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Archived material from historical editions of The Generator

  • Relocalization—A Primary Solution for the Energy Peak

    To effectively address energy scarcity and curtail biosphere destruction, relocalization must occur globally and with some degree of integration. Essentially, human civilization needs to prepare itself to do with less energy, fewer natural resources, and fewer material goods, with the ultimate goal of being able to live within a reduced planetary carrying capacity. Any other approach will lead to a form of assisted suicide—with nature doing the assisting.

    It is urgent that localization begin now. Yet how many times have we heard and ignored such urgent calls? Everything still seems to be going all right—at least for those in control of the economy and the media—but hitting the energy peak will change that.

    The energy peak will affect the heaviest energy users the most. At first they will use their control of the money system to stave off disaster, but that will not last long. If the US suffers a severe enough dollar crisis, it will find itself catastrophically exposed as the world’s largest energy importer and will be vulnerable to the desires of the energy exporters, all of whom will have reason enough to bring the reign of American economic empire to an end. The US military has presumably understood this, and they may not be willing to stand by and be emasculated by energy and economic constrictions.

    Relocalization Must Start Now

    If the global oil peak happens within two years—as is predicted by a growing number of energy analysts—then we must start taking measures to rebuild our communities now. This is quite a different kind of urgency from the usual calls to save the planet, or the koalas, or the Yangtze, all of which are in deep trouble but none of whom directly affects most of us in our insulated, industrial worlds. This is a plan to save us—and the rest of the creatures in the biosphere along with us.

    There is another reason for urgency. There is a trend towards fewer family farms and the continuing loss of infrastructure, knowledge, and wisdom about local, sustainable living techniques. Thus, there are ever fewer working examples and models that can be applied to a given locale. To fill the void, communities must begin localization experiments to discover what works and what does not work in a given locale. This knowledge must be gained before the crisis. If experiments fail now, they can at least be counted as useful information. If they fail later, in conditions of crisis, people are likely to suffer grievously.

    More broadly, to save precious time and resources, communities will need to share experiments, outcomes, and lessons learned. Communities will also need to integrate the experience and knowledge developed by existing organizations and individuals working on localization at both the policy and community levels, including scientific research that supports localization efforts and the practices of indigenous peoples (those that have not yet been wiped out by empire and its latest incarnation, globalization).

  • Expert warns of `resource nationalism’ behind oil price hikes

    The three factors that drive today’s oil price – rising political tensions, strong levels of demand and tight supplies – continue to work together, exacerbating the fear of a supply shortage.

    Commentator’s view: This is the view of respected commentator, Charles Whall, oil sector analyst for London’s Newton Investment, an offshoot of Mellon Global Investments, quoted in The Australian (12/8/06 p12).

    Mid-East hostilities: In a paper published earlier this month, Whall said the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East highlighted the extent of tensions throughout the region.

    Uprisings in Nigeria Elsewhere, Nigeria, Africa’s supplier of crude oil, continues to suffer from destabilising uprisings in key oil producing areas ahead of the country’s elections next year.

    Resource nationalism: Potentially more disturbing, however, was the growth of “resource nationalism”.

    Dominance of state-owned companies: “State-owned or controlled national oil companies already account for around 90 per cent of the world’s oil and gas reserves and are becoming increasingly confident in their ability to manage the future on their own terms,” Whall said.

    Populists in South America: “The re-emergence of populist politics across South America as in Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina and Bolivia, demonstrates just how fast the playing field is changing.

    Tightening controls on western companies: "Meanwhile, tightening of controls on Western companies across Russia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Algeria, underlines how quickly the energy agenda is being wrestled away from the end-users.”

    The Australian, 12/8/2006, p. 12

    source: Erisk Net  

  • Switch to LP Gas a better deal as petrol price soars

    Conversions to LPG have become far more viable as the price differential with petrol has never been wider, according to Martin Monaghan, manager of market development for Unigas which supplies LPG to about half the 3000-odd Australian service stations offering it .

    Differential hit $1 a litre:“Last week in Melbourne the differential reached $1 a litre,” Monaghan said, quoted in The Australian Financial Review (12/8/06, p.4).

    Cost $2500-$3500: Most people spend about $2500 on a dual-fuel conversion, allowing the vehicle to run on both petrol and gas, but costs can go to $3500.

    Taxis, couriers can recoup in months: “Taxis doing 100,000 kilometres a year take just a few months to recoup that in the lower price of fuel, couriers doing 1000 kilometres a week take around six months,” he says.

    Mostly bigger cars: “In the main, we’re doing bigger cars, commercial vehicles and four-wheel-drives. Small cars are unusual but we have done some, including a Mazda 121 for pizza deliveries.”

    The Australian Financial Review, 12/8/2006, p. 4

    Source: Erisk Net  

  • Toxic spill from Java gas well threatens full-scale disaster

    Toxic mud spurting from a gas drilling well part-owned by the Australian mining giant Santos threatens to mire East Java in a full-scale disaster, according to Sydney Morning Herald Correspondent in Jakarta, Mark Forbes (12/8/06, p.16).

