Forget Saudi Peak Oil—Worry About Peak Grain

THE ROAD AHEAD

The Road Ahead / Paul Metz

From: "Paul Metz"

Bryan,

In addition to the introduction of Land Value Taxation instead of existing counterproductive taxes on property, I believe that a broad tax reform is a- if not THE - key instrument to achieve a sustainable, i.e. fair for all the world's citizens and ecologically future-proof. That reform can - and should for political acceptance - be revenue neutral and give price incentives that benefit 'goods' and punish 'bads'.One consequence of this concept I have started to promote recently: the recognition that all world's citizens have equal right to emit greenhouse gases. The new foundation B4FET - Business for Fair Emission Trade - will try to educate the negotiators of the Kyoto Protocol and help establish an allocation of emission rights mechanism that is fair and, as a consequence, attractive for the citizens of all countries (not necessarily for the ruling elites). Key outcome would be that each citizen - as a shareholderof Earth's Global Commons - has an annual coupon, which can be sold and generates a "microdividend". This combines climate protection with fair trade and poverty alleviation, also within rich countries - or, as Dave names it, 'redistribution of wealth'. In my experience 'fair trade' is much less unwelcome in the mainstream than 'redistribution of .... anything'.I hope to inform on B4FET soon; we are now acquiring Dutch sponsors first. Now my weekend is over, I have some clients waiting and look forward to rejoin you next week. Paul Metz Sent: maandag 30 januari 2006 21:50

To: 'Paul Metz'

Subject Oil

Paul

I see we agree on the kind of measures needed but I'm not sure about implementation and political will. I'm all ears on any suggestions about getting the global community to co-operate in time. Recently I watched the Indian Minister for the Environment say that India wanted to do its share of polluting and wasting. We in the West have been very hypocritical with our demands and we show little sign of changing. China feels the same way, not to mention the list of developing countries. I agree we are on our own.

Cheers

Bryan

From: Paul Metz

Sent: Tuesday, 31 January 2006 11:41 a.m.

To: 'Bryan Pepperell'

Subject: Environment and Oil

Bryan,

It is even worse: it is in our self interest to make the growth of India, China, etc sustainable. And our leaders do not realize that, they let 'unsustainable outsourcing' happen and thus destroy the planet faster than ever before.

Yes, good governance is the scarcest resource on Earth, precautionary approaches are illusions as a result. But we should not stop promoting and practising them ....

Paul

To: Paul Metz

The Netherlands

Subject Oil

By now the world is using one thousand barrels of oil a second. Your own examples show that demand can only increase with outsourcing.

We can only continue to speak out about this (coming?) crisis. It appears to be moving into a terminal stage.

Perhaps other people in the political strata will begin to speak up. I live in hope.

Cheers

Bryan Pepperell

Wellington

New Zealand

Bryan Pepperell @ Jun 10, 2008 03:38:13 AM

No Fore thought

Just as the Saudis used up their aquifer on a plan that was destined to fail (grain in sand?), we are on the same path. Had they thought the plan through they could have engineered a method to control water use, for the crops (like desalinate ocean water). We are running our country on non renewable resources. In other words the party will end one day. We should pick the day instead of waiting for someone else to pick it for us. With some fore thought we can lead the way out of this storm rather than create it.

Chuck of MO @ Jun 09, 2008 09:15:31 AM

US grain and mineral oil

Hows the aquifers lasting in the mineral oil regions of the USA?? I understand that many of these water reserves could suddenly vanish too.

Dave McArthur @ May 25, 2008 19:26:44 PM

petro-grain

Hey Helmberger

You need their oil -they don't need your grain - Iran is happy to invest in the Rice Bowl of Thailand with your slogged out petro-premium. They will prevail - you will need to sell the trailer and your trash to feed your kids!!

Saf @ May 25, 2008 06:09:45 AM

The third world's poor, and the first world's unprepared

will suffer in the difficult times ahead. Our populace

is dependent on "just in time" supermarkets, with

goods delievered by diesel fueled trucks over

thousands of miles. The only difference? They can

pay, whatever the price. The rest will go hungry.

Michelle of GA @ May 24, 2008 13:33:53 PM

Saudi grain harvests

There should be an export tax on grain sold to the Saudis by

any country of the civilized world.

This tax should be the same as the Saudis tax us for their oil.

which means 50x production cost or more: one bushel not for

ten dollars but for around USD500 !!!!

I wonder how they would pay for it. They could of course send

back some of their wageslaves to Pakistan etc. but I think

it would still not work out.

Michael Helmburger @ May 23, 2008 10:56:39 AM

This is the beginning of the end of the U.S. economy as we know it. We will soon be in the same situation as many other 3rd world nations are in today.

of @ May 22, 2008 19:14:58 PM

Saudi Arabia has enough common sense to stop converting their non-renewable resource into grain.

We need to use Saudi Arabia's non-renewable resource to grow more grain.

What could be simpler?

Unless you are an American.

Brad of NE @ May 22, 2008 08:09:15 AM