Its official: global oil production has peaked
Last week something astonishing happened: Fatih Birol, chief economist of the International Energy Agency, revealed that peak oil has already happened. “We think that the crude oil production has already peaked, in 2006.”Read more
How do you like your global food collapse?
If ever you needed proof that the current system is broken take a look at these recent comments from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reporting on the spread of the global collapse of honey bee populations....Read more
Competition for Russian oil increases
With the opening of a new oil pipeline from the worlds number one oil exporter, Russia, to the number one oil consumer, China, signals a number of worrying trends.
The fact that Russia overtook Saudia Aradia in 2009 marks the recognition that production there has probably peaked and is now in decline. Saudi was long known as the "swing producer" picking up the slack as one by one, other oil producing fields went into decline.
Secondly, the flow of oil to China means that Western Europe will be in competition with the worlds new economic powerhouse. As oil prices continue to rise can Europe afford a bidding war with China?
Lastly, we've already seen how the Russians can behave when, in 2009 they simply turned off gas supplies to the Ukraine because of "payment disputes".
2010 Sets new temperature records
BBC News Online has today reported research from climate scientists that shows 2010 to be one of the hottest on record. It goes on to say:
The two leading US analyses of global temperature show that up until the end of October, 2010 was the warmest year in the instrumental record going back to 1850.
Further, the top 10 years for warmest temperatures have all been since 2000. So while it may be freezing in the UK at this moment - we must not confuse "weather" with "climate".
Couldn't happen here?
BBC News Online reported yesterday on the Italian town of Tocco that has its own small wind farm of 4 turbines.
Thanks to the high wind resource and forward thinking of the local residents and officials the town now makes a profit from selling its electricity.
Local taxes have been abolished and services such as rubbish collection are heavily subsidised.
Sadly, this is unlikely to ever happen in the UK.
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