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Here: Standing in the Eye
of Oil Depletion and Global Warming
Recently, I attended a screening of the film documentary, The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream. A few short days before the screening I made a quick trip to the grocery store. Lost in thought about a current Web-of-Life wiki topic (Fossil Fuel Dependency), I found myself at the store entrance. The automatic doors swept open and, as I entered, a neon green flyer pinned haphazardly to a community bulletin board jumped out and grabbed my attention. Serendipity presented an opportunity to attend a meeting to discuss oil depletion!
The Screening:
The screening was held at ‘The Meeting House', a former 3-screen Cineplex movie theatre. Several years ago, after the demise of Cineplex, the building was simply renovated. The walls that had originally defined the three mini-theatres had been removed to create a spacious yet cozy auditorium. I'm not sure who owns it (I think perhaps a Christian Brethren group) but I do know that local groups now use the facility for community events ranging from a regular Sunday worship to music recitals to special-interest presentations.
The night of the screening, I arrived early and registered. A small entrance fee was collected ($5 cad). The official sponsor of the event was The Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights (OCCPEHR). Representatives of several other local groups (such as Gardens Off Drugs, Green Trans, Ground Breakers Oakville, Oakvillegreen Conservation Association and, the Halton Peace Network) also attended in support of the event. The atmosphere was friendly, warm and welcoming. Tables were set up in the lobby displaying a range of information about organic gardening, social justice, and sustainable living. Here and there, several items (such as books) were for sale including the documentary, End of Suburbia (EOS), in dvd format ($25 cad).
The evening was superbly facilitated by Mike Balkwill, a community consultant in the not-for-profit sector, and Liz Benneain, a passionate environmentalist and former editor of a local community newspaper. Mike had previously hosted 24 screenings of EOS for groups ranging from 5 to 50 people. Liz, I believe, had attended or hosted several other screenings. Although Mike and Liz had met professionally on occasion, they had only recently joined forces to present EOS. Their clear dedication and strong commitment to the message of the documentary was quietly powerful. Mike and Liz intend to organize further discussion groups and seminars on the issues presented in EOS. All who registered for this presentation will be notified in due course.
We were also privileged to have Barry Silverthorn, producer and editor of EOS, in attendance. At the end of the event, Barry, a quiet, unassuming man with great humility, spoke eloquently answering audience questions and addressing comments.
Approximately 200 people attended this particular screening. It appeared to me that people were mainly from Oakville or neighbouring Burlington and Mississauga. The age group ranged from young adults to elders, with a couple of young boys who attended with their father; men and women were equally represented; and, a diversity of perspective was expressed.
The format of the evening was as follows:
- A brief introduction
- The actual screening
- Small group discussions lasting perhaps 5 minutes - "What is your first reaction to the film?"
- An open mike discussion between facilitator and audience:
- one person from each group briefly shared summary of their small group discussion
- debating was not allowed - the intent of the discussion was to stimulate open-ended thinking about the information presented in the documentary
- facilitator asked several specific questions and then shared what he had learned from other screenings
- The audience was asked if they would attend future workshops to discuss strategies and to develop possible solutions
The Documentary:
Rather than describe, as I originally intended, the outcome of this particular evening and its initial impact on viewers in attendance, I would highly encourage all and sundry to experience the film, End of Suburbia, hopefully before the end of suburbia. Whether you live in a small village or large urban centre, the import of this film is of global proportion. If you are interested, please check the EOS website to read what people are saying about The End of Suburbia or to find listings of local screenings.
You might also consider joining the Post Carbon Institute's Screening Campaign. For more information, click here.
Second Annual Peak Oil Conference:
An E-mail Report from Liz Benneian
Hello All,
Mike Balkwill and I spent last weekend at the second Annual Peak Oil Conference at Antioch College in Yellow Springs Ohio. In attendance were 350 people from five countries.
It became clear as we listened to the economists, oil industry executives, scientists and others who have been working on the Peak Oil issue, that it is imperative to focus mitigation efforts at the community level. Communities that band together, show initiative, leadership and true concern for and connection to each other, will fare much better in the coming crisis than those who don't.
