June 2nd, 2009
“The nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it”
- Barack Obama
(in his first address to a joint session of Congress)
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(Photo by “dno1967“)
A General Motors car dealership along the side of a road in Florida
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P. Sainath (in this article — late last year) -
“It’s unfair to call the US auto industry dinosaurs, as some now do. It’s certainly unfair to the dinosaurs. The ‘Terrible Lizards’ did not lay the basis for their own extinction or that of myriad other species. The original dinosaurs (who scientists now tell us were neither all that terrible nor lizards), were great examples of success and adaptation, good enough to rule the planet for 150 million years. The US auto industry is the opposite. It’s not just that the Terrible Metal Lizards opposed fuel efficiency standards. Of course, they did. They also promoted gas-guzzling SUVs as a lifestyle must. They cranked out cars many did not want to buy. They wielded heavy clout in Congress, and were able to sponge off public funds in the name of saving jobs as they have yet again. Having received $ 25 billion earlier, their hats are in their outstretched hands again.”
(As I said, that was written last year.)
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“Hot Wheels” and “Power Racer” cars
[Read more →]
Categories: Ecology · Ecology: Energy and carbon · Globalizing (harmful forms of) · Liberal individualism · Political Economy · Political economy: Capitalism
September 14th, 2008
“WIN $50 IN FREE SHELL GAS EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT!.”
A contest at a bar in London, Ontario. (I took the photo.)
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Blood for oil
“The American Red Cross [ran] a summer contest where blood donors are eligible to win a year’s supply of fuel.”
- Phoebe Chin at Upickreviews (in July)
“Blood banks recognize the rising prices of gas as an opportunity to pull in more donors and leveraging that in their marketing. ‘Donate plasma for gas money,’ is plastered across a banner outside Las Cruces Biological, in Las Cruces, N.M. [They're] not actually giving out gas, just money but they have been seeing sharp increases of donors since March and lab workers claim the new donors are not the typical drug addicts looking for some quick cash, they are regular Joes and Janes looking for some extra gas money… quick cash. ‘Blood for Gas’ is a strange appeal, but it appears to be working.”
- Matt at greenUPGRADER (in July)
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Sex for oil
“Some resourceful people have turned to bartering for gas, but generally speaking you have to have some kind of skill to offer in exchange. This didn’t stop Angela Eversole who traded sex for a $100 gas card.” ” Unfortunately rather than getting a full tank she got a prostitution rap.
This is the second ‘Sex for Gas’ incident in just a few months.” …
- Matt at greenUPGRADER (in July)
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Praying for oil
Jenny (in August) on the “Praying at the Pump” movement
[Read more →]
Categories: Ecology: Energy and carbon · Liberal individualism · Political economy: Capitalism
January 7th, 2008
Get a First Life
Mocking people who are caught up in online games like Second Life
Categories: Globalizing (harmful forms of) · Liberal individualism · Local autonomy (constructive forms of)
December 1st, 2007
Categories: Political Economy
July 4th, 2007
Oil Executives March On D.C.
“More than 1,000 majority shareholders and executive officers from the nation’s largest oil companies gathered in the National Mall and marched to Capitol Hill Monday in a mass demonstration for petrochemical corporations’ rights”
[Read more →]
Categories: Ecology: Energy and carbon · Globalizing (harmful forms of) · Political economy: Capitalism
February 24th, 2007
After peak oil and gas:
- Petroleum will become a luxury item and — eventually — a precious treasure
- We’ll have to come up with new ways to use automobiles as we know them
- Some people will have to learn how to be part of communities
[Originally posted on the Relocalization Network]
Categories: Ecology: Energy and carbon · Liberal individualism · Solidarity
February 25th, 2006
A video:
http://www.piratesandemperors.com
“Because I do it with a single paltry ship, I am called a robber; while you do it with a large navy, and are called an emperor”
(A pirate speaking to Alexander the Great)
— Augustine of Hippo
[Originally posted on the London Commons]
Categories: Globalizing (harmful forms of) · Political Economy
