A little political ranting.

My blog is not about ranting or venting. It’s more about facts, real numbers and educated conclusions, than it is about opinions. Yet recently I’ve felt compelled to write something political. So here it goes.

Last month I went to the Sea-Tac airport and as I get to the top of the escalator inside the terminal I see this huge poster of a Toyota Tundra right in front of me, advertising nothing but the POWER that vehicle offers.

Why is it that in the age of Peak Oil and Global Warming we are still with the mentality of buying vehicles that have POWER? Why is it that auto manufactures (in this case Toyota) are still using POWER as the element to make their cars appeal to the American public?

Sometimes I think we in the US are such a backwards culture. We are so behind the times.

A few conclusions have been made, which are almost indisputable:

1. Oil (and all fossil fuels) are a finite resource. They will run out at some point. And we have the ability (maybe not the political will) to calculate how much time the remaining known oil reserves will last. After that, the people left on the planet will have to figure out how to carry on without relying on oil, and eventually all other fossil fuels.
2. The US has been the biggest consumer of oil, well ahead of any other country. Americans consume about ¼ of the world’s oil while Americans are about only 5% of the world population.

So how come we still allow corporations to continue to encourage people to be more wasteful with a finite resource that we know is dwindling? Well, clearly we lack leadership.

Speaking of leadership, I made another conclusion a while back. After speaking to many people, and most of my friends, I observed that the majority of the people around me have made, at one point or another, a statement to the effect of “well, things are this way but I’m not responsible – I did not vote for this president”.

My conclusion is that all American voters are responsible for the current state of affairs. Your not voting makes you an accomplice of all the crimes against humans and the environment that have been and continue to be committed.

And the same applies to the people who “did not vote for this president”. You are still an accomplice on this war for cheap oil if you are still wasting energy and consuming more oil than everyone else on the planet. Do you get it? You say you didn’t vote for the guy and yet you’re enjoying all the benefits that come from his actions. “I didn’t vote for him” is nothing but a cop-out so you can still live in your usual comfort and convenience that is not sustainable.

We are on a destructive path and no one is doing anything about it other than to get on the green bandwagon just to look good. All of the major auto manufacturers ought to be ashamed of themselves. In their insatiable desire for profit they continue bigger and inefficient cars to sell to the American public. No one wants to give up a little money in order to lead the way towards protecting our environment and creating an industry that is sustainable. Everyone is raping the planet until there’s no resource left for anyone, and then we’ll all sink together – be this in our lifetime or in future generations.

We know it’s time to give up wanting power for the sake of humanity. We know our wasteful consumption of energy means the next generation will have less time to find alternative solutions.

Major automakers have the power and capacity to produce a decent, safe and efficient EV in a year or two. The hydrogen prototypes are another scheme for companies to continue to control the supply of fuel so they can maximize their profits. Electricity is available in every home in America. Unplug your toaster and plug in your car. It’s that simple, and electricity is much cheaper than gasoline. But if you live off the grip and collect your energy from the sun or wind, you are giving no money to the oil companies because oil companies become useless in an new era of electric vehicles. Gas stations would disappear and something to be seen in a museum.

So it’s no wonder that there’s all this hype about vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells, even though hydrogen technology has some major issues that probably won’t be solved for decades to come. The oil companies are powerful and want to maintain their power. They have been making absurd profits.

We cannot expect oil companies to change the world for us. Solutions have to start with the consumer, that is, you and I. You ought to demand the product that companies will then build for you. Start slowly – drastic change doesn’t usually work, but walking in the right direction is crucial. Start demanding more fuel-efficient vehicles. Then switch to other fuel alternatives if you can: biodiesel or ethanol. Electric Vehicles are not yet an option, but I trust that they’ll come into the picture in time. Ride a bicycle and walk more. Exercising will prolong your life. Another way to look at it is “driving reduces your life”. Use mass transportation systems whenever you can. You bus and train fare supports these companies, and their service will improve if there’s more demand for mass transportation.

And last, but probably the biggest difference you can make: remember to vote, and vote wisely. Our leaders represent who we are as people, for we elect them.

Peace, and thanks for reading.

- Ricardo Parker

A little political ranting.

My blog is not about ranting or venting. It’s more about facts, real numbers and educated conclusions, than it is about opinions. Yet recently I’ve felt compelled to write something political. So here it goes.

