On Fri, 31 Mar 2006 15:40:39 +0000, Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:


At this point, I don't think anybody truly knows what is or isn't true
about oil.

Well, one thing we do know, it's a finite resource. There is no doubting
that. The argument isn't if world oil will peak, it's when. Most of us
consider oil only as something to fuel our vehicles. However, it's other
uses, medicines, plastics, etc., might prove more irreplaceable in the
long run. To me, it seems downright foolhardy to race to the precipice,
when we don't know when that precipice will occur. The truth is, oil will
not run out in our lifetimes, but what of our children's lifetimes?

The following quote may not be completely accurate, but it is food for
thought.

"It has often been said that, if the human species fails to make a go of
it here on Earth, some other species will take over the running. In the
sense of developing high intelligence this is not correct. We have, or
soon will have, exhausted the necessary physical prerequisites so far as
this planet is concerned. With coal gone, oil gone, high-grade metallic
ores gone, no species however competent can make the long climb from
primitive conditions to high-level technology. This is a one-shot affair.
If we fail, this planetary system fails so far as intelligence is
concerned. The same will be true of other planetary systems. On each of
them there will be one chance, and one chance only." (Hoyle, 1964)