Reducing and ending consumption
The price of oil is greater than it has ever been and I am worried that as we approach the summer months we are far too focussed on the cost of travel, tourism and business. I am concerned that we are treating this as an inconvenience and an irritant rather than what it is really is, the first shot across the bow of the western consumptive way of life. What will happen as the summer months wane and we head back into the colder bleaker months of winter, when it is only about travel, but about the basic necessities like food and heat. In Canada we are so dependent on fossil fuels for heat and transport of food stuffs from across the world that we have not planned for what to me is the inevitable.
We in the middle class wail and complain at the erosion of our wealth as the price of a barrel of crude climbs. we demand governmental assistance to ease the tax burden as our corporate power companies swim is revenues, feeling that it is our due to have a cut of the pie. My concern is this as we hue and cry. What about the people who could not afford a tank of oil last winter, who were on the margins of society, who could not afford the food on the super market shelves?
If you think that last winter was a trial, wait for this coming winter. Food banks and oil banks are already over subscribed and the need far greater than the ability to meet the demand.
So what to do, what is the solution? Certainly the price of oil is not likely to reverse. My approach to this conundrum is to use less. Less imported food, less driving, less consumption and fewer toys and purchases. And when I do need to to consume something I have a number of criteria. How far does it have to be shipped. Where is it manufactured and how much plastic is involved in it manufacture? I ask myself the question whether I really need it. Is there some way I can do the same thing without it. I also consider the likelihood of obsolescence. How long will I be able to use it and what happens to it after I am done with it?
What I have found is that as I consider what to buy and what not buy, I find that the process of considering the purchase actually inhibits impulse buying. Sometimes after all the considerations have been taken into account I find that I really don’t need it. It was a case of want and not need.
So what good it this you ask. How does that help? As I consume less, there is more left for other things, other people and maybe just maybe, if the demand falls, so to will the speculation that is driving a lot of the price increases. The final reason is that it also makes me feel better. I find that I value what I do have and tend not to seek consolation in the acquisition in new items that all too quickly become detritus and cast-off
Will this work for everyone? Probably not. But I feel a little better.
June 6th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Hi Richard,
Before I write anything, I have to say that, as my name may suggest, English is not my native tongue so please excuse my bad and incorrect use of the language. I apologize for it beforehand.
I agree almost 100 per cent with of what you say about our consumptive society as well as any other subjects you write or talk about.
We must fundamentally change our way of life so that our civilization may be able to survive a bit longer then I think it would last. However, I recently begin to suspect that our effort of changing our behaviuor to reduce our consumption in any degree, short of the magnitude of tectonic revolution, would not be able to change the outcome of our civilization in any meaningful way. One of the reasons is the population level we are in. As you often say, our population level is way too high to be sustainable, but we human being collectively doesn’t have any will or wisdom to change our population level or growth pattern peacefully or effectively.
The next problem is the lack of economic wisdom or tools to change our consumption pattern so that the shrinking economy would not destroy our social fabric or stability of our culture. For example, we still promote tourism and big events such as concerts or sports events in this province or entire country. In the viewpoint of consumption, such events must be eliminated first, even before we think about where and how the food we eat are produced.
These are the few of many things I could think of as problems we face. These problems may probably be too complex, profound and difficult for us to solve in the time frame we have.
I may be too pessimistic about this but I think the future of so called western civilization (incl. all developed and developing countries of the world) may break. As most of civilizations preceding ours, we may be facing the end of this civilization by depleting the resources and destroying the environment. This may well be the evolutionary development pattern of the civilizations, I hope not but…
I would be very happy to hear your comment on these points in your future blogs or talks on the radio.
I am a bit of science buff as you are, but not as educated or insightful as you are. I really enjoy your commentary and radio show. Please keep up good work you do. Thank you very much.
Sincerely
T.Y.
June 6th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Firstly let me say I love listening to your incites and opinions. You really seem to have a head on your shoulders.