Last month I went to the Sea-Tac airport and as I get to the top of the escalator inside the terminal I see this huge poster of a Toyota Tundra right in front of me, advertising nothing but the POWER that vehicle offers.

Why is it that in the age of Peak Oil and Global Warming we are still with the mentality of buying vehicles that have POWER? Why is it that auto manufactures (in this case Toyota) are still using POWER as the element to make their cars appeal to the American public?

Sometimes I think we in the US are such a backwards culture. We are so behind the times.

A few conclusions have been made, which are almost indisputable:

1. Oil (and all fossil fuels) are a finite resource. They will run out at some point. And we have the ability (maybe not the political will) to calculate how much time the remaining known oil reserves will last. After that, the people left on the planet will have to figure out how to carry on without relying on oil, and eventually all other fossil fuels.
2. The US has been the biggest consumer of oil, well ahead of any other country. Americans consume about ¼ of the world’s oil while Americans are about only 5% of the world population.

So how come we still allow corporations to continue to encourage people to be more wasteful with a finite resource that we know is dwindling? Well, clearly we lack leadership.

Speaking of leadership, I made another conclusion a while back. After speaking to many people, and most of my friends, I observed that the majority of the people around me have made, at one point or another, a statement to the effect of “well, things are this way but I’m not responsible – I did not vote for this president”.

My conclusion is that all American voters are responsible for the current state of affairs. Your not voting makes you an accomplice of all the crimes against humans and the environment that have been and continue to be committed.

And the same applies to the people who “did not vote for this president”. You are still an accomplice on this war for cheap oil if you are still wasting energy and consuming more oil than everyone else on the planet. Do you get it? You say you didn’t vote for the guy and yet you’re enjoying all the benefits that come from his actions. “I didn’t vote for him” is nothing but a cop-out so you can still live in your usual comfort and convenience that is not sustainable.

We are on a destructive path and no one is doing anything about it other than to get on the green bandwagon just to look good. All of the major auto manufacturers ought to be ashamed of themselves. In their insatiable desire for profit they continue bigger and inefficient cars to sell to the American public. No one wants to give up a little money in order to lead the way towards protecting our environment and creating an industry that is sustainable. Everyone is raping the planet until there’s no resource left for anyone, and then we’ll all sink together – be this in our lifetime or in future generations.

We know it’s time to give up wanting power for the sake of humanity. We know our wasteful consumption of energy means the next generation will have less time to find alternative solutions.

Major automakers have the power and capacity to produce a decent, safe and efficient EV in a year or two. The hydrogen prototypes are another scheme for companies to continue to control the supply of fuel so they can maximize their profits. Electricity is available in every home in America. Unplug your toaster and plug in your car. It’s that simple, and electricity is much cheaper than gasoline. But if you live off the grip and collect your energy from the sun or wind, you are giving no money to the oil companies because oil companies become useless in an new era of electric vehicles. Gas stations would disappear and something to be seen in a museum.

So it’s no wonder that there’s all this hype about vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells, even though hydrogen technology has some major issues that probably won’t be solved for decades to come. The oil companies are powerful and want to maintain their power. They have been making absurd profits.

We cannot expect oil companies to change the world for us. Solutions have to start with the consumer, that is, you and I. You ought to demand the product that companies will then build for you. Start slowly – drastic change doesn’t usually work, but walking in the right direction is crucial. Start demanding more fuel-efficient vehicles. Then switch to other fuel alternatives if you can: biodiesel or ethanol. Electric Vehicles are not yet an option, but I trust that they’ll come into the picture in time. Ride a bicycle and walk more. Exercising will prolong your life. Another way to look at it is “driving reduces your life”. Use mass transportation systems whenever you can. You bus and train fare supports these companies, and their service will improve if there’s more demand for mass transportation.

And last, but probably the biggest difference you can make: remember to vote, and vote wisely. Our leaders represent who we are as people, for we elect them.

Peace, and thanks for reading.

- Ricardo Parker

To clarify.

In one of my earlier posts, I said something to the effect of "gasoline prices are not coming down". I believe this comment made me lose some credibility with some of my fellow friends because they literally interpreted that comment as "gasoline prices will not possibly go lower than the record $3 a gallon that we're currently experiencing".

