Rupert Read 15 Apr 09
Dr Rupert Read speaking at the second WiT meeting
We were delighted to welcome Dr Rupert Read to our second meeting which was attended by around 70 people. The meeting was chaired by David Corke.
Rupert's talk followed his Powerpoint presentation quite closely. The presentation is available here (as a ppt file) and here (in rtf). The following notes should be read in conjunction with the presentation.
Rupert began by explaining that we've already had something of a taste of things to come as crude oil hit $150 per barrel in 2008. The People's Fuel Lobby protests in November 2000 also gave an indication of how vulnerable our food supplies are: at the height of the protests supermarkets were reporting that we were "three meals from starvation". A system which has such low resilience is worrying. A further foretaste of what we could have in store is the hike in food prices which we've seen in recent months; something of an inconvenience to us, but a critical issue in the Third World.
Rupert went on to explain that humanity has experienced mass famines before. For example, between 30 and 50 million died in the last quarter of the 19th century as a result of global climate change patterns and economic policies (see Late Victorian Holocausts by Mike Davis). Britain produces only 60% of the food it consumes, leaving us vulnerable.
A holistic approach to the problems we face is needed. It is pointless, for example, addressing the peak oil issue without reference to climate change since the two are intertwined. What is needed is a Green New Deal as explained by Jeremy Leggett in his talk to WiT whereby oil is replaced with renewable energy, with the technology given away free to poor countries. This would also have the advantage of boosting employment during the current recession.
Biofuels (better name Agrofuels) are a nonsense and a shameful misuse of agricultural resources.
The agricultural system is addicted to oil and gas which are used for fuel, fertilsers and pesticides. There is a year-on-year diminution of usable soil which will become much worse as oil depletion bites.
Local food is more secure, makes less use of fossil fuels and makes consumers more interested in where their food is coming from.
The need for change is self-apparent - "business as usual" is not an option - but the Transition Movement cannot do it alone. The "free rider" phenomenon (the idea that reduction in consumption by one section of the community sets a price signal such as to increase consumption by others) is unavoidable unless community action is combined with political action; top down and well as bottom up. One example of political action could be carbon rationing e.g. tradable energy quotas combining individual rationing with a gradual reduction in the amount of carbon circulating in the economy.
Rupert's blog is at http://rupertsread.blogspot.com/
Report by Stephen Willoughby
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