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Preparedness
by
dps
by
Chris Martenson
Are You Prepared for $200 Oil?
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Executive Summary
- Higher oil prices caused by an Iran conflict could very well be the trigger for the next major economic downturn
- Where oil prices will likely go, and how quickly, if a conflict erupts in the Persian Gulf
- The prudent steps you should take now, in advance of a potential conflict
- How the financial markets will react, and likely safe havens
- Why a war with Iran will be much messier than the Iraq war
Part I: Iran: Oh, No; Not Again
If you have not yet read Part I, available free to all readers, please click here to read it first.
Part II: Are You Prepared for $200 Oil?
In Part I, we connected a few dots and made the point that Iran remains the last unconquered oil province within the last great deposit fields left on the planet. Perhaps it is coincidence that Iran now finds itself in the crosshairs, but that is unlikely. Instead, the oil treasures of the Middle East remain the last great prize, and Iran is unlucky enough to be standing in the way.
Once one understands where we are in the Peak Oil story, all of these maneuvers make sense and conform to a brutal but coherent logic: If oil supplies are dwindling as fast as the data suggests, then controlling the last, best supplies will be considered essential by every interested party.
While such speculation is interesting to engage in, there’s really nothing you or I can do to alter these events. Instead, our job is to prepare as best we can.
The larger set of world events is grinding inexorably towards a lower standard of living, with the squabbling at present really being over who eats the first sets of losses. However, the next leg of the downturn will be precipitated by some event, and a war with Iran that spikes oil prices would be a perfect catalyst.
Are You Prepared for $200 Oil?
PREVIEW by Chris MartensonAre You Prepared for $200 Oil?
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Executive Summary
- Higher oil prices caused by an Iran conflict could very well be the trigger for the next major economic downturn
- Where oil prices will likely go, and how quickly, if a conflict erupts in the Persian Gulf
- The prudent steps you should take now, in advance of a potential conflict
- How the financial markets will react, and likely safe havens
- Why a war with Iran will be much messier than the Iraq war
Part I: Iran: Oh, No; Not Again
If you have not yet read Part I, available free to all readers, please click here to read it first.
Part II: Are You Prepared for $200 Oil?
In Part I, we connected a few dots and made the point that Iran remains the last unconquered oil province within the last great deposit fields left on the planet. Perhaps it is coincidence that Iran now finds itself in the crosshairs, but that is unlikely. Instead, the oil treasures of the Middle East remain the last great prize, and Iran is unlucky enough to be standing in the way.
Once one understands where we are in the Peak Oil story, all of these maneuvers make sense and conform to a brutal but coherent logic: If oil supplies are dwindling as fast as the data suggests, then controlling the last, best supplies will be considered essential by every interested party.
While such speculation is interesting to engage in, there’s really nothing you or I can do to alter these events. Instead, our job is to prepare as best we can.
The larger set of world events is grinding inexorably towards a lower standard of living, with the squabbling at present really being over who eats the first sets of losses. However, the next leg of the downturn will be precipitated by some event, and a war with Iran that spikes oil prices would be a perfect catalyst.
by
Aaron M
by
BSV
Water is essential to life, for we cannot exist without it. We are running short of fresh, clean water in many parts of the USA. That is also the case in many other countries. Those who live in the northeastern quadrant of the lower 48 states are generally in good shape for now, water-wise, though there may be local issues with clean water in places. But as you travel west of the Mississippi, average annual rainfall drops off sharply, particularly in the desert southwest, which includes portions of the Chihuahua, Sonora, and Mohave Deserts.
The situation is particularly foreboding in the Colorado River Basin. There are more demands for the water than the river can reliably supply. Las Vegas is vulnerable to a water emergency, as are Phoenix and Tucson. Thirsty Los Angeles gets drinking water from far away Northern California via the California Aqueduct. As the podcast from a few weeks ago highlighted, water management and access is becoming an ever-increasing concern for many parts of the country.
Rainwater Harvesting
by BSVWater is essential to life, for we cannot exist without it. We are running short of fresh, clean water in many parts of the USA. That is also the case in many other countries. Those who live in the northeastern quadrant of the lower 48 states are generally in good shape for now, water-wise, though there may be local issues with clean water in places. But as you travel west of the Mississippi, average annual rainfall drops off sharply, particularly in the desert southwest, which includes portions of the Chihuahua, Sonora, and Mohave Deserts.
