From Fossil Fuels to the Solar-Renewable Economy - An Evolutionary Economic Step

The fossil fuel economy had its beginnings in the closing stages of the middle ages, when the increasing scarcity of wood led to the burning of coal by poorer families. At that time surface mined coal was regarded as a poor substitute for wood, but gradually, as the use of coal began to take hold and the mechanisation of the industrial revolution got underway. The use of natural gas became common in the 19th century and the 20th century has been the century of oil use. What all of these fuels have in common is the fact that they are the mined from earth. They are the legacy of past ages and cannot be replenished. Once they are gone they are gone. In this sense our modern economy, society and lifestyle are completely dependent on a temporary non-renewable source of energy.

In recent decades another unexpected side-effect of their use has been discovered. The phenomena of global warming. Once fossil fuels are burnt their residues, particularly carbon dioxide, stay in the atmosphere leading to a greater absorption of the heat of the sun. This has profound and de-stabilising effects on the earths natural ability to regulate and balance itself.

The Next Great Game

War on Iraq is about a lot more than boosting oil companies’ profits. It’s the latest battle in the ongoing war over who gets to control the earth’s remaining energy reserves. By Lutz C Kleveman

Ecologist

http://www.theecologist.org/article.html?article=391

The Wages of Denial

We are all about to pay the price of ignoring the coming energy famine. By David Fleming

Ecologist

http://www.theecologist.org/article.html?article=385