James Howard Kunstler speaks at ERA Launch

The only centre of its kind in Canada, ERA brings together over 45 researchers from natural, physical, and social sciences to analyze how complex, vulnerable ecological sustains are coping in today's uncertain climate - further, the Centre takes a problem solving, evidence based approach toward identifying how these ecosystems can become more resilient and how humans and ecosystems can better adapt. James Howard Kunstler gave the keynote speech at the launch event.

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Education

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• JamesHowardKunstler

[emmazedbend]

thanks for posting this.

[KrunchyJD]

@CyberAthletethefirst Cars are VERY energy INEFFICIENT. The reason for this is that most of the cars energy is concerned with moving the car not its occupant. A bicycle is the opposite! There is NO green car, and there never will be. The only way to make a car green is to reduce its weight dramatically and do the same for its size. But then you have for all intense purposes is pretty much a bicycle with a small electric engine....

[CyberAthletethefirst]

How right this guy is. Between Kunstler(1978-2011), Heinberg(2010), Hearsh (2008), and the water guy the information is not good for the future.

[CyberAthletethefirst]

@CyberAthletethefirst how about that new bike made here in New Zealand. EV bike folds up on itself can go for miles. Made in my hometown and exported all over the world.

[martingrau98]

@CyberAthletethefirst re your comment about superbikes in the Kunstler speech--what's the food take for such an endeavor? what's the time? You could still run railroads on PV electric or electric from wind turbines at a fraction of the energy input of someone bicycling such items. And bicycling's inputs include maintaining road infrastructure. the future is rail-heads with local transport by bike. but there has to be a way for trade to work as well.

[flight1100]

O.K?

[GordonMGreen]

Interesting, but where is the evidence or argumentation? Most of what I hear in this lecture is a stream of unsupported assertions and invective about how dumb everyone is, with no coherent argument as to why the speaker's point is any more accurate, useful, or credible than anyone else's. As I understand it, eliminating coal-fired power plants is the #1 priority for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and I don' t think the speaker even mentions this, instead focusing only on urban planning.

[hollywoodartchick]

It sounds like we need to head off this "economic losers" issue by fighting for fair wages for people in all industries, including agriculture, because nothing is scarier than facing old age poor and forced to do harder labor than their bodies will tolerate. I think his vision of the future is more realistic than the people who believe in the labor-less, money-less economy - that kind of utopianism is always subverted by economics.

[Potlickerdotorg]

Nothing alarmist about being prepared.

[KrunchyJD]

@CyberAthletethefirst Fair enough. In the long run though with peak oil food travelling vast distances, I would suggest, is unrealistic. Food production would have to happen on a more local scale. The cities, in my country as well are too spread out. Having said that the majority of car trips now are short.