Well, there are plenty of instances where civilizations overused resources and subsequently the civilization collapsed as well. We see this all the time with smaller organizations (such as businesses) and there is no reason it can't happen to the country.
But I don't think oil will be the limiting resource, at least not for the developed world: we can always build fusion reactors. And I'm sure once the first one is finished in France the cost will go down.
Well, there are plenty of instances where civilizations overused resources and subsequently the civilization collapsed as well.
I'll be honest - I can't think of one. I can think of resource crashes that accelerated a government's failure, but none where "running out of bauxite" was the sole cause.
You may want to read Collapse by Jared Diamond. I haven't read it, but I'm familiar with the case studies he cites. He reviews dozens of once-prosperous civilizations, analyzes why they fell, and draws parallels to modern day. The latter part promises to be a bit preachy which is why I haven't bothered reading it, but I've heard it's a good book and even if you disagree with him, he's usually an informative and interesting author.
I am an inventor and a scientist. As tryven said, fusion power is the best. It does not end up creating nearly as much radioactive waste as any fission reactor would -- what people usually mean by "nuclear". With research, I may have a working design in my head right now for a fusion reactor.
But in the meantime, until fusion actually comes online, I think geothermal power is the best choice -- instead of hydro. I definitely have a design in mind for a geothermal plant that could supply city sized quantities of megawatts, using the typical kinds of geothermal sources that you find around (called low-Q, in the lingo).
As soon as it becomes financially attractive, people will pay me to build such things. Until then, they won't. And, of course, I am not unique. There must be many inventors out there, who all have working concepts in their heads. Maybe someone can scrape enough cash together to build and demonstrate a prototype before oil hits $100 a barrel, and it's "needed" -- but maybe not.
One thing that I can tell you is that it is already a mathematic/economic/scientific fact that it is strictly impossible to collect enough "renewable" energy to power current human consumption.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-19 08:04 pm (UTC)validation, we hardly knew ye
Date: 2006-04-19 08:16 pm (UTC)my scrps
Date: 2006-04-19 08:17 pm (UTC)candid
crasch
endquote
gnat
interimlover
oldgirl
perich
studentism/drugs
xaotica
Re: my scrps
Date: 2006-04-19 08:32 pm (UTC)Here's a hint:
Date: 2006-04-19 08:33 pm (UTC)Re: Here's a hint:
Date: 2006-04-19 08:43 pm (UTC)perhaps it was a trick question
Date: 2006-04-19 08:47 pm (UTC)Re: Here's a hint:
Date: 2006-04-19 08:52 pm (UTC)Re: Here's a hint:
Date: 2006-04-19 09:03 pm (UTC)Re: Here's a hint:
Date: 2006-04-19 09:04 pm (UTC)Re: Here's a hint:
Date: 2006-04-19 09:35 pm (UTC)Re: Here's a hint:
Date: 2006-04-20 02:39 am (UTC)But I don't think oil will be the limiting resource, at least not for the developed world: we can always build fusion reactors. And I'm sure once the first one is finished in France the cost will go down.
Re: Here's a hint:
Date: 2006-04-20 11:34 am (UTC)I'll be honest - I can't think of one. I can think of resource crashes that accelerated a government's failure, but none where "running out of bauxite" was the sole cause.
you should read COLLAPSE!
Date: 2006-04-20 03:15 pm (UTC)Re: Here's a hint:
Date: 2006-04-20 07:44 pm (UTC)Don't worry, I'm working on it
Date: 2006-04-20 06:20 pm (UTC)As tryven said, fusion power is the best. It does not end up creating nearly as much radioactive waste as any fission reactor would -- what people usually mean by "nuclear". With research, I may have a working design in my head right now for a fusion reactor.
But in the meantime, until fusion actually comes online, I think geothermal power is the best choice -- instead of hydro. I definitely have a design in mind for a geothermal plant that could supply city sized quantities of megawatts, using the typical kinds of geothermal sources that you find around (called low-Q, in the lingo).
As soon as it becomes financially attractive, people will pay me to build such things. Until then, they won't. And, of course, I am not unique. There must be many inventors out there, who all have working concepts in their heads. Maybe someone can scrape enough cash together to build and demonstrate a prototype before oil hits $100 a barrel, and it's "needed" -- but maybe not.
One thing that I can tell you is that it is already a mathematic/economic/scientific fact that it is strictly impossible to collect enough "renewable" energy to power current human consumption.