James Samuel

As we move from being a carbon society, dependent on fossil fuels, towards a society where collaboration and innovation is becoming the new energy source, supported by the free flow of information. How do we enhance the ability for members of an organization to collaborate and innovate. Creative sparks come when serendipitous links are made, as the same challenge is seen through different lenses.

The current path we’re on is not sustainable and many have realized that society has now arrived at a vulnerable point in history as a result of over-dependence on fossil fuels and carbon energy. In this article I will make the case for innovation as the post-carbon energy we have yet to tap, but are about to.

There has been a distinct increase in dialogue around energy in the last year, and I hear a growing acceptance of the idea that we live on a finite planet and will either reduce the amount of energy we demand from this planet, or hit some version of a brick wall when that demand cannot be met. Maybe we’re there already, we’re just not hitting the wall at a speed and therefore we’re not recognising it.

In New Zealand we have so many opportunities for redesigning our world in a positive manner, and embracing the uncertainty of these times we live in. Be gentle with yourself and each other, do your own research and seek out ways you can become part of the solution. The possibilities for the future are endless, and it’s up to each and every one of us to find where we can or feel moved to contribute, and play our part in singing a brighter and healthier future into existence.

Peak oil has been discussed in the mainstream New Zealand media in the past week. What is pleasing and maybe a sign of a sea-change is that unlike previous flirtations with the subject which have been disparaging and condescending, the latest articles take the issue seriously.

There are some quite well developed plans afoot which speak about extracting and utilising large volumes of very low-grade carbon-rich coal from mines in Southland. This carbon, which has been safely locked away in the ground for millions of years, would be unlocked and dispersed into the atmosphere. No matter what we do with coal, the end result is the same – the volume of carbon in the atmosphere will increase.

The 22 statistics detailed here prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the middle class is being systematically wiped out of existence in America. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer at a staggering rate.

A few bits of data, with links, to help us get a clearer picture of the landscape. It seems to be part of my role, to feed information, and that includes data to show that yes, we are indeed on a path that is leading to breakdown of society as we know it.

President Obama’s statement today that the world is running out of places to drill oil, confirms the need for political parties in Aotearoa to start cross party talks on the global peak oil crisis. “The time has come for all political parties to come together and take action on what we are going to do about the global oil crisis and how it will affect this nation,” – Maori Party energy and climate change spokesperson Rahui Katene.

While energy is a factor in the fall of the economic system, it was always going to implode, because it is a giant pyramid scheme that depend on growth to maintain its structure. Once growth stops, the laws inherent in the ‘house of cards’ financial system based on pyramid dynamics will inevitably cause a collapse.