“Homosapiens became something more than another mammal on the planet when they gained control of fire. Using fire to create energy for heat, food preparation, the making of tools and weapons, and later transportation is the story of civilization. Midway through the nineteenth century, we entered an age where the burning of nonrenewable fossil fuels–coal, natural gas, petroleum–became the primary source of energy. The availability of cheap fossil fuels enabled the industrial age and the growth of modern society. Automobiles, electric power plants, plastics, fertilizers, explosives, everything from energy production to synthetic materials to agriculture to transportation to war depends on fossil fuels–primarily crude oil. More than half of everything we consume is either grown with, made of, delivered by, or packaged in petroleum products. For quite some time now, cheap oil has sustained the way we live.
…Energy cost volatility will cause continuing upheaval in the economy and put vast financial pressure on the middle and lower classes. Tracking carbon footprints and relocalization, concepts you may or may not be familiar with, will be key social trends in the years to come. Finding a clean alternative to oil yesterday or simply living with less energy is absolutely critical to the future and direction of humankind tomorrow.”

Source: mudcitypress.com