    Experts cannot stop it: Experts are unable to prevent millions of tonnes of mud blocking highways and rail links, and propose to divert the flow into the ocean, risking another environmental catastrophe.

    Visit from President: Indonesia’s President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, visited the disaster zone south of Surabaya after thousands more villagers were evacuated when the rising mud breached levees.

    Compensation promise: He proffered words of comfort and promises of compensation.

    Has forced 10,000 fom homes: For two months mud has flowed from an exploratory well near Porong, inundating 25 square kilometres, putting 1000 people in hospital with breathing difficulties and forcing more than 10,000 from their homes.

    Rail link threatened: The mud threatens the rail link between Jakarta and Surabaya, Indonesia’s busiest port.

    Mud wave after dam break: On 10 August more than 5000 people fled a wave of mud when a dam broke, leading to suggestions that large swathes of land should be left to the mud and residents relocated.

    Damage could be $4b.: Damage estimates range from hundreds of millions to more than $4 billion.

    The Sydney Morning Herald, 12/8/2006, p. 16

    Source: Erisk Net  

  • New Ruler’s of the World

    A documentary film by John Pilger, based on his 2003 book of the same name.
    Global economy’ is a modern Orwellian term. On the surface, it is instant financial trading, mobile phones, McDonald’s, Starbucks, holidays booked on the net. Beneath this gloss, it is the globalisation of poverty, a world where most human beings never make a phone call and live on less than two dollars a day, where 6,000 children die every day from diarrhea because most have no access to clean water.’ Click here to see the video . Running time: 60 minutes

    Source: Information Clearing House  

  • Timeline: Key events in Middle East crisis

    Timeline: Key events in Middle East crisis

    Sunday, June 25: Palestinians attack army post on Israel-Gaza border, killing two soldiers, capturing a third. Israel starts to mass forces around Gaza, from which it withdrew in September 2005.

    Monday, June 26: Three Palestinian groups – the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), the armed wing of the ruling Hamas movement and the Army of Islam – say they captured 19-year-old Corporal Gilad Shalit. They demand Israel free detained women and minors.

    Tuesday, June 27: Hamas, which dominates the Palestinian government, signs agreement to end bitter internal conflict and which implicitly recognises Israel’s existence.

    Wednesday, June 28: Israeli ground forces enter southern Gaza. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel will use "extreme measures" to rescue Cpl Shalit. Washington says Israel has the right to defend itself.

    Thursday, June 29: Israel detains scores of Hamas members, including one third of the Palestinian cabinet. International community steps up calls for restraint. Mr Olmert suspends a ground offensive expected in northern Gaza as Cairo tries to mediate.

    Friday, June 30: Israeli jets blitz Gaza, set interior ministry ablaze. Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh insists government working to free Cpl Shalit.

    Saturday, July 1: Israel rejects Palestinian demand to free 1,000 prisoners.

    Sunday, July 2: Israel hits Mr Haniyeh’s Gaza office.

    Monday, July 3: Israel sends troops and armour into northern Gaza. Palestinian militant is killed. Cpl Shalit’s captors give a 24-hour deadline for Israel to free Palestinian prisoners. Israel rejects ultimatum.

    Saturday, July 8: Israeli forces advance toward Gaza City, killing four Palestinians. Other units pull back from northern Gaza. Mr Haniyeh calls for mutual cease-fire.

    Monday, July 10: Exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal says Cpl Shalit will not be freed without prisoner swap, pledges he will be protected. Israel says some Palestinian prisoners could be released, but only after safe return of Cpl Shalit.

    Wednesday, July 12: Hezbollah captures two Israeli soldiers and kills eight, prompting first Israeli ground operation into Lebanon since its 2000 pull-out. In Gaza, 23 Palestinians are killed by Israeli air strikes.

    Thursday, July 13: Israeli planes bomb Beirut airport, kill at least 44 civilians in air strikes across Lebanon. Two Israelis are killed, more than 35 wounded by Hezbollah rockets. Russia, France, Britain and Italy criticise "disproportionate" use of force by Israel. US blames "terrorists who want to stop the advance of peace". US vetoes UN resolution calling Israel to halt military operations in Gaza.

    Friday, July 14: Israel bombs Beirut home of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. He declares "open war" on Israel. Israel sets conditions to end offensive: halt rocket attacks, release its soldiers, and Lebanon to implement UN resolution calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Two Israelis killed by rocket fire from Lebanon.

    Saturday, July 15: Hezbollah attacks Israeli warship. Israel recovers body of one of four missing sailors, bringing Israeli servicemen toll since Wednesday to nine dead.

    Monday, July 17: Israeli strikes kill 43 Lebanese. Hezbollah rejects Israeli terms for a cease-fire. UN secretary-general Kofi Annan calls for end to hostilities, suggests UN "stabilisation force" along Lebanon-Israel border.

