If the US continues with its current policies, the next decades will be marked by war, economic collapse, and environmental catastrophe. Resource depletion and population pressures are about to catch up with us, and no one is prepared. The political elites, especially in the US, are incapable of dealing with the situation and have in mind a punishing game of “Last One Standing.”
The alternative is “Powerdown,” a strategy that will require tremendous effort and economic sacrifice in order to reduce per-capita resource usage in wealthy countries, develop alternative energy sources, distribute resources more equitably, and reduce the human population humanely but systematically over time. While civil society organizations push for a mild version of this, the vast majority of the world’s people are in the dark, not understanding the challenges ahead, nor the options realistically available.
__Powerdown__ speaks frankly to these dilemmas. Avoiding cynicism and despair, it begins with an overview of the likely impacts of oil and natural gas depletion and then outlines four options for industrial societies during the next decades:
Last One Standing: the path of competition for remaining resources;Powerdown: the path of cooperation, conservation and sharing;Waiting for a Magic Elixir: wishful thinking, false hopes, and denial;Building Lifeboats: the path of community solidarity and preservation.
Finally, the book explores how three important groups within global society—the power elites, the opposition to the elites (the antiwar and antiglobalization movements, et al: the “Other Superpower”), and ordinary people—are likely to respond to these four options. Timely, accessible and eloquent, __Powerdown__ is crucial reading for our times.
**Richard Heinberg** is an award-winning author of five previous books, including __The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies__. A member of the Core Faculty of New College of California, he lives in Santa Rosa, California.

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untitled

Heinberg, Richard

New Catalyst Books

Clairview

Gabriola Island, BC, British Columbia, August 15, 2004

Forest Row [East Sussex, England, 2004

Canada - English Language, Canada

First Edition, PT, 2004

Philadelphia, Pa, 2004

1st Edition, 2004

Great Science Textbooks DVD Library 2007 -- Update Jul 2009

lg123087

producers:
Acrobat Distiller 6.0.1 (Windows)

{"isbns":["0865715106","9780865715103"],"last_page":288,"publisher":"New Society Publishers"}

Includes bibliographical references and index.

If the US continues with its current policies, the next decades will be marked by war, economic collapse, and environmental catastrophe. Resource depletion and population pressures are about to catch up with us, and no one is prepared. The political elites, especially in the US, are incapable of dealing with the situation and have in mind a punishing game of “Last One Standing.”
The alternative is “Powerdown,” a strategy that will require tremendous effort and economic sacrifice in order to reduce per-capita resource usage in wealthy countries, develop alternative energy sources, distribute resources more equitably, and reduce the human population humanely but systematically over time. While civil society organizations push for a mild version of this, the vast majority of the world’s people are in the dark, not understanding the challenges ahead, nor the options realistically available.
Powerdown speaks frankly to these dilemmas. Avoiding cynicism and despair, it begins with an overview of the likely impacts of oil and natural gas depletion and then outlines four options for industrial societies during the next decades:
Last One Standing: the path of competition for remaining resources;
Powerdown: the path of cooperation, conservation and sharing;
Waiting for a Magic Elixir: wishful thinking, false hopes, and denial;
Building Lifeboats: the path of community solidarity and preservation.
Finally, the book explores how three important groups within global society—the power elites, the opposition to the elites (the antiwar and antiglobalization movements, et al: the “Other Superpower”), and ordinary people—are likely to respond to these four options. Timely, accessible and eloquent, Powerdown is crucial reading for our times.
Richard Heinberg is an award-winning author of five previous books, including The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies. A member of the Core Faculty of New College of California, he lives in Santa Rosa, California.

If the US continues with current policies, the next decades will be marked by war, economic collapse, and environmental catastrophe. Resource depletion and population pressures are about to catch up with us, and no one is prepared. The political élites, especially in the US, are incapable of dealing with the situation, and have in mind a punishing game of'Last One Standing.'The alternative is'Powerdown,'a strategy that will require tremendous effort and economic sacrifice in order to reduce per-capita resource usage in wealthy countries, develop alternative energy sources, distribute resources more equitably, and reduce the human population humanely but systematically over time. While civil society organizations push for a mild version of this, the vast majority of the world's people are in the dark, not understanding the challenges ahead, nor the options realistically available. Powerdown speaks frankly to these dilemmas. Avoiding cynicism and despair, it begins with an overview of the likely impacts of oil and natural gas depletion and then outlines four options for industrial societies during the next decades: Last One Standing: the path of competition for remaining resources; Powerdown: the path of cooperation, conservation, and sharing; Waiting for a Magic Elixir: wishful thinking, false hopes, and denial; Building Lifeboats: the path of community solidarity and preservation. Finally, the book explores how three important groups within global society - the power élites, the opposition to the élites (the antiwar and anti-globalization movements, et al: the'Other Superpower'), and ordinary people - are likely to respond to these four options. Timely, accessible and eloquent, Powerdown is crucial reading for our times. Listen to an interview with Richard Heinberg from WRPI.

Resource Depletion And Population Pressures Are About To Catch Up With Us And No One Is Prepared. Oil Is Running Out And, If The U.s. Continues With Current Policies, The Next Decades Will Be Marked By War, Economic Collapse, And Environmental Catastrophe. There Are Alternatives. A Powerdown Strategy, For Example, Would Aim To Reduce Per-capita Resource Usage In Wealthy Countries, Develop Alternative Energy Sources, Distribute Resources More Equitably, And Reduce The Human Population Humanely But Systematically Over Time. It Could Save Us, But Will Require Tremendous Effort And Economic Sacrifice. Powerdown Speaks Frankly To These Dilemmas. Avoiding Cynicism And Despair, It Begins With An Overview Of The Likely Impacts Of Oil And Natural Gas Depletion And Then Outlines Four Options For Industrial Societies During The Next Decades.--jacket. Introduction -- The End Of Cheap Energy -- Last One Standing: The Way Of War And Competition -- Powerdown: The Path Of Self-limitation, Cooperation, And Sharing -- Waiting For The Magic Elixir: False Hopes, Wishful Thinking, And Denial -- Building Lifeboats: The Path Of Community Solidarity And Preservation --our Choice. Richard Heinberg. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 187-196) And Index.

"Resource depletion and population pressures are about to catch up with us and no one is prepared. Oil is running out and, if the U.S. continues with current policies, the next decades will be marked by war, economic collapse, and environmental catastrophe." "There are alternatives. A "Powerdown" strategy, for example, would aim to reduce per-capita resource usage in wealthy countries, develop alternative energy sources, distribute resources more equitably, and reduce the human population humanely but systematically over time. It could save us, but will require tremendous effort and economic sacrifice." "Powerdown speaks frankly to these dilemmas. Avoiding cynicism and despair, it begins with an overview of the likely impacts of oil and natural gas depletion and then outlines four options for industrial societies during the next decades."--BOOK JACKET.

Front Cover 1
Advance Praise 2
Rights page 7
Table of Contents 10
Acknowledgments 12
Introduction 14
Chapter 1 30
Chapter 2 68
Chapter 3 100
Chapter 4 130
Chapter 5 152
Chapter 6 176
Notes 200
Index 210
About the Author 222

2009-10-26