Raise the Hammer
For this new era of energy scarcity, new economic principles are needed to maintain prosperity.
By Rudo de Ruijter
Published July 07, 2008
After more than 150 years of increasing availability of energy and an explosive growth of the world population, we are now entering an era of always decreasing availability of energy. The world population will shrink.
For this new era new economic principles are needed to maintain prosperity. Part of this is a bank reform, which members of Parliament can compel if they want.
Graph: Oil Export Market Demand v. Maximum Offer
The oil-price rises explosivily. This time it is not about some action of OPEC, a threat of war or a cold winter. Today's rises in price are the result of a turning point in the oil supply.
Demand keeps growing and the oil extraction has reached its ceiling. As the oil exporting countries use more and more oil themselves, less oil is offered on the export-markets.
Graph: World Energy Mix by Type
Those who count on alternative energy sources are wrong. Gas, coal, nuclear, hydro, wind and solar energy cannot make up the shortage of oil. The world population will have to do with less energy.
Today's mix of energy use consists of 36 percent oil, 24 percent gas, 28 percent coal, six percent nuclear, six percent hydroelectric and one percent renewables, like wind and solar energy.
The Canadian researcher Paul Chefurka has made an analysis and a prognosis of each energy source. See the pictures left and beneath. For explanation and details, please read his article World Energy and Population.
Graph: Energy Use by Source, 1965 - 2095
Most big oil fields in the world are "empty" now or slowing down (Peak Oil). For the extraction from the remaining smaller fields a lot more investments are needed and the extraction speed is lower. The lowering capacity can only partly be compensated by other sources of energy.
The peak in gas extraction is expected within a relative short time.
The richest coal (anthracite) is depleted for the most part. The remaining coal is poorer in energy and demands higher extraction cost. Coal also has a high CO2 emanation, and solutions to this problem are still in an experimental stage.
The capacity of existing and planned nuclear plants is far to small to compensate the fall in energy. A rapid making-up of arrears cannot be expected with nuclear plants.
For hydroelectric power, the interesting locations are already in use and, here too, a multiplication of capacity cannot be expected.
Renewable energy, like wind and solar, hardly represent anything compared with global energy consumption. In spite of hopeful developments, its share will remain insignificant for a long time.
The explosive growth of the world population has been possible by the one-time consumption of fossil energy. We now have reached the top of the energy-extraction. The extraction of the remainder demands more cost and efforts for a lower output.
The lowering availability of energy will logically lead to a shrinking world population.
Graph: World Population, 5000 BC - 2000 CE
The world population consumes in average 1.8 Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (TOE) per person per year. The use of energy in the world varies a lot. The 2.8 billion people in China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh consume 0.8 TOE per person per year. In the US this is 8 TOE per person per year.
If we take a look at the dependency on energy-import, we notice that, calculated per inhabitant, Western European countries, Japan and the United States import more than 2 TOE per year (numbers from 2005).
Map: Energy Import Dependency by Country
When there are shortages on the energy export-markets, those countries are in trouble first. In this situation the US has the advantage that most energy is still traded in dollars. Financially they can dispose of it freely (by inflation and growth of the external debt).
The role of the other energy-importing countries is double. On the one hand, their demand for dollars helps to keep the dollar rate upright (and with the dollar rate, the US-imperium).
On the other hand, most often they are also military allies of the US, who likewise profit of the submission of Iraq and the occupation of Afghanistan.
Today's oil crisis makes it painfully clear, that various forms of energy cannot be exchanged easily. Oil is made into diesel oil and fuel (70 percent), petrol/gasoline (13 percent), bitumen, lubricating oil, kerosene, butane, liquid petrol gas, naphtha, benzene and toluene.
From these, naphtha, benzene and toluene are the raw materials for chemicals, plastics, synthetic fibers and rubbers.
Chemicals are in cleaning products, medicins, anti-freeze, paints, insecticides, fertilizers, soap and explosives. Plastics are used in bags, beer-cases, suit-cases, dustbins, dashboards, pipes, gutters, tubes, floor-coverings and polystyrene. Synthetic fibers and rubbers are made into textiles, silicons and tyres.
All those products have their places in our daily life and most of them cannot simply be exchanged by others.
Everywhere in the world the massive availability of diesel and petrol has determined the organization and cohesion of societies. Distances to be covered, considered normal unto now, will become very expensive, particularly in food-supply, commuting, trade and industry. In social life too, short distances will become more and more important.
The modern high-output food production swallows a lot of energy. In the US the production of 1 unit of energy in food demands 1.56 unit of fossil energy. When we also take into account transportation, processing, packaging, distribution, conservation and cooking, 1 unit of energy in food [PDF link] demands not less than 7.36 units of fossil energy.
The biggest threat for the intensive agriculture in 2008 is the doubling of the price of fertilizers, as a result of the oil-crisis.
Products of high-output agriculture will become too expensive for a large part of the world population. The biggest economy in energy can be made with traditionally produced food from farmers in the neighbourhood.