    Tuesday, July 18: Fifteen people, most of them soldiers, killed in Lebanon as Israel pushes on with attacks. Helicopters, ferries and cruise liners commandeered to retrieve trapped foreign nationals.

    Wednesday, July 19: At least 70 civilians killed by Israeli bombing on deadliest day of its Lebanon offensive, pushing overall toll to 325. Two Arab-Israeli children killed by Katyusha rocket fired from Lebanon on northern Israeli town of Nazareth. Two Israeli soldiers killed, nine wounded in border clashes.

    Thursday, July 20: Israeli troops battle Lebanese guerrillas and planes bomb suspected Hezbollah bunker as Lebanon pleads for international help. Thousands of foreigners pour out of Lebanon by land, sea and air, leaving homes and possessions to head for the safety of Cyprus, Syria and Turkey. Israel warns civilians in the Gaza Strip that every home storing weaponry is now a target.

    Friday, July 21: Israel calls up thousands more troops, warns of possible invasion of Lebanon. Israeli raids hit Baalbeck and Tyre, killing at least five Lebanese. Lebanese civilians flee from south; foreign nationals’ exodus gathers pace. Rockets hit north Israel town of Haifa, wounding 19. Hezbollah rejects UN plan for immediate halt to hostilities and release of two Israeli soldiers.

    Saturday, July 22: Israel masses thousands more reservists on Lebanese border; warns it would not rule out full-scale invasion despite increasing calls for cease-fire. Foreign governments step up efforts to evacuate remaining nationals.

    Tuesday, July 25: An Israeli air strike kills four United Nations (UN) military observers at their base in southern Lebanon. UN secretary-general Kofi Annan condemns what he calls the "apparently deliberate targeting" of the base in Khiam. Israel expresses sorrow for the deaths, which it calls a mistake, and promises an investigation.

    Saturday, July 29: An Israeli air strike in the south of Lebanon kills at least 51 Lebanese civilians, including 22 children, in the village of Qana. Hamas vows to carry out attacks on Israel in response to the air strike on Qana.

    Wednesday, August 2: Fierce fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters intensifies as tens of thousands of Israeli forces pour across the border on four new battlefronts.

    Thursday, August 3: Eight Israeli civilians and four soldiers are killed on bloodiest day for Israel so far. Hezbollah’s chief threatens to rocket Tel Aviv.

    Friday, August 4:Israeli jets bomb bridges on a coastal highway north of Beirut, killing five. At least 23 people, mostly Syrian, are killed in an Israeli raid at Qaa on the Lebanese-Syrian border. Israel hits the Sohmor power station, cutting electricity to Bekaa Valley and south Lebanon. Hezbollah fires 220 rockets at Israel, including one at Hadera, 40 kilometres north of Tel Aviv.

    Saturday, August 5: Israel pounds Lebanon in its heaviest bombardment yet. One Israeli is killed near Taibe and eight commandos are wounded in a raid Israel says killed four senior Hezbollah members in Tyre. The UN, US and France at odds over the first UN resolution on the conflict.

    Sunday, August 6:Ten Israelis are killed in rocket attack on Kfar Giladi near the border. Israeli jets kill at least eight civilians in attacks on south Lebanon villages. The UN Security Council debates the Franco-US draft resolution demanding "full cessation of hostilities" – but Lebanon, Iran and Syria reject it.

    Monday, August 7:An Israeli air raid kills more than 40 people in the Lebanese village of Houla. Seven people in the Palestinian Prime Minister’s office in the West Bank fall ill after opening a letter containing an unknown substance, government and hospital officials say.

    Tuesday, August 8:Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, says about 100 Australians are still trapped in southern Lebanon and it will be highly risky to get them out. Lebanon says it is ready to deploy 15,000 troops near the southern border when Israel pulls out all soldiers from the area.

    Wednesday, August 9:Israel’s Navy shells Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp, killing one person and wounding several others. Palestinian officials say Israel has also attacked a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank, killing two members of Islamic Jihad in a helicopter strike.

    Thursday, August 10:Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah vows to turn southern Lebanon into a "graveyard" for invading Israeli troops. The Israeli army pushes up to 10 kilometres into southern Lebanon just hours after Cabinet approves an extension of ground operations.

    Friday, August 11:Hezbollah fires up to 70 rockets into Israel, killing a woman and a toddler in an Israeli Arab village. France announces a breakthrough could come soon in diplomatic efforts to end the war, and Israel says plans for a deeper ground assault into southern Lebanon are on hold to give diplomacy a chance.

    Saturday, August 12: The United Nations Security Council votes unanimously for a resolution calling for a "full cessation of hostilities". The resolution calls on Hezbollah to stop all attacks immediately and Israel to end "all offensive operations". It also authorises the deployment of a 15,000-strong peacekeeping force.

    –AFP