Ah yes, regime change. Thats just what we need

I was idly musing just the other day in the context of George W, and wondering how the USA would react if someone was to declare that the USA needed a “shock and awe” style regime change.

Which reminded me of something I wrote about oil related politics a few years back which is on this web page…

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/09/mexico_city_may.php

“holding weekly street closings to vehicle traffic to allow its citizens to enjoy their city by bike, foot, or skateboard.” Yep, but only the CBD, and only when it’s closed for business on the sabbath day. As you would expect in a good catholic city. But still, the popularity of the motorcar began with Sunday drive. Who knows, it could work for cycling too.

Mexico City also has a carless days scheme for cars more than ten years old. Unfortunately despite doing all the right things to discourage car commuting traffic has doubled since 2000.

but perhaps it’s for the best - we end up sitting on valuable oil resources we might suddenly find we are a terrorist regime in need of having freedom & democracy spread to us.

it’s probably the only rational reason for going at it full tilt now.

joy - how about tractors, harvesters & trucks pulled by kites?

If there is a crunch (which is looking less likely than a long slide IMHO) then we will need skilled oil/gas workers to get NZ through it without total societal collapse…

Ironically we might just need all the oil and gas we can get in the next 20 years or so to build a more sustainable infrastructure in the long term.

I agree. If there is a planet left for humans to live in then yes, my decendents will no doubt be working to produce food. And by then there will be no oil, or, not of the kind we have used.

However, in the shorter term, when the crisis hits, people will need to eat, and highly urbanised towns/cities cannot produce much in the way of primary food. A few veges in the garden, 6 chookie hens, maybe a milking goat - that would be the limit for most urban gardens.

In years to come that oil will be worth far more, and if it all pans out according to the script, we would benefit far more from waiting and then developing this resource as a NZ project for NZ use rather than rushing towards selling the stuff off on the world market.

And Joy - there is a good chance that your decedents in a generation or two are going to be farming with a lot less diesel assistance.

Yes, my focus is rural, but apart from a few deliciously fresh veges in the back garden, where else does our primary food come from? Food production on a large scale requires much more than bicycle power.