What are you doing about the current energy crisis

[Powerdown]

Many respected scientists say global peak oil has now occurred. Total liquids production has been nearly flat and slightly declining for 18 months. Peak natural gas production is heading towards us relentlessly like the grim reaper.

The U.S. Economy is heading south with no bottom in sight. Oil is heading just as fast in the opposite direction. CNBC is reporting very active trading of December 2008 oil futures at $200. The price of commodities, gold in particular, are skyrocketing. Here in Thailand we can do nothing other than sit back and watch the show, and prepare to pay substantially more for the prodigious amounts of energy that we import to keep the economy functioning.

What are you doing personally to prepare for the coming energy crisis? Are you investing in PV panels, buying a new car that gets better fuel economy, switching to NGV, taking the bus more? Is anyone even taking note of the confluence of events that is likely to make economic growth extremely difficult or even impossible over the next decade?

Does anyone have any concrete ideas that we as individuals living in Thailand can do to protect ourselves and our families from the ramifications of energy depletion?

[Leum Laaou]

Hi Powerdown. This is a very emotive and political subject bound to draw polar opposite opinions.

I visit the kingdom regularly but I am currently working on my family property in New Zealand. Energy issues are global and location matters little.

In my opinion the best solution for families and individuals is land. When the crunch comes it won't be pretty. We'll face increasingly vicious wars over resources and a major collapse of economies.

I consider land that is managed in a sustainable way to be essential. For when change comes it will be dramatic, and farmers, for one, are in a prime position to be able to feed themselves and their families.

This may sound extreme but when the pain arrives I want to have enough animals and water, a productive vegetable garden and orchard in order to live as good a life as possible.

As for replacement energy I think the corporations are playing games, stalling, enjoying the tension and of course OPEC are reaping record profits, business is good!

Look after yourself and don't look to governments for help.

[John]

I replied to both messages but they have not been printed for some unknown reason

[John]

Oil Prices will never come down to the levels they were 5 years ago. It's over, and while USA and Europe have secure supplies locked up from the middle east, India and China fast emerging economies are going to get long term supply from Russia. SE Asia is going to starve for oil before any other nation so this is not a good time for the government to be talking about subsidizing energy for the nation. This is the time to preserve all the energy they can get so instead of taking money out of the budget allocated for improved Mass electric trains (public transport) it would be wise to finish those public transport projects as soon as possible. It's now time for the majority of people to be using public transport and conserve the energy instead. This will help reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
Global energy sources are dwindling away so take it away and force people to use public transport instead. Forget subsidies!

[awatcher]

Because of oil, the world will not fight again.
They will learn living without car. It started already. 4km to school or to workplace is a walk, so that the road side culture is now emerging in Tokyo Seoul, if not in Paris or Rotterdam. People eat simple Japanese cold sushi for midday in Berlin and New York.

Advanced countries manage the energy quantum policy. Japan runs 250,000 mw electricity capacity and they believe with stay of this level electricity, they can still grow GDP.
How ?, evolutionize the consumption pattern and rationalize industries. They plan 30% commuter cars with hydrogen within 20 years.

If Thailand change all those uniform wearing tradition, they can save electricity 20% or 5000 mw out of present 25000 mw capacity.
5000mw plants cost 5billion dollars and consume energy of 5 billion dollars a year.

Nano fabric is coming very quickly that need no-ironning, no frequent laundry.

the people fit themselves to the scarcity of resource. I dont worry therefore.

[John]

Awatcher,

Thank you for your good positive posting. I agree, most people can adapt very easily to any given new challenge that comes along, it's our human nature this is why we are survivors over every other living thing on this planet.

I believe Thailand can prosper by investing in enough Mass Transit Rail systems to enable people from all walks of life to travel comfortably to work or anywhere in the country because there will be an urgent demand rising for this service.

Once they have a sufficient system people will not want to drive cars and motorbikes especially as fuel becomes more expensive and more scarce. It's time to act now in a rational way.

[Rooster2012]

EC Energy crisis is a mirage created by energy producers like oil companies, OPEC, and etc.. Foreign agents from EU and else wheres are against Thailand having nuclear power as a part of energy policy.

[allynkenith]

Yes, this is not a good time for the government to be talking about subsidizing energy for the nation. For more information visit this site: lincenergy.us