Bloggers I have time for

Inspired partly by Peak Oil, partly by global warming, partly by inspiration itself, I've discovered the following writers who I enjoy reading. (Will write a thumbnail sketch on each when time permits).

Dave Pollard: I am putting Dave at the top of my list. His mission is only to save the world (from Canada). The Edward de Bono of doomers.

Neale Donald Walsch: of all writers on spirituality I've read, I resonate the most with Neale. I'm not saying that I go along with everything he writes (mainly accessed via his Conversations with God (CSW) books, but he comes the closest to expressing what I agree with, and in a much better literary style than I would be capable of.


Ran Prieur: Ran is, quite simply, a very interesting guy. He seems to think the way that I do (or vice-versa) and he does what I'd do if I could. He has written a number of essays about his take on most of the topics I share an interest in.

Glen Allport: Glen is a prolific writer of essays looking at the human condition mainly.

Stefan Molyneux: Stefan is someone everyone ought to know. He runs Freedomain Radio via podcasts. He'll energize you, and have you beating your own head at the same time. Leans rather heavily on logic as a tool, but that makes up for the masses who don't use it at all.

James Howard Kunstler: James is a great read. He comments on peak oil and economic issues with a rapier wit. Jim comes from an architectural perspective. Has written a few fantastic books and been involved in the Suburbia documentaries.

Thaddeus Golas
Derrick Jensen
Richard Moore
Dmitry Orlov
Richard Heinberg

Sharon Astyk
Carolyn Baker
'Peak Oil Blues Shrink'
Sally from LATEOE-WAWTG
Daniel Quinn
Keith Farnish
Hohn Perry Barlow

Thom Hartmann
Jerry Mander
Dan Bartlet
Rob Hopkins
David Holmgren
'Survival Acres' person
Rupert Sheldrake
Ivan Illich
William Kotke
Bill McKibben
Paul Levy
Glenn Parton
Charles Eisenstein
Howard Zinn
John Michael Greer
Dale Allen Pfeiffer
Noam Chomsky
John Zerzan
Michael Klare
Jay Hanson
Kurt Cobb
Curtis White
Peter Goodchild
Toby Hemenway
Bob Black

Progress

Read lots of books, seen lots of documentaries. No longer believe that conspiracy theories are all that far-fetched. Have located many more resources - see delicious under Williampeakoil tag. I'm moving more towards preparation. Permaculture as a concept has taken hold of my imagination. Gardens without digging. Another important direction I am taking is the development of supportive community. Read some good articles by Carolyn Baker recently. Even Neale Donald Walsch has touched on the subject in 'Tomorrow's God'. And did I mention how I enjoyed Jarod Diamond's 'Collapse'?

An Inconvenient Truth

Am going to have to do this differently. Just short, sweet post a topic at a time so as not to end up with an unreadable list. So today then...

Yesterday - in fact - I went to a free screening of Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth, which I had not see before. It took place at Taieri College as part of the Green Party's Climate Defence Tour. Jeanette Fitzsimons, the Co-leader, was to have been there, but wasn't.

Neither were the audience. Two of us braved the cold conditions, a woman in a wheelchair and me. I think a Russian family turned up part-way through, and maybe one other woman who left early.

So much for public awareness/apathy/whatever.

The first month

Notes from month one (May 2007):

• First read about Peak Oil after following a link on a site about velomobiles - bringing about an instant shift of my focus, better late than never!
• Starting this blog off in the local library having just read the pamphlet, -----, by Robert Anderson (the same person as Robert Atack? with whom I've started a communication?
• Learned that NZ uses 85% of its oil for transport, 5% on farms, 6% for industry, 2% for commercial, and just 0.9% for private use in homes
• One book, Climate Change, ------, that I apparently loaned from the library, has gone missing. Haven't seen hide nor hair of it at home
• Finished reading Kunstler's The Long Emergency, the best book on the topic I've read - eloquent, accurate, organised, even a touch of humour! Sent the author an email but haven't heard back yet
• Otago Polytechnic...
• Climate and locale investigation...
• Financial review...
• Retirement deadline...
• Three books read (mostly) in the past few days are:
• A thousand barrels a second by Peter Tertzakian - a great read with a strong historical perspective (learn everything you never wanted to know about Candlestick makers, whale hunters, and James Watt's business deals) and many informative graphs. Peter's main view is that a situation called break point occurs many times, followed by a a re-grouping or re-evaluation. It seems he is confident of a technical innovation?
• Twilight in the desert by Matthew R Simmons takes a concentrated look at the Middle East oilfields. Only read the last chapter of this. He is incredibly qualified to comment.
• Oil: Anatomy of an industry by Matthew Yeoman - a readable and introductory book on the topic. Strong political focus. A good chapter on the Bush dynasty. Is fairly dismissive of the proponents for an imminent oil peak - swallows the line that we're still good for at least 20 years.
• Plan B 2.0 by Lester R. Brown - a feel good utopian manual for saving the earth. Has a mission. Compares the cost of global defence spending with the amount it would take to fix everything. If you buy 5 or more copies you are automatically in Lester's A team.