I cannot foresee any other “Event” coming to eclipse peak oil, not even the World Wars which might be unleashed in the Peak’s aftermath…
– A.M. Samsam Bakhtiari (1)
A growing number of international geologists and analysts warn of a looming catastrophe with the onset of the decline in the global supply of oil (2). Likewise, reports by several federal agencies, including the US Army Corps of Engineers, point to the need for immediate action, because the foreseeable impacts on our infrastructure and economy are without precedent (3).
Please sign our petition, calling on President Obama and Congress to direct an immediate scientific investigation by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).
Peak Oil will present our Nation with multiple and continuing crises that will require hard decisions. With a near-term peak, for example, we face the likelihood of shortages of gasoline and diesel fuel, along with the problem of how to allocate limited supplies. Beyond the direct effect on the movement of people and goods, we might well have difficulty maintaining components of our vital infrastructure such as roads, pipelines and the electrical grid. (4).
The National Academy of Sciences is the only source that can provide unbiased and authoritative answers to the questions of how to manage in the era of the “remorseless decline” in available oil and natural gas. The Academies occupy a special place, due to their unique history and mission as the scientific advisors to the Nation (5).
The Academies will have the opportunity to lay out the pieces of the peak oil crises in a clear overview that can provide a factual basis for the emotionally difficult reality we face. We can make our political process work for us to make changes in oil use and energy policy – and influence other nations to do the same…before it is too late.
This complete picture of “peak oil”, along with the Academies recommendations for policy guidelines, can galvanize our top political leaders to dramatically change the course of world history.
Our petition specifically asks for these specific and positive directions, so we will know what constructive actions might be taken at the national, state and local levels on short notice, such as community-based emergency plans and bolstering local food production.
Please sign our petition asking President Obama and Congress to act now.
References
1. Senior Official, National Iranian Oil Company. April, 2007. “A Century of Roots.” http://www.sfu.ca/~asamsamb/sb.htm
2. Colin J. Campbell, “About Peak Oil: Understanding Peak Oil”. http://www.peakoil.net/about-peak-oil. For overview of impacts, see Clifford Wirth, Phd. “Peak Oil Report.” http://www.peakoilassociates.com/POAnalysis.html
3. US Army Corps of Engineers, Energy Trends and Their Implications for the US. Army Installations. Construction Engineering. Sep 05. ERDC/CERL TR-05-21. analysis of “primary issues affecting energy options” and the Executive Summary, p IV, states “Domestic production of both oil and natural gas are past their peak and world petroleum production is nearing its peak.” http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=A440265
Also, see: 3 DOE NETL. Peaking of World Oil Production: Impacts, Mitigation, & Risk Management. February 2005 Hirsch, R.L., Bezdek, R., Wendling, R “… the failure to act on a timely basis could have debilitating impacts on the world economy.” p.60 http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/others/pdf/Oil_Peaking_NETL.pdf
4. (See above.)
5. The National Academy of Sciences. http://www.nationalacademies.org/about/
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Understanding Peak Oil 
Absolutely nothing will make a bit of difference until the crisis is so tangible that it can’t be denied and it is doubtful even that will work. Look at it this way, the evidence is now absolutely clear yet Obama and his political party folded in less than 100 days in office and now the radical right represented by Gingrich, Limbaugh, and McConnell is again ascendant. Europe is swinging hard right politically and China and India’s are in denial. How do you get the poor, unemployed, desperate, pampered aristocracy and every red-neck cracker of any caste up to the task? Get real, you don’t and without them the whole thing is wasted effort.
Greer has it right we are into a “long descent”. We don’t need consensus on how to save the mess we have brewed we need local and individual action to make life possible a life in the wreckage. Petitions hoping to change the economic inertia of empire and collapse are a waste of valuable time. But, if it makes you feel better have a bonfire and read the petitions in Esperanto as the participants hum Kumbaya maybe then you will sleep without nightmares.
Houner
Dear Houner,
Thanks for your reply.
1) I’ll start with your positive statement, namely: “…we need local and individual action to make life possible a life in the wreckage.”
I agree with this.
An example of current local action in my area is that the city, having just spent more than 10 million dollars on airport expansion, now plan to spend at least that much to build a new terminal.
I see this as a misguided use of valuable resources. This is “action.” But it’s the wrong action, from the point of view of people who accept the same facts I do.
The question is: How do I address this? I’ve tried. No one is listening to me. In addition, they are not listening to Robert Hirsch, who gave a talk where members of the City Council were present.
Our petition is just the first step. The next step is for the Academies to look at the facts about “peak” and tell the truth. The Academies (NAS) is one organization that has as its sole mission to give objective, impartial advice on matters of scientific import in their role as scientific advisers to our country.
2) Next up, you say, “…the evidence is absolutely clear.”
This is a critical point.
To whom is the evidence clear?
Our petition asks Congress to direct the Academies to make the evidence clear. We are asking for a scientific investigation, plus a look at impacts and then, advice on policy.
3) I agree that time is valuable. Life is so precious and so short – and for far too many of us, the life involves a great deal of suffering. Then, the life is still short, but time is so long and agonizing.
It takes less than a minute to sign the petition. Additional actions may take longer. For example, picking up the phone and calling your member of Congress. Perhaps two minutes?
We are motivated by our desire to ease suffering which appears to be just around the corner.
4) When you talk about politics, I just want to add: We are asking for scientific investigation and truth.
5) I see a contradiction in your statement that “nothing will make a bit of difference.”
Things may or may not make a difference. What actions do you want the local and individual people to take?
great place to learn how to prepare for peak oil