The author claims we have a market economy. We don't. Doesn't he notice that only the tip of the iceberg as to why we don't is the fact that we have a Federal Treasurer? By definition, a market economy can't have such a thing (not to mention any other government employee or department).

Anyhow, I'm not particularly concerned about the future. I plan to hedge my bets. I'm going to by land in the country and engage in a certain level of self-sufficiency, but mainly because I'd like to save myself money (and be able to use as much power or water as I like), and also because I like the countryside and gardening.

Maybe our lifestyles are unsustainable, but the solution would not be any form of Green Communism. The solution would be the age-old solution in any situation of extreme resource competition: war. It's harsh to say this, but I don't really care (because I do want to continue my lifestyle). If the world's population were to be cut, aside from a decline in the Western birthrate that has been happening since the 70s for non-environmental reasons, the big cuts are going to occur in the Third World. If necessary, we'll commit genocide (directly or indirectly) and plunder. It's that simple. Do I feel bad about that? No, because that's survival and I'm just glad it would be them and not me. People can want to hold hands and be friends, but that's not the way of the world and we'd be fools for buying into such a notion.

"Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum."
If you want peace, prepare for war.

Eclipse Now...I debunk your sources because they are not credible and very unscientific. Written by people with the same agenda as you. Just because it is on the internet doesn't make it a credible source. It simply confirms your idea of how the world works, which is quite skewed. These same people predicted the world would run out of food in the 70's, base metals in the 80's and then oil in the 90's. Yet somehow all of these resources keep up with increasing consumption. I wonder how...

Yes all will run out, but the question of when is always the hardest to predict.

Alzo, do the math! Just saying the magic word "INTERNET" does not mean you can make the data in and logic of their arguments disappear.
Sorry Alzo, it does not work like that. Their arguments are completely logical... all it is is a little "investigative journalism" gathering the raw data, and running various growth equations next to it.

Also, you mentioned oil. SBS showed "Crude Impact" the other night.
The most vital information is in Chapter 6 and 7, which will fill you in a little on the oil situation.
http://www.sydneypeakoil.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=4828

Or try the Wikipedia article, and then please answer the following questions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil

Questions for Alzo.
1. When does Exxon Mobile (who deny there is a problem) admit that non-OPEC oil is going to peak and then move permanently into decline. (Non-OPEC is about half the planets oil production now... that's half the world's oil in decline.)
http://www.thebulletin.org/article.php?art_ofn=mj05cavallo

2. Peak discovery year?
In 1956 M. King Hubbert accurately predicted that American oil would peak in 1970 and then go into permanent decline. He did this by counting the consumption to discovery pattern. He was spot on.

Lets look at global oil discovery. With hundreds of billions to be made, with some of the most advanced technology, which year was the "peak" year for the world discovery world oil? In which year did we find the most oil? And what has been the trend for the last 40 years?

3. Are we ahead on discovery?
Are we replacing the oil we are consuming each year with fresh discoveries? If so, at what rates are we replacing it with new discoveries? Are we discovering twice as much oil as we use? 3 times as much? Or is it running the other way? What has been the discovery trend for the last 40 years as oil companies drill the entire globe?

Answer these questions from Wikipedia or do your own googling, or try the Australian Federal Senate inquiry into the end of the oil age.
http://tinyurl.com/hzyz5

Answer them honestly and factually, and you'll do yourself proud Alzo.

Reading the article and some of the comments has been interesting. But most want to fiddle around down in the weeds. And intellectualise some obvious and fundamental truths. There is one basic issue. Our planet is overpopulated with humans. Our patterns and levels of growth are unsustainable. We are consuming too much non renewable resource; we are misusing productive land; we are pushing Nature beyond its limits of regeneration; each community likes to consider its position in isolation from the problems and issues facing the collective. The Western world with its market based economies must match its leadership aspirations with appreciation of balance and moderation. The price of market failure is oblivion. And it looks to me as if no-one is in charge, or responsible. I can see the problems, and I think you can too. Why are we not working together on the solutions ?

Hi DRW, I guess we are not working together on the solutions because we are either a pleasure or fear inspired species. At the moment the dominant meme is pleasure seeking capitalism... money is our god and hedonism our creed. No one likes a wowser party-pooper that continually points out that if we "drink to excess, the wine will run out."

Yes, the fundamental problem is one of overpopulation.
Yet our economic addiction to growth compels high immigration into Western countries (whose own populations are in decline) to artificially buffer and grow the economy. This creates a brain drain in the home country, where there might only be 1 doctor for every 400 citizens... but hey? Australia (and other western nations) must have economic growth, and why not steal their doctors as well? (It makes me sick!) Not only that, but as they immigrate here their consumption, CO2 emissions, and footprint skyrocket.

So to show some of my fellow Australian's that there really is a problem in our "garden" I have to point down among the "weeds" to the more hip-pocket nerve issue of the oil running out. Sometimes that gets their attention. Most of the time it just generates an unthinking reflex reaction of "But when the prices rise, they'll have more incentive to discover more oil." (Der, do they know anything about oil discovery trends of the last 40 years).

Which reminds me — Alzo, if you want help answering those questions above the best place to go is straight to the Australian Federal inquiry into peak oil and look up oil supply and demand.

Eclipse Now I am not arguing against the case of Peak Oil...it will happen...in your hysteria to flood the forum with meaningless references you seem to have missed my point. A question for you....when do you predict world peak oil? Please just a number...not a thousand references.

My point was way back when, is that it will not cause a major crash of civilisation. There may be some wars and unrest but society will continue without us having to resort to some sort of troglodyte utopia.