Announcing: Peak Moment series Fridays on Manhattan Neighborhood Network

The Relocalization Project

The purpose of this article is to state the goals and scope of Peak Oil NYC, and to provide guidance to those who share a concern for the future existence of our society and environment. Peak Oil is a specific issue, dealing with oil depletion and future energy scarcity, but it is not the only problem that we must face. The basic premise of Peak Oil NYC is simple: our current way of life is not sustainable, and never can be. In order to insure that we have a future on this planet, we must find different ways of living that give back to nature an equal or greater amount than we reap. (Be sure to check out our Relocalization Links page, updated weekly) The problems that we face can be summarized as follows:

1. Oil Depletion – We are near or at the “peak” of oil production, meaning that we have reached a point where the amount of energy available to fuel society will be less and less. Also, the methods being used to increase immediate production tend to decrease overall production and increase the rate of decline.
   Soil Depletion – Not as well documented, but equally dangerous, is the consistent erosion of our top soil. The “Green Revolution” was based upon petroleum-based soil inputs that artificially injected “nutrients” into the soil, thereby greatly increasing crop yield. The down side is that these inputs end up being washed out of the soil, and the run-off adds greatly to the pollution in our waters. The huge “dead” zone in the Gulf of Mexico is thought to be the result of decades of these false soil nutrients emptying out from the Mississippi River into the gulf. There is also growing evidence that our soil is at the breaking point, and that the inputs are no longer holding the soil together as they once did. The outlook here is quite bleak.
   Global Warming – Much has been written about this phenomenon, which is connected with the two preceding problems. The overuse of petroleum fuels has added to the amount of greenhouse gases currently polluting the atmosphere, and the runoff of synthetic soil nutrients has created those dead zones that release even more greenhouse gases, and raise the average water temperature to the point where it is now affecting our weather patterns. A further worry is the melting of the polar ice caps, and the damage to the Atlantic Ocean currents, both of which will probably spell disaster in the coming years.
   Economic – The same fractured economic system that has brought us the above (oil depletion, soil depletion and global warming) now appears to be a fast approaching catastrophe in its own right. The United States is a debt-ridden society, on all levels. Personal savings is in negative territory, and most people are saddled with mortgages and credit card debt that continues to accrue. State and local governments are strapped for funds, and the federal government is nearly bankrupt. Our national debt is in the trillions of dollars, the exact amount unknown (though it is fairly safe to say that it is much greater than is admitted by the government). The American economy has been on the ropes for the past six years, and has been floated mostly by a housing bubble that appears ready to crack.
2. Political Turmoil – At present, the United States has embarked on a war that is further sapping our economic strength, a war that has its roots in our addiction to oil. Also, as the media has tried to emphasize the growing threat of terrorism, the federal government has begun the process where our civil liberties are being rapidly eroded, and there are few voices with any power to quell this trend.

With these realities in mind, we are going to focus our efforts on three tracks of what we are calling the Relocalization Program :

1. Urban retrofitting – where those who prefer the city life learn how to make their buildings more energy efficient, work to provide for low energy transportation systems, to support and perhaps operate local businesses, and to use all available space for the local production of food.
   Suburban/small town retrofitting - where those desiring the suburban or small town lifestyle learn how to recreate sustainable systems in these areas. The focus here is on local energy generation, local business and the efficient use of public lands.
2. Rural retrofitting – where those dedicated to preserving the culture and sustainability of the larger metropolitan populations move to outlying rural areas and begin the process of repairing the land and rejuvenating local food production. (read more)

For more information, please contact us at PONYCInfo@yahoo.com.

Urge Government Leaders To Prepare Now for Peak Oil!

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