Some of the highlights from the conference:
1. The US Department of Energy commissioned a report on Peak Oil that was released in February this year by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Titled "Peaking of World Oil Production: Impacts, Mitigation and Risk Management", the report examines the likely consequences of the impending global peak. It was authored principally by Robert L. Hirsch (see Hirsch bio). The report’s Executive Summary begins with the following paragraph:
For more on this report go to: Energy Bulletin
2. Food will be the critical issue as the effects of the end of cheap oil begin to be felt. Stopping sprawl, protecting farmland, supporting local farmers and learning how to grow and preserve food are imperative if we want to avoid doomsday scenarios.
3. Local officials need to be challenged to start renewable energy projects now, not only to cushion the shocks from rising utility rates but also to keep vital infrastructure, such as municipal water and sewer systems, running as costs climb and energy supply becomes erratic.
4. For mitigation efforts to be successful there must be both restraints on supply and a reduction in consumption. This may buy us time to bring renewables online and to explore other energy options. The effort must be global and occur at both the highest levels of government and at the personal, individual level.
5. Cuba provides an interesting test case for what happens to a country when they lose access to a cheap fuel supply. When the Soviet Union fell in 1990, Cuba was completely cut off from supplies of oil and gas. We viewed an extraordinary documentary that will be released in January of 2006, about what happened next. How the Cubans coped and eventually overcame the crisis provides profound lessons for all of us. Though the Canadian situation is very different from Cuba’s, there is still much to be learned. I have ordered a copy of the documentary and will be showing it in the New Year. In the meantime, what we learned from the documentary will be a part of our discussion at the seminars on October 1.
The biggest current challenge is getting the word out about what Peak Oil is and what impact it will have on our lives. Most people are still blissfully ignorant about the issue and the mainstream media is still not giving it the attention it deserves.
It is heartening to hear that Peak Oil is finally starting to be discussed at all levels of the business and political spectrum. In fact, the Speakers Forum in Toronto will be presenting the energy industry's foremost investment banker Matthew Simmons, who is prominently featured in The End of Suburbia documentary, to address the Bay Street crowd on December 8. (For more information go to Speakers Forum) (ed note: 'Bay Street Crowd' refers to financiers, bankers and stock brokers)
In a story in the Toronto Star on Tuesday, September 27, Page B7 entitled "Fuel Prices May Curb Sprawl", federal cabinet minister John Godfrey told delegates to the Summit on the Future of Canada’s Infrastructure that municipalities can no longer plan sprawling communities in light of dwindling fuel supplies. (ed note: The Toronto Star is a leading daily Canadian newspaper)
It is also very interesting that a major oil company, Chevron, is discussing the end of cheap oil openly on their web page and inviting the public to work with them to address the issue. (go to Chevron and click on the line “So how will we feed this growing appetite for energy?”) Among other comments on its discussion page Chevron says “Energy will be one of the defining issues of this century, and one thing is clear: the era of easy oil is over. What we do next will determine how well we meet the energy needs of the entire world in this century and beyond.” And, “We call upon scientists and educators, politicians and policymakers, environmentalists, leaders of industry and each one of you to be part of reshaping the next era of energy.”
It should also be noted that American President Bush has said twice, in the past week, during public addresses that the price of gas will not being going down in the foreseeable future and that Americans should start conserving by “avoiding unnecessary trips”. He also stated that federal employees would be asked to do the same. This is a major change of tack for a president who has been loath to do anything that might slow the economy.
There is much more I could say about the issue but I will leave you with this: I truly believe this is no more critical issue facing our community than the coming energy crisis and I believe that within our own community leadership must emerge to find and implement some community solutions.
Finally, there are still some spaces left in the seminars at the Oakville Library Auditorium on Saturday, October 1 at both the morning sessions (9:30 a.m. to noon) or afternoon sessions 1 to 3:30 p.m.). The sessions, informed by our recent attendance at the
Peak Oil conference, will focus on community solutions and on how to make social change happen. Cost is $10. If you like to attend please call me at or email me.
Screenings of The End of Suburbia for community groups, followed by a facilitated discussion, can also be arranged by contacting me.
Thanks for your continued interest in this issue.