Well, I don't think I was clear with that comment and so I wanted to apologize and clarify things. Gasoline prices are always going to fluctuate for as long as we have gasoline available and being sold. However, the trend is that gasoline prices will only go up. So in this sense, gas prices will never come down again, as an overall trend. That is to say, over time. I would dare say (and am willing to bet money) that gasoline prices will be higher a year from now than today. And two years from now gas will cost even more. And so forth. This is based on understanding the serious issue of Peak Oil. As supply starts to diminish and demand continues to increase the law of supply and demand determines that gas prices will only go up (over time). Unless some major event happens that changes this trend, such as the unlikely discovery of a major oil field, or a catastrophic natural disaster that wipes out a big portion of the population, thus lowering the demand for oil (or gasoline) by having fewer people consuming energy.

On the same topic, a barrel of crude oil cost less than $25 in 9/11, around $60 a year ago (Nov 2007), and today it's being sold at $96.70.

I understand that oil prices are not determined simply by supply and demand, but largely by market speculation. Still, I think this is a trend. And I say that based on understanding the serious issue of Peak Oil.

I am grateful to Greg Rock for opening my eyes to this issue and explaining in detail what Peak Oil is and how it's starting to and will affect our society and the world at large. Greg is an expert on the issue of Peak Oil, and an active and dedicated individual to seeking and providing solutions to the energy crisis we're starting to face. It was Greg who finally steered me in the direction of conservation also, as part of the solution to the upcoming energy crisis.

To learn more about Peak Oil, search for the term on the Internet, or look for books by Dr. M. King Hubbert. Dr. Hubbert was an engineer and expert in the oil industry who first understood and introduced the term Peak Oil. He correctly predicted that oil production would peak in the United States. What we are facing now is worldwide oil production peaking, at a time when demand continues growing because most countries have economies that are dependant on constant growth.

This energy crisis by the way, is the most serious issue yet faced by humankind.

But my intention today is not to write a scary post. So let me finish by saying that I'll soon be visiting Tesla Motors down in Sillicon Valley, assuming they will welcome me. I should come back with some great news and stories.

- Ricardo Parker

To clarify.

In one of my earlier posts, I said something to the effect of "gasoline prices are not coming down". I believe this comment made me lose some credibility with some of my fellow friends because they literally interpreted that comment as "gasoline prices will not possibly go lower than the record $3 a gallon that we're currently experiencing".

Well, I don't think I was clear with that comment and so I wanted to apologize and clarify things. Gasoline prices are always going to fluctuate for as long as we have gasoline available and being sold. However, the trend is that gasoline prices will only go up. So in this sense, gas prices will never come down again, as an overall trend. That is to say, over time. I would dare say (and am willing to bet money) that gasoline prices will be higher a year from now than today. And two years from now gas will cost even more. And so forth. This is based on understanding the serious issue of Peak Oil. As supply starts to diminish and demand continues to increase the law of supply and demand determines that gas prices will only go up (over time). Unless some major event happens that changes this trend, such as the unlikely discovery of a major oil field, or a catastrophic natural disaster that wipes out a big portion of the population, thus lowering the demand for oil (or gasoline) by having fewer people consuming energy.

On the same topic, a barrel of crude oil cost less than $25 in 9/11, around $60 a year ago (Nov 2007), and today it's being sold at $96.70.

I understand that oil prices are not determined simply by supply and demand, but largely by market speculation. Still, I think this is a trend. And I say that based on understanding the serious issue of Peak Oil.

I am grateful to Greg Rock for opening my eyes to this issue and explaining in detail what Peak Oil is and how it's starting to and will affect our society and the world at large. Greg is an expert on the issue of Peak Oil, and an active and dedicated individual to seeking and providing solutions to the energy crisis we're starting to face. It was Greg who finally steered me in the direction of conservation also, as part of the solution to the upcoming energy crisis.

To learn more about Peak Oil, search for the term on the Internet, or look for books by Dr. M. King Hubbert. Dr. Hubbert was an engineer and expert in the oil industry who first understood and introduced the term Peak Oil. He correctly predicted that oil production would peak in the United States. What we are facing now is worldwide oil production peaking, at a time when demand continues growing because most countries have economies that are dependant on constant growth.

This energy crisis by the way, is the most serious issue yet faced by humankind.

But my intention today is not to write a scary post. So let me finish by saying that I'll soon be visiting Tesla Motors down in Sillicon Valley, assuming they will welcome me. I should come back with some great news and stories.

- Ricardo Parker

Ricardo returns to what excites him.

Wow, my last posting was back in June. That is a shame. The good news is that I'm back and I've been plugged in, observing what's happening, though not as active in bringing the changes I'd like to see in the transportation and automotive world.

