Continuation on the social effects of PO and CC...

[Javaman]

In my last post...

"Open thread on the effects of climate change and peak oil on society..."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x128857#129067

I posed the following question:

"Fighting erupts in Nigeria, the MEND has blown up a major oil terminal halting 50% of Nigeria's output. Oil sky rockets overnight to $150 a barrel. Price at the pump jumps one full dollar. National average stands at $4.50 a gallon. Your nearby station hovers around that same price. The price of a gallon of milk goes up to between 6 and 7 dollars a gallon.

What do you do? what do you change? what things do you cut back on?"

And it started a very lively discussion.

My point was to get reactions as to how this situation would effect you as a person directly and what steps you would take as a result.

The answers ranged from: going out on the road and finding work on farms, investing in oil stocks, more car-pooling, increased use in mass transit and to stay where they are and fight off the Mad Max's (with tuna under the bed and wait it out).

Others took a long term approach: having started a garden hand have already put in a years supply of jarred fruits and veggies, raising chickens for eggs, and looking to become as green as possible when money is in short supply.

There were some great discussions regarding alternative energy and others dealing with what will happen with the world and it's politics.

However, again, in restating my question from above; What do you do? what do you change? what things do you cut back on?

I'm trying to think outside the box and challenge ourselves to come up with answers. It's fun to postulate about future events and the potential for alternative fuel sources, but what I'm after is: what are we, as individuals, as communities going to do? How are we going to prepare? What steps do we need to take now to help take the edge off of our coming emergency?

I will now pose a new question. And again, please try and take this to a personal level as to how you will react and what you will do to over come, prepare and perhaps forestall and dire consequences of it's effect upon your life.

There has been a persistent drought in your area of the country. Your state in particular is in dire need of water. A state wide water emergency has been declared. Only water for drinking and cooking is allowed. bathing allowed only 3 times a week. You have found out via one means or another that your neighbor is violating the water ordnance: watering his lawn at night. You live next to this person and generally consider him a good person. Do you turn him in? Do you allow it to continue? Do you confront him?

We are now entering into an ethical area. Please try and keep the discussion civil. LOL

Cheers.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. I would confront him

and ask him why his lawn is more important than living human beings.

Okay, I might frame it more politely (if I'm in the mood).

edit: spelling :eyes:

[Fovea]

2. Anon typed note warning him

the next infraction gets turned in.

[GliderGuider]

3. The scenario is really pretty straightforward.

Most people would opt for an anonymous note, especially if they knew what happened to that poor schnook in Australia who was beaten to death after gently confronting a rule-breaking lawn waterer who turned out to be a psycho.

[bananas]

4. You have it backwards

The poor schnook was following the rules about lawn watering when a psycho neighbor killed him.

"A spokesman for Sydney Water said Mr Proctor had not been in breach of restrictions because he was watering his lawn on his allocated day, had been using a hand-held hose and was carrying out the task within approved hours."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/australia/story/0,,2203891,00.html