An organizing group met last week to plan the next Peak Oil Study-Action Group meeting. Some highlights of the general suggestions for the group were:
--pick a few concrete projects to give us early success
--we need to think about HOW to think about something so huge and multi-faceted, frame the issue before we find solutions.
--we need facts and, let's face it, the research will take hard work and dedication
--in order to consider the local effects, we need to analyze the bigger picture
--break down into smaller groups focusing on areas of interest within the group in order to motivate people and be effective. These groups will first be in a research mode and can use the SWOT model as a tool to examine local strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
So clearly, our group will have two sides: Study and Action. Regarding the study part, we suggest that before this next meeting, you read and think about the short reprint below from Richard Heinberg's book The Party's Over, to help us frame an all-group discussion. If you can, dip into the Tompkins County Relocalization Plan, available at www.tlocal.org <http://www.tlocal.org/> It is a model for many of the things we will be doing.
It was suggested that we start with 30-minute general discussion about the big peak oil picture. Richard Douglass agreed to facilitate this meeting and has come up with a question that will be a starting place to branch out into wider discussion. Here's his question: Every peak oil expert predicts severe economic dislocations worldwide. It may take the form of recession, depression, hyperinflation, stock market, banking or currency collapse. What in your opinion will be the likely economic effects of peak oil?
During the second half hour of the meeting, we will be considering the list of ideas about the group that we generated at the first meeting. Jean Dawson has organized it for us and I've printed it below. We'll have a half-hour discussion about this list and people who are ready can sign up for areas of interest. We will decide on a number of groups to pursue. These groups will then have 50 minutes to begin planning before we come back together.
Other news: Brad Clements has our discussion list working, so be sure to sign up.
We are trying to schedule a showing of The End Of Suburbia for Fri., Nov. 17 at 7 pm.
See you soon and read on,