Back in June I started a new job that is not related to electric cars... everyone has to make a living, right? I do too. Since then, I have been able to experience what it's like working for a software company (again), and that has been good. That said, this time working has confirmed my suspicions that my passions really are the environment, sustainability and environmentally friendly vehicles (that is, electric cars). Nothing gets me more excited when it comes to what I want to dedicate my life to.

I had the incredible opportunity to experience Burning Man back in August. I'm so happy that I got to go, thanks to my great friend Marc Turkel who not only made the invitation, but prepared me before the event and guided me through it to make sure I made the most of my experience in the desert. Words cannot describe what we saw there. Interestingly, the theme this year was "green". Considering that it was my first time at Burning Man, I could not compare it to previous BM events to be able to say how "green" the 2007 event was. A few things to be noted about the event:

1) There was an incredible amount of energy expenditure, no doubt. From the most jaw-dropping fire shows to the moving of large amounts of materials, structures and decorations to the number of vehicles that travel to the desert (and increase the consumption of fuel) to the incredible amount of energy that it takes to maintain life in the desert. Pretty much all electricity is generated through liquid fuels, which is a much more wasteful way to generate electricity than say, by using the power grid.

2) There were about 47,000 people at Burning Man in 2007 compared to about 35,000 people in 2006. So the amount of energy spent in all different aspects is natural and should be expected due to the significant increase in attendance.

3) Many camps were indeed green, using biofuels to generate their energy instead of gasoline. There was also a large presence of solar panels on vehicles, tents and just out in the desert. Even the organizers of Burning Man installed several large solar panels which Larry Harvey claimed they'd donate to some good cause after the event.

4) Many people who were "green" did not boast about being green. I.e., there were people who were burning biodiesel instead of gasoline, but you wouldn't know unless you asked. This is a sign of humility, and part of the BM culture of not "showing off", but personally, I think it did not promote green alternatives as much as it could. It also made it difficult for anyone to even take a guess as to how much energy alternatives people were relying on other than OIL.

So this is a quick update. More to come soon. Please, do participate on this blog my friends and community!

- Ricardo Parker

Ricardo returns to what excites him.

Wow, my last posting was back in June. That is a shame. The good news is that I'm back and I've been plugged in, observing what's happening, though not as active in bringing the changes I'd like to see in the transportation and automotive world.

Back in June I started a new job that is not related to electric cars... everyone has to make a living, right? I do too. Since then, I have been able to experience what it's like working for a software company (again), and that has been good. That said, this time working has confirmed my suspicions that my passions really are the environment, sustainability and environmentally friendly vehicles (that is, electric cars). Nothing gets me more excited when it comes to what I want to dedicate my life to.

I had the incredible opportunity to experience Burning Man back in August. I'm so happy that I got to go, thanks to my great friend Marc Turkel who not only made the invitation, but prepared me before the event and guided me through it to make sure I made the most of my experience in the desert. Words cannot describe what we saw there. Interestingly, the theme this year was "green". Considering that it was my first time at Burning Man, I could not compare it to previous BM events to be able to say how "green" the 2007 event was. A few things to be noted about the event:

1) There was an incredible amount of energy expenditure, no doubt. From the most jaw-dropping fire shows to the moving of large amounts of materials, structures and decorations to the number of vehicles that travel to the desert (and increase the consumption of fuel) to the incredible amount of energy that it takes to maintain life in the desert. Pretty much all electricity is generated through liquid fuels, which is a much more wasteful way to generate electricity than say, by using the power grid.

2) There were about 47,000 people at Burning Man in 2007 compared to about 35,000 people in 2006. So the amount of energy spent in all different aspects is natural and should be expected due to the significant increase in attendance.

3) Many camps were indeed green, using biofuels to generate their energy instead of gasoline. There was also a large presence of solar panels on vehicles, tents and just out in the desert. Even the organizers of Burning Man installed several large solar panels which Larry Harvey claimed they'd donate to some good cause after the event.

4) Many people who were "green" did not boast about being green. I.e., there were people who were burning biodiesel instead of gasoline, but you wouldn't know unless you asked. This is a sign of humility, and part of the BM culture of not "showing off", but personally, I think it did not promote green alternatives as much as it could. It also made it difficult for anyone to even take a guess as to how much energy alternatives people were relying on other than OIL.

So this is a quick update. More to come soon. Please, do participate on this blog my friends and community!

- Ricardo Parker