How Much Oil Spilled in the Gulf? Less than Six Hours' Worth

"The roughly 183 million gallons (to use a moderate estimate) spilled so far into the Gulf are about what we Americans burn every five and a half hours.

Five and a half hours of sitting in traffic and flying to meet clients and firing furnaces and trucking fruit, bottled water, and Amazon packages across the country."

http://www.good.is/post/how-much-oil-spilled-in-the-gulf-less-than-six-hours-worth/

We're all responsible for BP's oil spill disaster

"Filled up your car recently? Bought new bike tyres? Popped any pills? Then you're in part responsible for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill..."

http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/Dan_Box/481498/were_all_responsible_for_bps_oil_spill_disaster.html

"It is unfair to blame our oil companies alone for the risks we have encouraged them to run. I filled my car up this week, chances are you did the same (unless you cycle; but then, you know your bike tyres? Yep, made from oil). The US summer driving season, when the international price of oil jumps on the back of demand caused by Americans driving to their holidays, is around the corner. "

Imagining Life Without Oil, and Being Ready

"Jennifer Wilkerson’s preparations for a post-petroleum world include growing her own food and stockpiling supplies against any shortages."

"Americans have long been fascinated by disaster scenarios, from the population explosion to the cold war to global warming. These days the doomers, as Mrs. Wilkerson jokingly calls herself and likeminded others, have a new focus: peak oil. They argue that oil supplies peaked as early as 2008 and will decline rapidly, taking the economy with them."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/us/06peak.html

Tipping Point: Near-Term Systemic Implications of a Peak in Global Oil Production

"The key to understanding the implications of peak oil is to see it not just directly through its effect on transport, petrochemicals, or food say, but its systemic effects. A globalising, integrated and co-dependant economy has evolved with particular dynamics and embedded structures that have made our basic welfare dependent upon delocalised 'local' economies. It has locked us into hyper-complex economic and social processes that are increasing our vulnerability, but which we are unable to alter without risking a collapse in those same welfare supporting structures. And without increasing energy flows, those embedded structures, which include our expectations, institutions and infrastructure that evolved and adapted in the expectation of further economic growth cannot be maintained."

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6309

"There is no solution, though there are some paths that are better and wiser than others. This is a societal issue, there is no ‘other’ to blame, but the responsibility belongs to us all. What we require is rapid emergency planning coupled with a plan for longer-term adaptation."