This whole issue has been plaguing me lately to be honest. I am a father of 3…home owner…bla bla bla and I have been trying to push this new (or old) way of thinking to my family. Not always easy but were getting better I think. My biggest problem is that my home is older, heat and energy is just leaking out I’m sure, and I own a minivan for the family. I’ve already made it clear that the ’sweet’ van ride is coming to an end, provided I can even get rid of it at this point, and I’m planning on having a site inspection done on my house to see where I can make improvements. All of which is fine and good but the almighty buck makes the world go round.
Home upgrades are not cheap. These newer more fuel efficient cars are more then a few buck for sure. Most people are like me…we just have no clear idea as to where we should start/invest our money (or where the hell we are going to get money to do it :)). I have been trying to do some market research on alterative home heating/powering devices. Solar panels, thermal systems, home windmills…etc. Big setup costs but if it saves in the long run, financially and environmentally, it’s worth it. I’d love to see(hear) a show based on some of the new technologies out there for home owner. What the average guy with a modist income might be able to use.
Just a thought…
Thank you Richard for your time..
June 17th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Thank you both for the comments, They are well thought out and reflect what it is that we all have to do….which is think things over, make decisions based on information and try to step outside of what is obviously a system which is now hurting us all.
What to do is the big question. I don’t think there are any easy solutions ever, but in this case they are particularly onerous and difficult.
AK and I will touch on all the questions you raise in the next Science Files. Also my new book on climate change for the Maritimes has some suggestions (July it will be in the stores, but stay tuned to the exact date). I am writing my third book which is going to be dedicated on what we must do as opposed to setting up the poblem. I am finding an enormous interest in trying to fix the problem as we come to our senses,
Thanks for your thoughts and for listening
June 26th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Richard, this is a great post. I find that in order to galvanize myself enough to actually make changes to the way I live, I need to read an inspiring and informative book. George Monbiot’s “Heat” and Barbara Kingsolver’s “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” have both wrought major changes in my lifestyle recently. I still find myself caught up in a very consumption-oriented life (though at least now most of the consumption is local), and I would love any recommendations you have for books that critique and propose alternatives to consumer culture. Thanks for your fantastic writing here.
July 18th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Hi Richard,
I know this is an older topic, but I’m replying now with a theory I have been considering for a few weeks.
First of all, let me begin by stating that I am not scientifically inclined (I guess you could call me more of an artist than a scientist). This being said, I devour tv shows on Discovery, Discovery Civilization, National Geographic, etc…
A few weeks ago, I saw a story on Daily Planet about a teenager who bought an older 1/2 ton truck, and for about $6000, converted it to 100% electric. He plugs it in at a cost of about $15-$20 per month to charge it up, and it can roll at about 45-50 mph for a few hours, plenty for his puttering around town. The reporter asked the rhetorical question: If a 19 year-old kid can build an electric car in his spare time, why can’t the “Big 3″ or any other auto builder do the same? We all know why the question was rhetorical. Oil and its death-grip on the auto industry. Anyway, this is not the purpose of my rant.
The story got me thinking… (Please be patient, I’m getting to my point!!!)
Most cars consume some kind of fuel: gas, ethanol, hydrogen, even hybrids need gas, and plug-in hybrids use electricity that was created by burning coal, oil, etc.
Now, please excuse my limited knowledge of how electricity is actually created. Is it not made by turbines spinning magnets inside a metal coil (or something like that)? If not, then disregard the rest of my letter.
Here’s my crazy idea:
Why hasn’t anyone invented a car that uses its wheels and axles as turbines to create electricity? In my tiny, little head, I figure a car like this could literally create its own energy, and never need to plug in or gas up!!! Wheels are always spinning, power is always being created, batteries are constantly being charged, no real fuel is being burned.
Am I crazy, or can this work (if so, I’m willing to share the rights to the idea!!!)? Maybe it already exists and someone linked to the oil industry bought the patent and then shredded it up…
There may be a few bucks to be made if someone smart could build this type of car…
Thanks.