Male

27

I graduated from college with a degree in engineering and a minor in sustainable environments. My plan was to find the solution to our growing energy crisis. After doing an educated analysis of our situation I came to the frightening conclusion that there is no supply side solution that can meet our exponentially growing demand for energy. There is no conspiracy keeping free energy from us, there is no fusion in a cup, the problem is us. Whether you are on the far left or the far right everyone believes there is some huge energy source out there just waiting to be tapped. This is not true it is just convenient for everyone because it allows us to ignore the fact that we need to change our lifestyles. The end of cheap energy is coming. Over the last hundred years we have enjoyed plundering the better half of planet earth's stored energy resources. Burning finite energy resources, which took millions of years to create, has made our contemporary lifestyle possible. Unfortunately for us, the age of the fossil fuel is coming to an end. Most geologists predict that the production of oil will hit its highest value within the next 10 years. Once the production peak is reached the supply and demand curve for energy will cross, and energy across the board will become dramatically more expensive for everyone. Get ready for higher transportation, food, housing, heating, cooling and consumer product costs. This dramatic hit to our economy will result in fewer jobs, and rapid inflation at the least. If we are not prepared get ready for powerless cities, riots, bloody super markets floors, and a worldwide war for the remaining energy resources primarily in the Persian Gulf region. Do not be fooled by the MTV nation or the advertisers hypnosis we are not as stable as you think. With national and foreign debt at an all time high, unemployment rates rising, and the middle class shrinking our economy is waiting to crumble around us, and higher energy prices will break our fragile economy in two. We are currently flying towards a cliff at 100 mph in our SUV’s, sure we made the wrong turn about 50 miles (years) ago, and no one should be blamed for that, but does that mean we should keep going. The time to change our path is now. The conservation movement has begun, for those of you who will not stand idly by while, government officials and multi-national corporations rape our future for their own greedy purposes, I call on you to stand up for a change. To those who think a small group of people working together can’t make a change, look to the past in fact it is the only thing that ever has. I wish I could say we have time to organize our plans but we do not, the cliff is rapidly approaching and the driver is not listening to us. Our task is not easy we have to convince the very people who choose this path that it was the wrong one, and that we need to change our direction now not wait to react to the problem. However, we have one great advantage, we the people have all the power. If we unite and cast our economic vote we will be heard. If we stand up in groups for what we believe we will be heard. The environmental movement of the 70’s wasn’t a success because the government and the corporations were on the people’s side, it was a success because the people knew that through boycotts, freedom of speech and organized rallies no one could stop them. The conservation movement has begun but we need all of your talents and all of you voices to make it a success. Join me to help fight for a better future.

Things to Do
· Watch the Movie “End of Suburbia”
· Read “The Party’s Over” by Richard Heinberg
· Double your Energy Bills – Create a savings account and deposit the equivalent of all your gas and electricity bills into it each month. This will make you more aware of the energy you are consuming, while giving you economic security in the coming energy crunch
· Boycott Multi-National Corporations like Wall Mart, Costco, McDonalds. These companies destroy local economies and waste huge amounts of energy
· Spend you dollars Locally, shop at your local grocery, book, drug etc store
· Conserve energy where ever possible. Turn down your thermostat, hot water heater. Bike, walk, take the bus when possible. When you have to drive chain trips together or carpool. Buy energy saving and renewable energy technology now while you can afford it.
Stop Buying Gas Switch to Bio-Diesel a locally produced renewable energy source that does not contribute to global warming. Find a biodiesel vehicle at www.greencarco.com
· Educate your friends and family about the issues
· Organize conservation movement events
Host awarness events or End of Suburbia screenings at your house.
Run for political office - Win or Lose campaigning brings these issues into the public spotlight.