The Ways We Use Energy - Can the USA Survive Peak Oil? Moments ago, a new president was inaugurated for the USA. As I witnessed the event and listened to President Obama's words, I felt hope rising within me. Could this be a turning point, a point from which we can say, "This is where we made the turn that prevented us from spiraling into oblivion." Obama's words encouraged me, particularly this...

The U.S. auto industry is on the chopping block. Michigan employs 240,000 jobs in auto assembly, parts and sales. In addition, another one million plus people in Michigan would be at risk for losing their jobs if the big three were to fail. With the loss of these jobs, every Michigan business and government will be severely impacted. Imagine the fall in state tax revenue, the increase in foreclosures...

Three months ago, gasoline was $4.18 per gallon. Now, it is $1.53 per gallon. Something strange is going on, and it has something to do with money, and with energy. Energy and money are related to one another. Money, in its rawest form, represents energy. In a very competitive free market, the price of anything indicates the amount of energy involved. In any economic system, it is the price of...

On July 3rd, 2008 I entered into a long position on crude oil futures. At the time, the future for December 2012 sweet, light crude oil was priced at $141.25. A few days later, the price of oil began to fall. For the past five months, I've been holding on to this position, believing that oil is definitely worth much more than $141.25 per barrel. The energy in a single barrel of oil is worth thousands...

What should be the next major event for Local Future? Well, there are a number of ideas in my mind regarding this. To preface, a couple projects have yet to be completed. First, the proper publishing all the video and audio content from the first two conferences (and related video). I also plan to write a book in 2009, as I've mentioned in earlier articles. The primary purpose of that book would...

Let's face it, we are now well on our way to the collapse of the global economy and all that it provides. We depend on the global economy for food, housing, medical care, education, jobs, entertainment, simply everything. And it looks fairly clear that the risk of this all ending soon is growing by the day. The global economy is determined by money, energy, and will. Right now, we find that money...

The future of Michigan is grim. At this point in time, as I surmised and began talking about three years ago, the domestic automakers are on the brink of bankruptcy. Michigan employs directly 127,000 at Ford, GM and Chrysler, with up to ten times than number of jobs which would vanish if the big three closed their doors. This huge number of 1.27 million jobs lost is in comparison to the 4.2 million...

The Conference on Michigan's Future just wrapped up a little more than 48 hours ago, and now it is time to start unpacking all the mental stuff upstairs. Being the organizer of an event like this can be rather stressful, while also very exciting and satisfying. First off, I really do need to do some serious reflection on how to find others committed to helping organize the conference and to do much...

Peak oil, the economic crisis, and climate change will be addressed at the Conference on Michigan’s Future: Energy, Economy, & Environment set for the November 14-16 weekend at Crystal Mountain Resort. Keynote speaker Richard Heinberg, author of “The Party’s Over” and “Peak Everything” will present live in Michigan for the first time. Ellen Hodgson Brown, author of “Web of Debt” will detail the causes...

That is a very, very fine question, and one that I've been wondering about for quite a while. I can remember, as a very young child, counting out coins, and then, I knew, this is money. Now, as an adult, having a bit more experience and exposure to the world, I am dissatisfied with any explanation of money, thus I'll share my thought, both as an exercise for myself, and perhaps some analysis that may...