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The world is running short of energy-especially cheap, easy-to-find oil. Shortages, along with resulting price increases, threaten industrialized civilization, the global economy, and our entire way of life.
In Confronting Collapse, author Michael C. Ruppert, a former LAPD narcotics officer turned investigative journalist, details the intricate connections between money and energy, including the ways in which oil shortages and price spikes triggered the economic crash that began in September 2008. Given the 96 percent correlation between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions and the unlikelihood of economic growth without a spike in energy use, Ruppert argues that we are not, in fact, on the verge of economic recovery, but on the verge of complete collapse.
Ruppert's truth is not merely inconvenient. It is utterly devastating.
But there is still hope. Ruppert outlines a 25-point plan of action, including the creation of a second strategic petroleum reserve for the use of state and local governments, the immediate implementation of a national Feed-in Tariff mandating that electric utilities pay 3 percent above market rates for all surplus electricity generated from renewable sources, a thorough assessment of soil conditions nationwide, and an emergency action plan for soil restoration and sustainable agriculture.
Foreword vii
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Chapter 1 The Need for Leadership 1
Chapter 2 Thinking Like a President in the Face of a Global Problem 15
Chapter 3 Depletion: Refilling Niagara Falls with a Garden Hose 22
Chapter 4 Reserve Estimates: Playing a Fool's Game with Numbers 34
Chapter 5 Infrastructure and the Grid 44
Chapter 6 Iraq 58
Chapter 7 Saudi Arabia 67
Chapter 8 Food 74
Chapter 9 Evaluating Alternative Energies 98
Chapter 10 The Alternatives 118
Chapter 11 Localization: The Alternative to the Alternatives 137
Chapter 12 Money 146
Chapter 13 Foreign Policy 164
Chapter 14 Setting the Policy 176
Chapter 15 An Emergency 25-Point Plan for Action 190
Epilogue-Entropy 216
About The Author 227
Endnotes 229
Index 239
Mr. Ruppert does it again with brilliant insight and a great outlook into a huge problem facing America, and the rest of the world. He brings about the problem in a way that is very easy to understand. The world needs to stop using so much oil and natural gas, and the world needs to come up with a valid alternative energy. This book is great at indirectly silencing those that put all their time and energy into promoting alternative energies. Alternative energies simply don't produce enough to replace oil therefore making it a waste. All in all this book is terrific in the fact that Mr. Ruppert states the problem, and states the solutions. He doesn't side step any of the issues. He gets the reader from point A to point B in a very efficient and effective manner. This book is tremendous for those that are looking for the problems facing America and the issues facing future generations in the presence of a economic crisis and meltdown.
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Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Energy crisis expert Michael C. Ruppert says the sky is falling and makes a strong argument as to why you should heed his warnings. Ruppert marshals compelling facts about the imminent collapse of the oil fields, whose cheap energy has fueled developed society's way of life for more than a century. He shows how the global financial system's continual growth drove overconsumption destined to ruin any rational response to the energy crisis. He offers solutions using equal parts "relocalization," population reduction, resource management and an overhaul of the American governmental system. Noting that the author's political opinions are controversial, getAbstract recommends this book's energy crisis information to local and federal government planners, finance professionals, anyone in the energy industry and policy makers looking to construct a societal paradigm for a new, frightening age.
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Posted January 30, 2010
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Posted January 26, 2010
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Overview
The book that inspired the movie COLLAPSE.
The world is running short of energy-especially cheap, easy-to-find oil. Shortages, along with resulting price increases, threaten industrialized civilization, the global economy, and our entire way of life.
In Confronting Collapse, author Michael C. Ruppert, a former LAPD narcotics officer turned investigative journalist, details the intricate connections between money and energy, including the ways ...