Oil Shortage? Shell's CEO says "Nothing to Worry About"

Thanks to the Toronto Public Space committee for an impressive movie night last night here in Toronto. They showed the excellent End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream. If you haven't already seen this, it is worth a watch. (You can buy it here and support independent media, too.)

Interesting related articles (courtesy of the Carfree Cities mailing list):

Various "doomsday" scenarios from the business press about price increases in oil here, including this lovely quote:

In a statement Friday, Shell's CEO Jeroen Van der Veer declared, "There is no reason for pessimism."

Well if the guy who is in charge of getting investors to feel good about Shell says there's nothing to worry about...

More scenarios:

In the bleakest scenario, an acute oil shortage and lack of affordable alternative energy source trigger a global depression. Economies collapse as businesses can no longer afford to move goods and people. People survive in increasingly isolated communities that have to learn to become self-sufficient, with most journeys made by bicycle or horse.

The most optimistic scenario envisages that a cleaner alternative to oil is available in abundance, allowing the present trend towards greater globalisation to continue apace.
...
Stephen Ladyman, the Transport Minister, is chairing a group that will assess progress towards resolving the issues raised by the report. “We have two choices,” he said. “We can stumble into the future in the hope it turns out right, or we can try to shape it.”

Topics: Environment, Urban Issues, Film