tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post4097104214971454015..comments2024-03-18T17:17:00.423+13:00Comments on Not PC: Re-designing Russel’s “green” economics [update 2]Peter Cresswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-86278005793820775372012-06-06T08:39:44.287+12:002012-06-06T08:39:44.287+12:00Julian Simon wrote a great book in the '90s ca...Julian Simon wrote a great book in the '90s called "The Ultimate Resource". His central thesis is simply that the only resource that is genuinely and consistently in short supply is human intellectual capacity. This position is supported by the long term rise in wages of the general populace. Although nearly 20 years old, this book is well worth a read. PeppyKiwiPeppyKiwihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00221835531910332395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-43519037034747767402012-06-05T22:15:32.105+12:002012-06-05T22:15:32.105+12:00Stellar post PC.Stellar post PC.Sam Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09035978404256500568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-35449167431187367002012-06-05T12:29:22.126+12:002012-06-05T12:29:22.126+12:00Yes Dinther I agree with your comment, I have alwa...Yes Dinther I agree with your comment, I have always (50 odd years) held the belief that "man" will find slutions to problems on an as needed basis.<br /><br />This happens in most other fields of scientific endeavour, and will and is happening in the energy field also, as we speak.<br /><br />"Man" has always been & will remain adventurous, courageous, and answer seeking.<br /><br />"Man" also has an inherant desire to succed to ensure the continuation of the species, that answers will always be found.<br /><br />Me...optomistic much...<br /><br />We are an exciting lifeform, and we own the planet!Loftynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-73384234114819272602012-06-05T11:30:37.559+12:002012-06-05T11:30:37.559+12:00@ Richard Watts
First of all, if you would take o...@ Richard Watts<br /><br />First of all, if you would take oil exploration restrictions away we are not even close to running out of oil.<br /><br />But... So what if we are? Oil price goes up and other forms of energy will become viable.<br /><br />Research into other forms of energy becomes attractive too. I think Peters point is that humans are capable to harness the energy that is around us in abundance. Limiting your view to oil is not helpful.Dintherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09444894238003853527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-65793984318937217612012-06-04T21:27:49.662+12:002012-06-04T21:27:49.662+12:00Do you know how many generations of humans have ex...Do you know how many generations of humans have experienced what we know of as 'perpetual growth'? 8 generations. <br /><br />What caused this growth that we take for granted? The net energy gained from the exploitation of coal then oil and natural gas deposits, a finite resource which was developed over millions of years and burnt in a mere fraction of the time in order to extract resources such as iron ore concentrated by hydrological processes again over millions of years. <br /><br />If you doubt the quantity of energy embedded in something as mundane as oil you can do one of two things, either walk a mile as your cars shoes or set yourself on fire with petrol. Personally I suggest the former. Now I want you to bask in the glow of the truth that there isn't a battery on this planet which even comes an order of magnitude close to that petrol in your car and that is with 'billions' spent in development. Yes that means a $50 gas tank and $50 worth of petrol pre-tax outperforms $15,000 worth of batteries in any car. <br /><br />Now ask yourself one question. Why are Shell spending all that Capex in the Arctic? Because they cannot replace their reserve base otherwise. This is what the oil industry calls the reserve replacement question whereas you might call it peak oil. If you can't replace the oil burnt with batteries nor can you replace the reserves that are consumed easily then the sky is indeed falling because our society relies upon that energy source. You may disdain upon the Green parties ideas, however they are the only ones who are asking the question 'can we sustain what we already have' let alone actually grow from what is a shrinking base of resources.Richard Wattshttp://www.theoildrum.comnoreply@blogger.com