The End of the Age of Oil
From: Bryan Pepperell [mailto:Bryan.Pepperell@wcc.govt.nz] Sent: Wednesday, 28 February 2007 6:07 p.m.To: Garry PooleCc: GRP: Councillors
Subject: Spicers Magazine "The Adviser" writes on The End of the 'Age of Oil'?
A sobering article entitled The End of the Age of Oil published in the Summer issue 2007 of The Spicers Group magazine, "The Adviser", finishes with a review of Dr Keith Suter's analysis of the current energy situation regarding oil. With Dr Suter's permission the article begins with the following quote. " Historians looking back over the past 150 years will call this the 'Age of Oil' (in much the same way as earlier eras were based, say, on canals or railways). Dr Suter goes on to explain Dr M. King Hubbert's theory of Peak Oil. Suter finishes by saying that.. "By 1956 Hubbert was already predicting the end of the oil era.Now some scientists and financiers fear that he may have been right after all"
Peak Oil is now on the radar of most financial advisors, and with this latest article it is moving into the thinking of the mainstream, but I fear that there is still ambivalence and even denial on the part of Councillors and Council management. I fear that political pressure has meant that Peak Oil has not been regarded as a serious issue. It is for this reason that I'm forming the opinion that Council under this current watch has failed in its fiduciary duty. If Spicers is now warning investors of the consequences of Peak Oil then it is well overdue that local government concentrate its mind more rigorously on this pressing and inconvenient truth. What is at stake is our very survival and we have failed to grasp the significance and gravity of the situation. Once again leadership has failed.
Bryan Pepperell
From: Jack Ruben Sent: Wednesday, 28 February 2007 7:01 p.m.To: Bryan Pepperell; Garry PooleCc: GRP: Councillors
Subject: RE: Spicers Magazine "The Adviser" writes on The End of the 'Age of Oil'?
Bryan,
Regretfully the same cllrs who still refuse to accept Climate Change will not accept Peak Oil.
I suggest we ask our officers to update their views on what practical steps we, as a council, need to take to address the situation/s.
Of all the public issues I find the hardest to get my mind around, in practical terms, Climate Change and Peak Oil head the list. I'm still going to drive my car, burn firewood to keep us warm, and need to travel by air - even though I am scared of flying!
So, colleagues........ any other suggestions as to how WCC tackles the problems?
Cheers,
Jack Ruben
Subject: Spicers Magazine "The Adviser" writes on The End of the 'Age of Oil'?
A sobering article entitled The End of the Age of Oil published in the Summer issue 2007 of The Spicers Group magazine, "The Adviser", finishes with a review of Dr Keith Suter's analysis of the current energy situation regarding oil. With Dr Suter's permission the article begins with the following quote. " Historians looking back over the past 150 years will call this the 'Age of Oil' (in much the same way as earlier eras were based, say, on canals or railways). Dr Suter goes on to explain Dr M. King Hubbert's theory of Peak Oil. Suter finishes by saying that.. "By 1956 Hubbert was already predicting the end of the oil era.Now some scientists and financiers fear that he may have been right after all"
Peak Oil is now on the radar of most financial advisors, and with this latest article it is moving into the thinking of the mainstream, but I fear that there is still ambivalence and even denial on the part of Councillors and Council management. I fear that political pressure has meant that Peak Oil has not been regarded as a serious issue. It is for this reason that I'm forming the opinion that Council under this current watch has failed in its fiduciary duty. If Spicers is now warning investors of the consequences of Peak Oil then it is well overdue that local government concentrate its mind more rigorously on this pressing and inconvenient truth. What is at stake is our very survival and we have failed to grasp the significance and gravity of the situation. Once again leadership has failed.
Bryan Pepperell
From: Jack Ruben Sent: Wednesday, 28 February 2007 7:01 p.m.To: Bryan Pepperell; Garry PooleCc: GRP: Councillors
Subject: RE: Spicers Magazine "The Adviser" writes on The End of the 'Age of Oil'?
Bryan,
Regretfully the same cllrs who still refuse to accept Climate Change will not accept Peak Oil.
I suggest we ask our officers to update their views on what practical steps we, as a council, need to take to address the situation/s.
Of all the public issues I find the hardest to get my mind around, in practical terms, Climate Change and Peak Oil head the list. I'm still going to drive my car, burn firewood to keep us warm, and need to travel by air - even though I am scared of flying!
So, colleagues........ any other suggestions as to how WCC tackles the problems?
Cheers,
Jack Ruben
posted by pepptalk at 6:07 PM
2 Comments:
Not sure about moving the bus terminal. Lets start off simple. First, keep the trolleybuses. Bring the wires back under the direct control of the City Council (at present they are owned by the Wellington Cable Car Company). The Council should then extend the trolleybus network at least to the number 43/44 and 23 routes (Strathmore to Khandallah and Houghton Bay to Mairangi).
The trouble is electricity is partly generated using fossil fuels. Well, the Council could lead the way in reducing electricity consumption by insulating all uninsulated Council flats and install either solar water heaters or hot water heat pumps in same.
Then there are very minor things that councillors could do to show leadership, such as using public transport, walking or cycling to meetings and functions. Just a few ideas.
From: Jack Ruben [mailto:jack.ruben@xtra.co.nz]
Sent: Monday, 5 March 2007 3:10 p.m.
To: Garry Poole; Councillors (Councillors); Kerry Prendergast
Subject:
Dear Mayor Prendergast,
INNER CITY BYPASS.
No doubt you will have read the ever increasing expressions of concern and anger about the delays to traffic movement, directly attributable to this failed scheme imposed on so many of us by primarily yourself (and your supporters in council). To this list I must add the property speculators in Cuba Street and nearby in the Aro precinct.
Wellingtonians are entitled to an explanation from you as to your justification for destroying the homes and environment of so many people, and the ruination of much of the Cuba Quarter. To those of us who you and your colleagues, several thankfully no longer on council, vilified and insulted, you owe us a public apology.
To date you have remained silent , - no doubt hoping the opposition will simply die down. You are wrong.......I believe it will increase as the election nears.
On Saturday night we attended a gathering of more than eighty people. Most of them are those you could reasonably consider as supporters likely to vote for you in October. Many of them came up to me to express their disgust and anger at the ByPass, and your leading role in pushing it through council. They too would like to read your justification for yet another expensive disaster and failure for which you are largely responsible, - and I can list many others.
The Waterfront debacle, where you are so supportive of your close friend Fran Wilde and the destruction of open public space on our previously unique waterfront, will rank as one of the worst acts of environmental irresponsibility in the history of Wellington. The harbour area will never be the same again, long after those responsible like yourself have moved on. What a legacy to be remembered by!
I have also read the most interesting letter your husband Rex Nicholls wrote to the Ministry of the Environment opposing any possible grant to the Civic Trust and Waterfront Watch to help with their appeal to the Environment Court. His derogatory comments about Waterfront Watch, of which I have been a long standing and proud supporter, did you no favours at all................ and who said there were no connections between property speculators and elected members?? Yeah Right!!
Do you agree with the sentiments he expressed?
I trust you will now take the opportunity to clarify your support of the By-Pass and the development on the waterfront, because I can assure you it will not die down before the forthcoming election.
Yours sincerely,
Jack Ruben.
City Councillor, Onslow-Western Ward. .
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