The situation is particularly foreboding in the Colorado River Basin. There are more demands for the water than the river can reliably supply. Las Vegas is vulnerable to a water emergency, as are Phoenix and Tucson. Thirsty Los Angeles gets drinking water from far away Northern California via the California Aqueduct. As the podcast from a few weeks ago highlighted, water management and access is becoming an ever-increasing concern for many parts of the country.
by
Gregor Macdonald
Preparing for Higher Food Prices
by Gregor Macdonald, contributing editor
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Executive Summary
- How urbanization is accelerating the loss of the world’s arable land
- The three major trends that will impact global food prices and potentially create even more volatility in the next few years
- How virtual water introduces a new threat of resource conflicts
- Why our government’s actions to revive the economy translates into higher prices for food and other hard assets
- Why greater volatility in food prices lies ahead
- Defensive strategies against higher food prices
Part I: A Punch to the Mouth: Food Price Volatility Hits the World
If you have not yet read Part I, available free to all readers, please click here to read it first.
Part II: Preparing for Higher Food Prices
Close-up: The Loss of Arable Land Per Capita
Recent data from the World Bank shows that arable land per capita has been declining globally for 40 years. This has been true in most countries, especially the juggernauts of India and China. But we have compensated for that decline with fertilizer. As Julian Cribb points out in his book (page 72), it has been asserted that “over two billion people would not be alive today, were it not for the invention of the industrial process for making nitrogen fertilizer.”
Indeed, we know that 2008 was an important milestone in the history of humankind: That was the year that the majority of the world population, for the first time, lived in urban centers. The rapid urbanization — and therefore loss of farmland — in Non-OECD countries may have produced wonderful stock market returns for the past two decades as developed-nation capital hooked in to such rapid growth. However, it is not clear that this process has upgraded humanity’s overall quality of life. Energy inputs do upgrade diets. And energy inputs also can reduce the suffering of burdensome, human-powered labor. But the associated pollution and environmental destruction exacts a heavy price for such a transition.
Preparing for Higher Food Prices
PREVIEW by Gregor MacdonaldPreparing for Higher Food Prices
by Gregor Macdonald, contributing editor
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Executive Summary
- How urbanization is accelerating the loss of the world’s arable land
- The three major trends that will impact global food prices and potentially create even more volatility in the next few years
- How virtual water introduces a new threat of resource conflicts
- Why our government’s actions to revive the economy translates into higher prices for food and other hard assets
- Why greater volatility in food prices lies ahead
- Defensive strategies against higher food prices
Part I: A Punch to the Mouth: Food Price Volatility Hits the World
If you have not yet read Part I, available free to all readers, please click here to read it first.
Part II: Preparing for Higher Food Prices
Close-up: The Loss of Arable Land Per Capita
Recent data from the World Bank shows that arable land per capita has been declining globally for 40 years. This has been true in most countries, especially the juggernauts of India and China. But we have compensated for that decline with fertilizer. As Julian Cribb points out in his book (page 72), it has been asserted that “over two billion people would not be alive today, were it not for the invention of the industrial process for making nitrogen fertilizer.”
Indeed, we know that 2008 was an important milestone in the history of humankind: That was the year that the majority of the world population, for the first time, lived in urban centers. The rapid urbanization — and therefore loss of farmland — in Non-OECD countries may have produced wonderful stock market returns for the past two decades as developed-nation capital hooked in to such rapid growth. However, it is not clear that this process has upgraded humanity’s overall quality of life. Energy inputs do upgrade diets. And energy inputs also can reduce the suffering of burdensome, human-powered labor. But the associated pollution and environmental destruction exacts a heavy price for such a transition.
by
JW
One of the most important aspects of becoming self-sufficient is the ability to produce your own food. Many people begin small garden spaces in the backyard as a way to start out and then slowly expand their growing space and variety of crops. Growing your own food can become addictive. After one begins to grow their own food, many will then start looking at new and different methods of how to extend their season and at ways to include plants that require a longer growing season (building a cold frame is a good start).
Selecting a Greenhouse
by JWOne of the most important aspects of becoming self-sufficient is the ability to produce your own food. Many people begin small garden spaces in the backyard as a way to start out and then slowly expand their growing space and variety of crops. Growing your own food can become addictive. After one begins to grow their own food, many will then start looking at new and different methods of how to extend their season and at ways to include plants that require a longer growing season (building a cold frame is a good start).
by
JW
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