Just in case you think I was just waffling on on my own about growth
perhaps you might find Gail Tvebergs writing on the subject of interest.

http://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/Economic-Growth-Being-Choked-by-High-Oil-Prices-and-Falling-Supply.html

Oh, this might be a bit more digestible;

http://tinyurl.com/d2uhl49

Europe! do any of us think it is alone.
Or to blame, do we understand Germany increased its income, productivity selling to those country's now in trouble.
And buying in to them, funding infrastructure?
The world like a Walt Disney thing, dived too often in to that money bin.
Any of us remember? that funny little Mouse , not mickey, Jewish I think.
Lecturing his recently arrived mouse nephew about Capitalism.
The part about credit, how it drove production and hence consumerism.
We today, may very well stand at the very edge of the greatest change in humanity's history.
Greece must fail to pay its debt, even the package says it will not pay half of it.
Italy just can not pay.
Great Depression, nothing great about it.
But we are only not in one because governments will not let it happen, but what if they can not stop it.
We will be no better than any country.
I think we AUSTRALIA stand on the edge too, a ten percent unemployment rate as a result of this, would start a landslide of house repossessions an unstoppable one.
But no, be aware, this is the start of something brand new.
It may take freedoms from us even lifestyles.
But a new financial system will come as a result of failures others imposed on us.

Belly said;
But no, be aware, this is the start of something brand new.
It may take freedoms from us even lifestyles.
But a new financial system will come as a result of failures others imposed on us.

Yes, you are right there are big changes coming. However I think it
may even make more freedoms available as everything becomes more local.
Unfortunately we are poorly served by all politicians as their ears
are filled with sand.
The influence of governments will wither, the more remote the more
the wither.

One thing that concerns me is that the funds necessary to build the
needed alternative energy systems will just not be there.
I am afraid that is what the global warming advocates have not taken
notice of what has been happening in the energy area.
It is highly likely that the zero growth era will not provide the
credit and other resources needed to build the alternatives to coal
and oil. Natural gas might have helped but like nuclear it is
persona non gratis.

Stockmarket gone to pot again, maybe it needs suspending, what would that do. Europe figuring out a decreased size eurozone. Au on verge of full employment again. Julia wants equal wages across all sexes. Au is not the problem. Can't we turn the radio off and forget about the rest of the world. Money for alt energy will come from company investment, be helpful if political climate was more sociable. Just have to hope Julia forges ahead, and gets women equal pay, what a winner. Surely tony wouldn't agree with that. Bought oil today, all cynthetic no mineral. Clean energy future.

Dear Bazz,

All technology know matter how efficient in its initial
stages needs great costs in maintenance and eventual
replacement. A simple example is the motor car. As well
as a variety of technical equipment around your house.

The population of our cities is growing and for existing
services to cope with the increasing demand - needs to be
continually upgraded or expanded. So instead of utilising
antiquated and inefficient methods of providing energy
it is just as economical if not more so in the long term
to utilise new technology. As the Director of the Yallourn
Power Station stated, "Yes it would be extremely inefficient
to maintain the current plant and we will gladly turn
to new technology..."

Again take your car. How much does it cost to maintain it,
replace the engine, replace the wheels, repair the body work,
repair the steering, replace the interior, and by the time
you're finished you could have bought two new cars.
It's the same thing here - except it's on a bigger scale.

Simple isn't it.

Bazz 579 we should not confuse the issues.
It is my view, not request no wanted but unavoidable , we will go the other way, more control less freedom.
579 I it is unlikely our voice will even be considered.
Scrooge Mac Duck got a mention, he like America, now the world, worships wealth creation, tells us it above else is good.
Italy now seems ready to fall, European Union may/ in my view will shatter.
In 1929/30 this would have bought the depression on a year ago.
Some thing very big will emerge,to see world trade and financial matters do not blast us back in to the stone age.
Bazz, this I know, your view of community's running them selves will not work/come about.
Folk with a sameness/ability/planing have tried it sorry it will not work.
I have dreamed such dreams, seen the controlling nature just two neighbor hood women,kill the glue holding a whole community together.
And it is no chance.
We will not run out of fuel, it will not be the one we use now.
We may not go Nuclear now but coal seam gas like it or not will continue to grow.
Protests or not big money wins every contest.