The Main Threats to Our Future
As I see it, the four main threats to a stable American and world future are:
- PEAK OIL: The oil crisis of the 1970's was a result of a 5% drop in global oil production due to the OPEC oil embargo. We are facing an imminent, unavoidable drop in global oil production as most of the world's oil fields are now in decline. Many oil industry experts state that global oil production has essentially already reached a plateau and predict that it will start to decline sometime between this year and the year 2010. This is happening at precisely the same time that the huge populations of China and India are rapidly expanding their industrial capacities and their appetite for oil.
- ECO THREAT: Global warming and other climate changes (super storms, etc.) coupled with major ecosystem collapse are the basis for the Eco-Threat. Hurricane Katrina is a powerful example of the effects of climate change. When you consider that a single degree F of global warming so far has contributed to the changes in weather that most of us now acknowledge (RE: severity of hurricanes Katrina, Andrew, Mitch, etc.), and that a continuation of current consumption patterns is projected to result in a global warming that is 2.5 to 10 times as great over the next century, it is obvious there are potentially dire consequences for the stability and quality of human life on our planet.
- BIO THREAT: We face a potential for massive plagues due to: 1) The ability of viruses to mutate into new forms that make the jump from animal to human species (i.e. Bird Flu). 2) The widespread use of antibiotics in animal feeds makes a perfect breeding ground for growing bacteria that are resistant to modern antibiotics. 3) The potential for terrorists to secretly infect populations with deadly bacteria or viruses and for them to spread the infection globally (air travel) before it is detected.
- TERROR THREAT: The threat of terrorism is obvious. What is not quite as obvious is the connection between our dependence upon foreign oil and how it funds terrorism while putting our soldiers, engineers and oil company personnel in harms way, and draws the attacks of fanatical Muslim minorities in their attempt to drive American influences from the entire Middle East.
