, clothes, blankets, etc) instead of relying solely on conventional heating systems.
- Practice passive cooling (shade, strategic landscaping, stay downstairs, wear thin clothes, wear no clothes, lose excess weight, meditate).
- Share your viewpoint with other people (even the quiet people are listening).
- Truly care about other people, great things stem from that.
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