Talk - The Long Emergency - James Howard Kunstler

Talk by James Howard Kunstler author of "The Long Emergency: Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century" given June 9, 2005 at University Bookstore Seattle.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Oil
• Energy
• Emergency
• Peak
• Transportation
• Suburbia
• Suburbs
• Catastrophe
• Food
• Shortages

[Premedia]

I read his "Geography of Nowhere" years ago and that was quite compelling. Our national train system is a disgrace, the worst of the developed nations. We've been so conditioned to drive cars I don't know if we can turn that culture around. But it would be a huge step forward if we could.

[darkteknical]

This will never happen. People are too stupid. We are so screwed.

[blaked495]

"The former middle class - NASCAR nation meets the Weimar Republic..."  Brilliant!

[hollywoodartchick]

@KrunchyJD I am a cyclist, and I believe that one reason that the bike is derided is because at this point in time, a large number of cyclists are low-income and don't command the attention of local politicians. Same with bus riders. If wealthy contributors were visible as alternative transit users, perhaps our needs would be respected.

[HonestyInMedicine]

It is a great thesis except for the fact that oil is not a fossil fuel. It is abiotic and replenishes itself. Read Lindsey Williams' book, THE ENERGY NON-CRISIS. He was a minister on staff on the Alaska Pipeline. We all saw how it gushed out from beneath the ocean floor this spring and summer with the BP disaster. According to Lindsey Williams, it was the oil industry in the 1800's who agreed to market oil as a fossil fuel so they could charge more for it. Check it out.

[istair]

@daddypants22 you can't walk anywhere here in miami; this place is nothing but sprawl. and walking in 100 degree weather isn't too good for you either.

[TalksWithDirt]

Hhahah, the left and the right are sooo alike. They both have long protracted disasters that require massive government intervention. The righties have the islamic threat, and the left has this. Both are rooted in some reality but taken to a burlesque extreme.

[KrunchyJD]

@Amanda53189 You are so right on this. I have been saying the same thing. Why cant people see that the good old fashioned bicycle is a big part of the answer!

[Amanda53189]

We're better off riding bikes, living in tight-knit communities, and eating from the farmer's market. Kunstler makes some brilliant statements but I just want to know why he has bottled water in front of him!

[MrEnergyCzar]

One way I prepared for peak oil was converting my home to a net-zero solar powered home that uses no oil or gas..I made a video about it called, "Preparing for Peak Oil"....

[BigPreme]

only problem with this is is bio diesel theory. You do not need to use vegetables to grow bio diesel. You can use algae which relies on no amount of vegetables etc. The technology is already there and proven. But I agree in that we need to move away from the car and toward more mass transit and re-urbanization

[670Kiester]

Smart guy, I like him.

People are going to become soo violently angry when this kicks in.