Aric McBay: People in general don’t seem to like talking about Peak Oil or the possibility of industrial collapse. I think, partly, people find it scary and also don’t want to confront something that might call them to make big changes in their lives. It’s easier to let the “experts” and government deal with it. Do you have any suggestions on how to talk to neighbors, family or friends about this? Do you have any favorite short primers on Peak Oil and related issues?

Megan Quinn: The main reason people don’t want to talk about Peak Oil or industrial or ecological collapse, or ecological collapse is they categorize these all as “doom and gloom” scenarios. We are labeled as pessimists and discounted. People feel their way of life is under attack and immediately get defensive. The best strategy is to explain why the post-oil, post-industrial world will be more peaceful, healthy, and happy. While our current way of life may seem prosperous, we in fact are living in temporary material abundance at the expense of the rest of the world’s and the future’s inhabitants.

Living cooperatively is more socially and spiritually fulfilling. The first thing people must do is take complete responsibility for their lifestyles, including the energy and material inputs that feed their everyday lives and the wastes they generate. Even the act of watching TV for one hour burns 20 pounds of coal in the process. After understanding the costs associated with our modern lives, we will begin to reduce the fossil fuel inputs in all our food, clothing, and other products and reduce the amount of pollutants that leave us. In other words, we take responsibility for all that flows into us and all that flows out of us.

The way I talk to friends and family is to introduce them slowly to peak oil itself without offering any solution. Coming out with it all at once may backfire and they may close off. “The End of Suburbia” documentary is a great place to start because it offers credibility and is an easily accessible format for people to understand oil depletion and why the American way of life is unsustainable. Other short primers on peak oil are available all over the web. Sometimes it is good to let people search them on their own. For suggestions, I like www.wolfatthedoor.org.uk and www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.org. Good primers are available at the ASPO website (www.peakoil.net) and at www.oilcrisis.com. For a longer discussion, “The Party’s Over” by Richard Heinberg is excellent, as is “The Coming Oil Crisis” by Colin Campbell.

Once they understand that the problem is real they will most likely just express their faith in technology and the government to take care of the situation. At this point it is necessary to explain the benefits of changing our way of life: to live more sustainably, simply, and with closer ties to our local communities. In explaining this solution, it is important that your passion comes through, for this is no longer a technical discussion of energy and technology. It is compassionate discussion of living in a way that honors the earth, our fellow human beings, and future generations. People will understand peak oil through their minds but will only understand and commit to this solution through their hearts. Be an example. Share the joy of your new lifestyle with them. Be patient. We cannot withdraw from industrial society overnight. It takes a lot of effort and inconvenience, but the mere act is nourishing and healing to the spirit.

AM: Once people understand the basic energy situation, what are some of the most important things people can do about it?

MQ: Once you understand the basic global energy situation, you must first analyze your personal energy budget. How much energy do you use in a typical day? From what sources does it come? What are the main areas of energy use? What machines or products that you purchase/use have the most energy embedded in their production or distribution? Some of these questions may be difficult to answer due to the lack of data, but you can make some guesses. From that point, you can identify areas where you can reduce energy use. For example, buying local, fresh, seasonal food drastically reduces the embedded energy that you would consume in frozen, packaged, long-distance food. Another example is sharing a car. This reduces the embedded energy in the manufacture and maintenance of the car and the oil energy used to make more frequent trips (experience shows that those who use car co-ops or car-sharing plan their trips more wisely and efficiently). Have a plan to reduce your energy use by 25% in the first year and continue setting similar goals.

In addition to this gradual reduction in energy use, begin learning the survival skills necessary if your fossil fuel energy use had to drop to nearly zero overnight. How would you get food, water, heat, etc.? By thinking about basic necessities, you can begin to simplify your life all-around.

Finally, share your experience with as many of your friends and family as possible. Involve them in the process and show them what this means to you. Show them that the experience can be rewarding socially as you build new relationships, physically as you develop good nutrition, intellectually as you learn new skills and confidence, and spiritually as you re-connect to the natural world.


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