Excepts from Critical Issues Forum
Excerpts from The Critical Issues Forum.(READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE CEPIA CLUB STRATEGY REVIEW [FORMERLY STRATEGY GAZETTE]).
The Cepia Club’s Critical Community Issues Forum on April 2, 2008, examined “The Politics of Oil, Energy, & Conflict.” As the first of our month-long forum series devoted to “Earth Month,” the first-ever Club forum looked at the overall politics of war and peace as they relate to the oil reserves of the Persian Gulf, where the United States is currently at war in Iraq. We believe that alternative, sustainable and renewable energy will ultimately play a central part in the future of the world. But in the present day and the medium term future (a few months to 4 or 5 years), such “green energy and technology” take a second rank behind the importance of oil in today’s world as the source of economic growth and the reasons for present and new conflicts within the time-frame. However, explaining oil & energy politics, and the factors involved in war and peace, helps the transition toward a “green economy.”
. . .In short, going from the present “here” of an oil-derived economic engine to the “there” of an economy that conserves resources and the environment will be hard to achieve. It might involve power politics, war, suffering, and chaos in every part of our lives. The extent to which average people understand and ACT on their own to prevent such catastrophes depends on the available information available to WE THE PEOPLE to make our own personal choice–for liberty and truth or for dictatorship and lies.
. . .In the international and civil wars fought during the 74 year period 1917-1991 by the United States or by allies and “friendly dictators” of the US, these four strategic destinies determined success or failure. By the time of the crumbling of the Soviet structure and system of power, all of these destinies, despite some setbacks in places like Vietnam, had fallen to a decisive and overwhelming advantage of the US and its liberal democratic allies in Europe and Asia. Whether wars of necessity for mere survival of races or political systems based on natural rights of personal liberty, or wars of choice for a narrow, selective purpose for a “special interest,” America’s wars since its entry into World War I allowed it to accrue global power over any enemy or unfriendly nation. The US lost Vietnam in the end as part of its international alliance against communism.
. . .So, who benefits from a shortage of oil? Well, those who already control it. Who controls the oil? Those who rule the oil-rich countries and those who own the oil companies (large investment holders, mostly, who leverage the smaller ones).
Why is oil important? By an historical development in the early 20th Century, oil began to replace coal as the engine of industrial development, much as industry and coal replaced firewood and mercantile commerce as the engines of economic development–that is the generation of wealth growth for increasing living standards. For without wealth creation, the accumulation of the products necessary for both survival and enjoyment of a “better life” for a growing population would not be possible. With the advent of oil, in its versatile uses and efficient use, not only has wealth creation exploded in the last 100 years, but the oil-based economic system has allowed a near-four hundred percent increase in population.
To be continued. . . .READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE CEPIA CLUB STRATEGY REVIEW (FORMERLY STRATEGY GAZETTE).
The Cepia Club’s Critical Community Issues Forum on April 2, 2008, examined “The Politics of Oil, Energy, & Conflict.” As the first of our month-long forum series devoted to “Earth Month,” the first-ever Club forum looked at the overall politics of war and peace as they relate to the oil reserves of the Persian Gulf, where the United States is currently at war in Iraq. We believe that alternative, sustainable and renewable energy will ultimately play a central part in the future of the world. But in the present day and the medium term future (a few months to 4 or 5 years), such “green energy and technology” take a second rank behind the importance of oil in today’s world as the source of economic growth and the reasons for present and new conflicts within the time-frame. However, explaining oil & energy politics, and the factors involved in war and peace, helps the transition toward a “green economy.”
. . .In short, going from the present “here” of an oil-derived economic engine to the “there” of an economy that conserves resources and the environment will be hard to achieve. It might involve power politics, war, suffering, and chaos in every part of our lives. The extent to which average people understand and ACT on their own to prevent such catastrophes depends on the available information available to WE THE PEOPLE to make our own personal choice–for liberty and truth or for dictatorship and lies.
. . .In the international and civil wars fought during the 74 year period 1917-1991 by the United States or by allies and “friendly dictators” of the US, these four strategic destinies determined success or failure. By the time of the crumbling of the Soviet structure and system of power, all of these destinies, despite some setbacks in places like Vietnam, had fallen to a decisive and overwhelming advantage of the US and its liberal democratic allies in Europe and Asia. Whether wars of necessity for mere survival of races or political systems based on natural rights of personal liberty, or wars of choice for a narrow, selective purpose for a “special interest,” America’s wars since its entry into World War I allowed it to accrue global power over any enemy or unfriendly nation. The US lost Vietnam in the end as part of its international alliance against communism.
. . .So, who benefits from a shortage of oil? Well, those who already control it. Who controls the oil? Those who rule the oil-rich countries and those who own the oil companies (large investment holders, mostly, who leverage the smaller ones).
Why is oil important? By an historical development in the early 20th Century, oil began to replace coal as the engine of industrial development, much as industry and coal replaced firewood and mercantile commerce as the engines of economic development–that is the generation of wealth growth for increasing living standards. For without wealth creation, the accumulation of the products necessary for both survival and enjoyment of a “better life” for a growing population would not be possible. With the advent of oil, in its versatile uses and efficient use, not only has wealth creation exploded in the last 100 years, but the oil-based economic system has allowed a near-four hundred percent increase in population.
To be continued. . . .READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE CEPIA CLUB STRATEGY REVIEW (FORMERLY STRATEGY GAZETTE).
posted by Scipio Cepicanus @ 12:13 PM
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