Liz Benneian
After EOS - A Personal Perspective:
A season has passed since I first attended the screening of EOS. Ah, at first glance, such a quiet, unassuming sentence. No hint of upheaval or impact. No suggestion of soulful process or heartfelt cares. Often over the months, I have come here to write about my 'personal perspective' only to abandon the task to another day - perhaps this day. Something compels me to share this intimate view because, I suppose upon reflection, the changes that ride the back of oil depletion are most certainly up close and personal. They are not off in some distant misted future reserved for some distant woebegone few. Rather, they are racing towards us and they are only a heartbeat away.
I walked out of the theatre that night exhausted. I felt exceedingly overwhelmed. Even though the subject of oil depletion was not new or unfamiliar to me; and, even though I had given the subject some serious thought and consideration over the years, the social enormity of the problem had actually not dawned on me before. Far reaching, all encompassing enormity!
At the screening, we had discussed our first reaction to the film - initially in small groups and then sharing summations with the entire group. Reactions were all over the board. They ranged from helpless to fearful to rational denial, to what about this and how about that. (I even remember the first person to stand up. She indignantly demanded an answer from EOS producer and editor, Barry Silverthorn, as to why he had not interviewed any female experts.) No matter the perspective, the tone was the same: intense concern and a strong sense of urgency for a solution, a fix. A pall of impending doom hung in the air. I listened intently to each speaker and yet, in the back of my mind, all I could think about was the children. We have not prepared the children for this!
For a good ten days after the screening, I talked incessantly to anyone and everyone about oil. You know that lightning speed 'did ya know? what d'ya think?' chatter-babble that sometimes comes during the first phase of 'dawning'. Finally spent, I became still and my attention shifted inward. I began to notice, in the smallest details, how oil served my every-day. The simpliest acts, such as peeling an orange, evoked feelings of deep gratitude tempered by feelings of loss and sadness. (Oranges don't grow in our Canadian climate. They arrive courtesy of oil - by truck, train, ship or plane.) I'd pick up some sewing, bless my scissors and needle and thread, all the while appreciating that, if it weren't for oil, I most likely would not have the tools I need to sew. I'd think about my sister who lives two quick hours away by car. I imagined how many days it would take to walk all that way up hill to visit her. Could I do it in the snow? Would I need snowshoes if I wanted to celebrate Christmas with her? How do you make snowshoes? Funny little scenarios (like the snowshoes just now) would visit my new found understanding of enormity, drifting in and out like fluffy clouds on a sunny day.
I find it difficult to convey in words the process of grieving I've experienced during my awakening to 'enormity'. It has the qualities of quiet depth, similar to a lover's farewell - lingering yet destined.
to be continued
Workshop I - Energy and Climate Change:
On Saturday, October 1st, I attended the first follow-up workshop to the May screening of End of Suburbia. The workshop was held at the main branch of our Oakville Public Library in one of its several bright and well-equipped meeting rooms. Once again, Mike Balkwill and Liz Benneain superbly facilitated this morning's three-hour session. (Mike and Liz were also set to conduct a second afternoon session with another group in attendance.)
Approximately 25 people participated in the morning session. The group size allowed for effective interaction and exchange of ideas. All but one participant (actually a friend of mine) had previously seen the documentary, EOS. Perhaps half the participants currently belonged to one of two active community groups: Green Trans or Gardens off Drugs (an organic gardening group). Several others worked in government (Environment Canada) but were engaging as private citizens. There were no apparent skeptics in the group and all expressed a high level of interest. Some participants were more knowledgeable than others and this led to a healthy sharing of information.
Upon arrival, people greeted each other warmly and, even though many had never met before, there was an immediate sense of community. Refreshments (coffee, teas, muffins and such) were nicely laid out on a counter top and we were invited to help ourselves at any time throughout the morning. Meeting tables and chairs were arranged in a large U-shape format which enhanced individual participation.
As we found our way to our seats, we were each given a simple Workshop Agenda:
I include the agenda here as a guideline only. Overall, our discussion followed this agenda; however, we did alter it at the beginning of the meeting to accommodate some of the participant's objectives. The expertise of the facilitators to remain flexible and yet maintain a clear, precise meeting structure served the day well. A summary of workshop highlights follows.
