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In Brief: The energy death spiral grows; Another bad omen; Hobsons choice
In Brief: The energy death spiral grows; Another bad omen; Hobsons choice The energy death spiral grows Although it is far from obvious, Ofgem – Britain’s energy regulator is supposed to act in the interest of energy consumers. As the UK government explains: “The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) regulates the monopoly companies which run […]
Irony Alert: “Outlawing” Recession Has Made a Monster Recession Inevitable
Irony Alert: “Outlawing” Recession Has Made a Monster Recession Inevitable Those who came of age after 1982 have never experienced a real recession, and so they’re unprepared for anything other than guarantees of rescue and permanent expansion. The mainstream view is that recession is caused by economic-financial factors. The mainstream view is wrong, for recession […]
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh CLXXVII–Despite Warnings We Have Continued Business-As-Usual and Doubled-Down On Our Avoidance Behaviours
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh CLXXVII Rome, Italy (1984). Photo by author. Despite Warnings We Have Continued Business-As-Usual and Doubled-Down On Our Avoidance Behaviours The following is my comment on The Honest Sorcerer’s latest piece that highlights the impossibility of bypassing thermodynamic laws (especially Entropy) in our quest for the Holy Grail of a sustainable civilisation; in this […]
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh LXII–Magical Thinking About the Energy Transition
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh LXII July 31, 2022 (original posting date) Athens, Greece (1984). Photo by author. Magical Thinking About the Energy Transition A really short contemplation prompted by an article posted in Resilience.org from The Rapid Transition Alliance regarding sustaining long-distance trade via electric ships. The entire narrative around ‘electrifying’ everything is primarily about the marketing […]
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh LXI–Peak Oil: Not Ready For Mainstream Consumption
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh LXI July 29, 2022 (original posting date) Athens, Greece (1984). Photo taken by author. Peak Oil: Not Ready For Mainstream Consumption Today’s contemplation is based upon a post in a Peak Oil Facebook Group I belong to and the suggestion that the idea of Peak Oil is catching on more broadly and making […]
How De-Dollarization is Likely to Play Out
How De-Dollarization is Likely to Play Out Much has been written in recent years about “De-dollarization” — the shift from the use of the US dollar as the “international reserve currency” in favour of more diverse bi-lateral and multi-lateral currency agreements and transactions. The current system has a long and complicated history, but its most […]
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh CLXXVI–Confessions Of A Fossil Fuel Shill
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh CLXXVI Tulum, Mexico (1986). Photo by author. Confessions Of A Fossil Fuel Shill For anyone who has been following my writing over the past couple of years, you will know that I have been critical of non-renewable, renewable energy-harvesting technologies (aka ‘renewables’) and the ‘marketing’ that surrounds them[1]. My critiques are usually focused upon […]
We Are Not Mining with Renewable Energy
We Are Not Mining with Renewable Energy …and when we do, shit is going to get real The way we like to think of “renewables”. No smoke, just green fields and a clear blue sky… Photo by Serge Le Strat on Unsplash There are no “renewables” without mining, an unsustainable practice turbocharged by burning fossil fuels. Yet, advocates […]
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh LX–Infinite growth. Finite planet. What could possibly go wrong? Part Two
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh LX July 19, 2022 (original posting date) Athens, Greece (1984). Photo by author. Infinite growth. Finite planet. What could possibly go wrong? Part Two This is Part Two of a contemplation regarding what humanity’s future path ‘may’ look like. Part One can be found here. Based on the evidence found in our pre/history […]
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh LVIII–Magical Thinking to Help Avoid Anxiety-Provoking Thoughts
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh LVIII July 6, 2022 (original posting date) Arles, France (1984). Photo by author. Magical Thinking to Help Avoid Anxiety-Provoking Thoughts Today’s contemplation shares a comment I made to a Facebook Group a number of days ago in response to an article by Dr. Ugo Bardi — whose writing, especially around limits to growth and his […]
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh XLIV–The Ruling Class: Chasing Growth Regardless Of the Consequences
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh XLIV Tulum, Mexico (1986) Photo by author The Ruling Class: Chasing Growth Regardless Of the Consequences Today’s contemplation is in response to an article by the Honest Sorcerer whose writings I discovered not long ago and have enjoyed for their insight and clarity. I recommend reading them[1]. If only the tragedy that is […]
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh XLIII–War. What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing!
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh XLIII Teotihuacan, Mexico (1988) Photo by author War. What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing! Today’s ‘contemplation’ is derived from a conversation on a Facebook Group post I was recently involved with[1]. I’ve been reluctant to write anything regarding the current Russian/Ukraine conflict due to the extreme polemic and emotional aspects such events […]
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh CLXXV–Energy and Its Interconnections With Our Financialised Economic System
Today’s Contemplation: Collapse Cometh CLXXV Teotihuacan, Mexico (1988). Photo by author. Energy and Its Interconnections With Our Financialised Economic System Petroleum geologist Art Berman recently posted an article discussing an issue regarding the mainstream energy transition narrative that I wanted to highlight. This is the connection between our monetary/financial/economic systems and energy, something that as Art argues […]
The True Costs of Net Zero Are Becoming Impossible to Hide
The True Costs of Net Zero Are Becoming Impossible to Hide Our net zero lesson of the day is from the U.K. but it applies universally. It’s increasingly difficult for Biden and the EU to hide the true costs of net zero mandates. Britain Boiler Tax Scandal In the latest green fiasco, UK Prime Minister […]
