This post couldn't have come at a more opportune time. With Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to make the world aware about global warming it time we start talking about energy and the powers that govern them. Most of the unwarranted politics in the world is around one of two things arms and oil. Oil primarily. One who has control of the oil well controls the way the world goes around. The developed world is so dependent on gasoline, aviation fuel and what not that it shudders to think of a day when people turn up to the gas station and the pumps have run dry. Especially the US. Hence its ever increasing desire to control the oil supplies in the world, by money or by force as witnessed by the recent wars (on terrorism ??). A lot of strife in the world is perpetuated by this fight for oil. The Al Kahida hates the US and the US hates their guts and both of them engage in mindless bloodshed that hurts the world at large. It divides people, us versus them. And I think most of it goes back to this fight for Oil.
Now why am I talking about oil politics? I think we have depended on this fossil fuel for a long enough time and definitely the debates show that this mechanism is not sustainable. We should look for alternate sources of energy. That has been common knowledge for years. But I believe asking the developed nations to lead the way would not help. Their switching costs are too high and most of the people in power want the monopoly of oil to continue. It fills up their coffers. An average American can't even imagine a day when there would be no oil left such is the dependence. Its very unlikely that they will make the switch.
This offers the developing nations a big incentive to explore new and sustainable energy sources. They have not made extensive investments for exploiting these fossil fuels and most probably they will not have a say in the allocation when OPEC decides the quota. I think it offers then an excellent opportunity to do extensive research and develop alternate forms of energy.
If they were successful this would definitely make them a more independent and prosperous as a country. It will also make the human race more sustainable and maybe the world a more peaceful place to live in.
5 comments:
the ever-high oil prices depress me. Just today, I was reading Time ;) and the topics about "who owns the arctic".. they say that thr are oil reserves under the north pole.. which cud serve the 4 yr consumption of oil in the US. Now, wot after 4 yrs? I mean......... ....
And while talking about oil, I really dont wanna comment on the war..
but yeah, cool, the guy got a nobel!
btw, wots ur major... and a lil off-topic, r u plannin to start investing in the stock market?
Yeah he has done a lot of work for the cause of global warming and what the heck he stood against Bush in the elections. That itself should be worthy of the Nobel ;)
And I am a doctoral student not an MBA :) and my major is in Operations.
Hmmm the stock market?? Don't you like NEED MONEY to be able to invest there ;)?? [in a totally retro californian chic accent]
I have been seeing some articles lately about the doomsday thing because of lack of oil reserves and they seem quite real. UK has started work on creating a lot of nuclear power plants as an alternative.
i beg to differ at just one point... the switch will fortunately or unfortunately come from the yanks/europeans... they r best positioned technologically... to innovate and develop greener technology and fuel... irrespective of the lack of political will. Its already evident in California... where extensive work is being done towards newer technologies...
eventually economics will catch up to the fact that greener technology is far more investment friendly than procuring more and more oil
... in the absence of ny more fossilized dinosaurs
however, at the same time.. the developing economis have tow ake up n stop pursuing teh western model of development... i.e oil dependent progress.. which is wat brazil, india, china et al are racing towards... when will we realise its not sustainable
Shirsoft: Yeah I guess there is a greater movement towards nuclear power at least in the developing countries. Good or bad is something I am not sure right now.
Anki: Yeah some people are doing great work on developing alternate sources of energy, but I dont think US as a nation will embrace them soon enough. Firstly the administration will oppose it and secondly I dont think the masses are really ready for the idea. Instead it will be a great idea to have the Gov in the developing countries fund/do these research.
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