1) Peak Oil Conference - Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, USA
Participants were interested to hear more about the Peak Oil Conference Liz and Mike attended in mid-September. (see Liz's report above or Charting the Journey Home, an additional report on the conference written by Megan Quinn for the Global Public Media Website - Public Service Broadcasting for a Post Carbon World.)
In our discussion, Liz and Mike underscored a key understanding expressed at the Conference: Oil depletion is coming more quickly than perhaps previously forecast. It is set into motion and there are no brakes. We can only try to soften the 'blow' to our oil dependent societies. Based on the current levels of world demand for oil, and taking into consideration burgeoning demands by China (for example), there are no replacements for oil. This will most likely herald the end of the Technology Age.
If we can, we must slow down the demand for energy now and 'buy' at least a little time to prepare. As we run out of oil, the biggest issue that will confront us is Food. Oil based pesticides and fertilizers are the mainstay of the large, corporate farms that have replaced many traditional, small-scale family farms in various countries. Over-use of such fertilizers leaves the soil barren, deplete of natural vitality. Also, the equipment used on farms of all sizes in different parts of the world requires oil to operate, to function; and, most importantly, trade practices which fuel global interdependency for food supplies require long-distance transportation systems that are dependent, once again, on oil.
Solutions to our global dependency on oil will be found in healthy, vibrant communities with strong, local economies. The shift to wide-scale sustainability will be of paramount importance. There are few historical models (on record) to help guide the way. However, one such possible model is Cuba.
As Liz wrote in her report above, Cuba has much to teach us. After the collapse of the USSR, Cuba suddenly lost access to its fuel supply. With the loss of fuel, the integrity of Cuba's food supply was severely weakened. For reasons outlined above, its fields were sterile. Consequently, everybody became agricultural workers to one degree or another. Thirty percent of the urban population moved to rural lands. Urbanites grew food wherever they could - on apartment balconies in pots, in backyard plots. People living in rural areas worked to revive the land. Meanwhile, the average person, who went from eating three meals a day down to two, lost 30 pounds. It took five years to restore the fields to productivity. Cubans now enjoy three meals a day; people in Havanna grow 80% of their own food; and, people, in general, feel much healthier and fitter.
Even though Cuba is a good model to learn from, each country has different obstacles to face. For instance, Cuba already had a localized food distribution system in place that met the UN's basic daily food requirements. Cuba is located in a warm part of the world where growing seasons are longer and perhaps more fruitful than a northern country such as Canada. In the end, each locality will have to rationalize its own solutions, community solutions.
Various speakers at the conference, such as Power Down author Richard Heinberg, also stressed aspects of the nature of energy supply that reinforce the impact of rapid decline in oil supplies. For example:
- The ability to extract oil from the earth is dependent on the source of oil and is calculated as the net energy ratio. Net energy ratio describes how much potential energy is extracted by using one unit of energy to do the work of extraction. For instance, light oil (the oil at the top of the well) has a net energy ratio of 20:1. For every unit of energy it takes to extract light oil, we get 20 times more potential energy from the extracted oil. (Remember the movie images of an 'oil gusher' - that's light oil.)
- Currently, there are no other available fuel sources that can satisfy global demand for energy once oil is gone. Natural gas is depleting faster than oil. Net energy ratio aside, tar sands emit a lot of green house gases, negatively effecting air quality and global warming. Although coal is still abundant, using it as fuel also has a very serious negative effect on the environment. Potential for diaster aside, nuclear energy may be clean but it requires uranium which is a finite resource. (It is estimated that, to satisfy current global demands for energy, we only have a 30 year supply of uranium left.) Hydrogen cells hold some promise but they are not as yet readily available nor have they been fully integrated into current technology.
2) A Few Practical Things We Can Do Right Now
- Think globally. Act locally.
- Support your local farmers. Buy their produce.
- Protect farmland. Stop urban sprawl.
- Protect water sheds and green spaces.
- Work together with neighbours and friends to grow food.
- Plant trees. Plant fruit trees and nuts.
- Lobby all levels of government for change. Write your government officials.
- Convince town council and/or officials to take action locally.
- Use renewable energy as much as possible. Re-fit your house.