With the present size of the world population it is quite certain, that there will not be enough food and energy in the coming 75 years. If the world population does not shrink radically and the strive for economic growth is not banned, more and more of our children will be sent to war to get more food and energy.
(Of course these wars will be camouflaged as peace-keeping operations, development aid, democratisations and anything else the leaders of industrialized countries come up with to avoid the nasty taste of murder and robbery to their people.)
The ever-increasing availability of energy did not only allow an explosive growth of the population, but also came with economic models that function according to the principal of endless economic growth. They assume an always increasing availability of raw materials, energy, working force and consumers.
These models dominate the thinking of politics and economy in most countries of the world. The motor in these models is the money-system, which, by a permanent inflation, forces to more and more activity to forestall impoverishment.
Although the decrease in available energy has already started on the export markets, we still don't have solutions for our economy - except warfare. For the moment there is a lack of consciousness, knowledge and comprehension.
During our lifetimes we have never known anything but the growth model. That is in use nearly everywhere in the world. That is why we do not realize sufficiently, it is just an economic model. It only applies in a situation of permanent increase of energy, raw materials, working force and consumers.
When the economy must function with a shrinking availability of energy, we need another economic model.
In the slimming model, there is a shrinking production and a shrinking consumption, caused by the decrease of energy. When there is less energy available than needed for a big population, we should logically strive for a smaller population.
If we start the decrease in population early enough, then, counted per inhabitant, prosperity can be maintained at a high level. (When the population is too big, it will be war and economic crisis.)
In today's system, new money is created by commercial banks each time loans are made. For all commercial banks together, there is not a single limit in the unbridled money-creation. It can, at best, be stimulated or slowed down a bit by the interest rate of the central bank.
Central banks themselves profit from inflation and changing interest rates, which allow them income from monetary operations, that garantee their independence.
Graphic: By removing the permission to create money from the commercial banks and put this right exclusively in the hands of the central bank, the latter can immediately stop the inflation.
This system of permanent inflation should be replaced. The money creation should be limited to the central bank. Today's banks would become middlemen, who hand the loans to their customers. For these customers nothing changes. Their bank accounts continue in the same way.
By removing the permission to create money from the commercial banks and put this right exclusively in the hands of the central bank, the latter can immediately stop the inflation.
Consequently the central bank doses carefully the amount of money in circulation, in order to prevent any devaluation of the money unit.
In accordance with the government, different interest rates can be used for different categories of loans. This way, for instance, long term investments for a sustainable society can be financed prioritarily, or, the other way around, unwanted investments can be discouraged. In this way a slimming model in a situation of decreasing population can provide maintenance of prosperity.
Note that in countries where there is still an increasing availability of energy, the bank-reform lined out above offers a better structure for sustained prosperity too.
By the differentiation of interest rates, long term investments for a sustainable future can be financed and, also, investments can be stimulated or discouraged by sector. Further more the excesses in money creation can be stopped immediately and prevented in the future.
There is no obligation to apply this reform in several or all countries at the same time. Probably, in many countries, the central bank has enough legal power to implement such a reform independently. In other countries some changes will have to be made in the laws.
During the last century, some central banks have built a questionable reputation as regulator of the economy. And some central banks are still haunted by the neo-conservative ideas of Friedman. That is why it is not sure at all. that all central banks are inclined to such kind of reform.
In most countries their power is based on just a few articles of law. These articles qualify their authority. When governments want, they can withdraw these articles and put the creation of money in the hands of the state. (Opponents will say, the governments will make a mess of it. I think, that the financial crisis has sufficiently proven, that it is the commercial banks, who are making a mess of it.)
By Gerard Panza (registered) - website | Posted July 17, 2008 at 12:19:55
The Truth About Crude Oil and Natural Gas
There is NO shortage of Crude Oil or Natural Gas
The USA has more reserve than the rest of the world.
Montana is now considered to be the "MIDDLE EAST" of OIL.
Western Pennsylvania has trillions of cubic feet of clean natural gas.
If congress would allow drilling Today, those wells could be producing oil and gas within 6 months to a year.
To view the Rest OF The Story go to
http://www.ilm-efx.5u.com/photo4.html
You will be amazed!
Also view the Truth about Global Warming, from a scientific view point, and how Co2 is NOT measured in TONS, but in Cubic Feet!
By jason (registered) | Posted July 17, 2008 at 13:38:36
before I read the rest of the story I must ask - are the people of Western Pennsylvania excited about oil rigs being set up next to their homes??
or are the wealthy communities in California ready to embrace off-shore oil rigs staring at Venice Beach??
By Gerard Panza (registered) - website | Posted July 18, 2008 at 11:48:10
Congress You STILL DO NOT GET THE PICTURE
If Congress were to open up drilling TODAY, A well could be completed in 6 to 12 months and START producing OIL. THEY LIE when they say it would take up to ten years to get oil out.
CONGRESS must not be aware that TODAY the Oil Industry has improved RIGS, and are NOT using equipment from the 1800.
If The Russians can complete a well and produce oil in # MONTHS we ALSO CAN IF CONGRESS WOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY. NOVEMBER IS COMING and The People of this country are VERY ANGRY.
