Saturday 1 October, 2005
The wisest decision in human history
Sweden takes the lead in the most important race in human history, namely the race of detoxing humans from oil. The aim of Sweden is to stop using fossil fuels by 2020, and they might make it, too. With the end of cheap oil looming, it seems that Sweden is one of the very, very few nations that are not ignoring the greatest challenge the mankind has faced. WW2, bird flu, plague, even world poverty and hunger (which I do care about deeply) are tiny problems compared to our addiction to oil. It is nice to see that at least one place on earth has guts to tackle the problem.
According to the reports, when president Bush asked his energy advisors what US should do once the oil production peaks and the prices skyrocket to 20+ times the current level in matter of very short time, the answer was "Mr. President, we must pray very, very hard." Allegedly this was acceptable answer. Not surprising, since the average American meal travels 1600 miles before it ends up in their plates, and it travels all that way on oil. I would be praying too, for the consequences are too terrible to contemplate. I hope my home country soon makes an announcement similar to Sweden's.
Posted by Dragon at 1 October 09:29, 2005Yhteiskuntaministeri Mona Sahlin kirjoittaa aiheestä päivän Dagens Nyhetarissä.
http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=572&a=468440&previousRenderType=2
# 2 - Jaakko (on October 1, 2005 11:47 AM):
Oops. Meant to say: "The Swedish Minister of Society-building Mona Sahlin writes about this in Dagens Nyhetar." It is in Swedish, of course.
# 3 - Dragon (on October 1, 2005 11:51 AM):
Let's hope the Swedish decision translates into actions. But one thing is for sure: if there is no will, there is no way. Infrastructure of the countries has to be changed to accomodate energy that is not based on oil.
# 4 - Emokolibri (on October 2, 2005 11:56 AM):
I am a bit sceptical. It doesn't help if you say "no" to one source of energy, unless you don't know to which source you say "yes". We remember that a few decades ago the Swedish parliament said "no" to nuclear power.
To decrease the using of (fossil) oil is a wise decision to every rational human being. But some credible program is required.
# 5 - Dragon (on October 3, 2005 03:04 PM):
You are absolutely right about a lack of viable alternative program, though of course the first requirement is the political will. Without it, no programs have any chance of taking off.
But apart from coal, oil is just about the worst possible source of energy, especially for private travel. I'd be surprised if coal was what the Swedes were gunning for.
# 6 - Emokolibri (on October 3, 2005 11:20 PM):
You are right. May be the "decision" to use gsoline-powered combustion engines in cars was the worst in in human history. Sweeds are currently using more bio-petroleum in diesel engines. The Finnish governement thinks that lowering the tax of bio-petroleum would cut the incomes to the state too much. We need both will and more research of the alternative options.
# 7 - Dragon (on October 4, 2005 10:00 AM):
It is an exceedingly dangerous game that the Finnish government is playing. They are gambling on the world's ability to increase the oil production, which I really don't think is possible. But even if you believe that the days of cheap oil will return (which sounds like lunacy to me), there is the environmental angle to consider.
Oh well, the oil price will soon push this into the top of the political agenda.
# 8 - Emokolibri (on October 4, 2005 11:24 AM):
Here is a link to Helsingi Sanomat. http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/uutiset/tuoreet/artikkeli/1101981140342
Mr. Bush should thank God for the clear warning he just got though Katrina and Rita. And Mr. Vanhanen should open his eyes, too.
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