The End of Suburbia

Journal Entry #2


This week in class we watched the film "The End of Suburbia." It was about how we've built up our society to completely rely on fossil fuels...and are eventually going to be in deep trouble when they are all used up. Not only has our use of fossil fuels damaged our environment, but the way our sprawling cities have been built has caused (and continue to cause) MANY other negative effects. I touched on most of them in my last blog entry.


"Peak oil" was a key concept in the film. Since there is only a limited amount of oil on the planet, there is a maximum amount that can be extracted. After that peak, it will be all downhill from there...literally. This is a link to a great and simple video about peak oil which summarizes the concept, and shows us 2 scenarios for the future.

So, what does our future have in store?

If demand for oil continues to increase as supply declines, we may see:

• Increased prices
• Shortages of all kinds (gas, other fuels, asphalt for roads, and MANY other products that are made from oil or require oil to manufacture)
• Economic depressions
• Resource wars
• Global warming and other environmental devastation...

Essentially...complete chaos and downward spiral of humanity. This is the future that absolutely terrifies me. I have nightmares about it. I walked out of class this week and felt like I should begin planning for the end of humanity. Begin storing canned and dried food, water, planning my escape from the city and long journey (on foot or bicycle) to my family farm, where I will live out the rest of my days gardening, hunting, and fishing for sustenance. I even decided I would need to carry a knife for protection. Oh yes, apparently I am a pessimist after all. On some level, clearly I expect the worst. That we won't WAKE UP and change in time.


But humanity does have another option. If oil is conserved and demand shrinks, and...

• Clean, renewable alternatives to oil are implemented
• Sustainable, local agriculture
• Drastic decreases in vehicle use

= a sustainable, healthy future.

I really want to go with Option 2. But the problem is...this is not about ME. This is about WE. I can't force anyone to do anything. And honestly, I'm not very confident that WE will get in high gear quickly enough. So should I quit school? Should I conclude that I am preparing for a future that doesn't exist?

No. I can't do that. I already accepted that when I decided to be an environmentalist that I would be signing up for a lifetime of struggle and frustration. I don't want to give up on humanity. I just have to be content to do the best I can in my own little circle, and know that there are others who are doing the same. But I am still going to prepare for the worst actually. As I mentioned earlier, luckily my Dad is a farmer, and his parents were pioneers. Much of their knowledge is not entirely lost. I believe that with a few precautions I can ensure my families survival...just in case. I am probably crazy, but oh well!!!

I have read and watched a lot of futuristic, dystopia-type books and movies, and maybe I am just over-reacting. But I really do believe there is at least a little bit of truth to them. One thing is for certain. The future will be very different, and there is definitely the possibility of it becoming much worse. I don't see any harm in hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

My favorite dystopia is Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood...our suburbs eventually become slums. I highly recommend it, check out the synopsis here.

Cited References:

Climate Progress. German Military Sturdy Warns of Peak Oil Crisis. Found at: http://www.topnews.in/files/Crude-oil-prices11.jpg Retrieved on: January 2011.

Kedia, Ajay. Commodity Outlook for Crude Oil. Found at: http://www.topnews.in/files/Crude-oil-prices11.jpg Retrived on: January 2011.

McLean, Scott. Peak Oil - Visually Explained. Found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHKp5vF_VoE&feature=related Retrieved on: January 2011.

Municipality of Magnetawan. Life of the Pioneer. Found at: http://www.magnetawan.com/farming.jpg Retrieved on January 2o11.