OPEN UP ALASK AND THE COST AND GULF FOR NEW WELLS AND TELL THE ENVIRONMENTALIST TO GO RIRE BIKES, AND STOP TRYING TO DESTROY THE USA.
NO ONE FROM THIS COMMITTEE has viewed the web site listed below, OVER 111 THOUSAND PEOPLE have viewed it, SO WHY DOESN'T CONGRESS??????????
IS CONGRESS AFRAID OF THE TRUE FACTS.
WE WILL REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER!
For The Rest of the Story visit
http://www.ilm-efx.5u.com/photo4.html
You will be amazed at wht you read, and also visit the GLOBAL WARMING pages.
By Cowering in the corner (anonymous) | Posted July 18, 2008 at 11:54:20
I must admit, I was a bit skeptical until you convinced me with your IRREFUTABLE USE OF CAPS LOCK AND MULTIPLE QUESTION MARKS????????
/head explodes
By Gerard Panza (registered) - website | Posted July 18, 2008 at 11:58:48
To Jason;
The Wells in California can NOT BE SEEN from any of the beach front EXPENSIVE property, and according to the USCG NO OIL LEAKAGE exists. If a spill does occur it is contained.
As for Pennsylvania Gas Wells are only taps and DO NOT have RIGS in place AFTER the original drilling. As with CRUDE OIL, the only piece of equipment after a well is drilled is the Donkey Pump. So the people in Western PA WELCOME the rigs as it improves their way of life.
By oil dreams (anonymous) | Posted July 21, 2008 at 08:03:27
riiiiight
the US is sitting on several Ghawar sized oil fields full of easy cheap oil on the mainland and no one is drilling.... hey I've got a bridge for sale.
By Gerard Panza (registered) - website | Posted August 07, 2008 at 12:52:01
Cowerling In The Corner The use of ????????????? and CAPS are common in any MEDIA piece to make a POINT.
And yes Mr. "Oil Dreams" the USA is sitting on as you say "Ghawar sized oil fields", but NO ONE mentioned "EASY". The vast pools of oil and natural gas are deep and costly to produce, however with slant wells and todays new equipment it can be done. As proven by JACK 2 in the Gulf a 30,000 foot single well that is producing 6,000 barrels a day under pressure.
You really NEED to READ all that is posted in the web sire. You Will Be Amazed at the truth.
Also drive through Western PA, on I70 and see how many Rigs there are. It is quite interesting. It is making land owners and farmers money and they are saving their farms. The cows don't mind and the Corn doesn't care about a drilling rig in the fields.
So visit the web site
http://www.ilm-efx.5u.com/photo4.html
Also look at GLOBAL WARMING THE TRUTH!
http://www.ilm-efx.5u.com/photo5.html
You Will Be Amazed
“Pelosi and the Democrats counter that Republicans have a "drill only" mentality, and even if there was an expansion in offshore drilling, it would take years or even decades to have a real impact on prices at the pump“.
The stooges are still at it. When will Pelosi and Reed FINALLY UNDERSTAND that the American People WANT THEIR OWN OIL and NOT MIDDLE EAST, WHEN WILL THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKE UNDER A YEAR TO DRILL A WELL AND PRODUCE OIL.
The recent tirades of LIES from the DEMOCRATS, especially Pelosi, will no longer CUT IT WITH AMERICANS. The Stooges ONLY SHOW how truly ill informed they truly are.
WHAT A CROCK. Pelosi has her head in the sand and will not come up for air. Russia can sink a well and produce oil in three months, JACK 2 in the Gulf Of Mexico was producing OIL one year AFTER the drilling started. It is a 30,000 foot well that is producing 6000 barrels a day.
So Pelosi and her bunch are so out of touch with reality, that it appears they are in the TWILIGHT ZONE cast as actors in some non descript fanciful melodrama that ONLY they believe in.
Pelosi and Reed could not get out of a paper bag with both ends open and arrows pointing the way. Pelosi wants to save the planet, but has no direction and is ONLY placing the "Planet" in danger by her NON ACTION.
DRILL NOW DRILL HERE GET THE USA OFF MIDDLE EAST OIL.
WE HAVE MORE OIL IN THIS COUNTRY THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD, ONLY CONGRESS KEEPS US FROM GETTING IT.
View the following site for The Truth On Big Oil and Global Warming
http://www.ilm-efx.5u.com/photo4.html
You will be amazed!
By DIlley (anonymous) | Posted October 31, 2010 at 19:34:54
@ Gerard Panza
Wtf man. 6000 barrels a day? Jeeez. That seems like a lot. But when u think about it. 100 Million barrels a day is even more. How many wells do you need to open before u reach the daily quota. And what happens when the supposed oil field in america is depleted. What then?
Your living in a dream world dude.You need to get that oil needle out of your arm
btw that website could use a re-design.
By eye1 (anonymous) | Posted September 29, 2011 at 02:42:58
good article, thanks for sharing
You must be logged in to comment.
There are no upcoming events right now.
Why not post one?