- Talk to your family, friends, and neighbours about the issues and work on viable solutions together.
3) Overcoming Resistance to Change
Perhaps for the first time in recorded history, we have, to some degree, awareness (and knowledge) of a potential global catastrophy looming on the horizon. Mike likened it to being told that a hurricane is taking shape when it is only several days away. So, now that we know, what do we do?
If the urgency of the moment is to be taken seriously, we need a massive wake-up call. Mike reminded us that before an effective strategy for change can be developed, the problem must be assessed. Geological experts have been cognizant of finite oil supplies since as early as the 1950's and some of the public has been alerted since, at least, the 1970's yet few of us seem to have taken heed.
At this point in the discussion, we turned our attention to 'Resistance to Change'. Here is an abbreviated list (in no special order) of what we considered to constitute resistance (in Canada, specifically urban Ontario):
- denial
- lack of awareness
- fear
- local government is bombarded by too many special interest groups so the import of oil depletion gets lost in the shuffle
- ignorance
- misplaced core values
- materialism - fundamentally skewed
- the thought of 'no oil' threatens what people value
- the perception that the problem is looming - too far away - not immediate
- the government will fix it
- science will fix it
- loose community ties of modern urban life - no community network to deal with the issue
- individualistic culture
- think we have to 'do it' by ourself - no one else will help
- nobody else cares - nobody else knows about it - all alone
- inertia, avoidance - too depressing to deal with - just give up
- too scary - I don't believe you
- ahh - heard about it for years and nothing's going to happen - cry wolf
- global economy is based on the growth ideal - unprecedented growth has overwhelmed us
- daily life is extremely busy - don't have time to think about some vision of the future
- too busy to reflect
- no real oil shortage - all about money
- government favours corporations and they are only about money
- God will save us
- the free market will save us
- technology will save us
- it's just like a game of poker - all-in bet on technology and free market system and people don't want to believe it will fail, that they will lose the bet
- a conspiracy theory by radical environmentalists - there's really lots of oil
- afraid will be out of work if we consume less
- all things that are good take too long - impatience - not interested if there is no quick fix
- too much information - overwhelming
- relying on external information - not using common sense
- negativity
- grief process - can't deal with loss - hopeless
- framed as a white, male, middle-class issue only - not my problem - it's their problem
- pessimism - we are just another mammal and we live in a fool's paradise greased by oil
4) Small Group Exercise: Flower Power
After discussing resistance to change, we were divided into small groups. Mike gave us a large sheet of paper and some crayons. Keeping 'resistance to change' in mind, we were asked to draw a picture of a flower, including its roots, stem and leaves. We could add external elements (such as soil or sunshine or a dog) if we wanted to. The picture was to represent our understanding of the dynamic between 'resistance to change' and 'oil depletion'. The roots were to symbolize root causes or core values; the flower was to symbolize the presenting symptoms; and, the stem was to symbolize support - the connection between root cause and presenting symptoms.
We were given 15 (or maybe 20) minutes to complete the task, and, as memory serves, it felt more like 2 minutes. When we were finished drawing, one person from each group presented the picture to the whole group.
This was an excellent exercise. (It was also fun because anything with crayons and a group of people is fun! IMHO, I must add.) The exercise helped to consolidate and clarify the issue at hand and to bring a deeper, unified understanding to the group. (I have a small confession to make. The exercise was not called 'Flower Power'. I named it that because, hey, it needed a name and, afterall, I am a child of the 60's.)
In summary, we ended the morning with each participant offering closing comments and suggestions of next steps. We agreed that we needed to meet again, to continue to organize in community.
~Gemma October 29, 2005, at 03:06 AM
Resources:
- How Social Change Can Happen - An article by Mike Balkwill
- The Midwest Academy Direct Action Organizing Process
- In a video lecture, Richard Heinberg speaks about his latest book, Power Down: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World .
- Listen to James Howard Kunstler as he discusses the content of his book, The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of the Oil Age, Climate Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-first Century
- Models: Communities Developing toward Sustainability:
- A Crack in the Asphalt, a list of links to information about urban greening and community compiled by the Oakville EOS group.
- The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (Documentary)