Author Richard Heinberg Speaks in Sacramento on Feb. 28

Press Release: For Immediate Release, January 27, 2005

Contact: Sacramento Area Peace Action, 916-448-7157




Richard Heinberg to Speak on Options for a "Post Carbon World"



Richard Heinberg, the author of “Powerdown: Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World” will give a presentation hosted by Sacramento Area Peace Action at the Newman Center Monday, Feb. 28, 7:00 p.m., 5900 Newman Court, Sacramento; doors open 6:30



This book is a sequel to Heinberg’s earlier book, “The Party’s Over: Oil, War, and the Fate of Industrial Societies”, which assesses the coming world oil production peak and depletion, and the economic, political, and social results. In “Powerdown” Heinberg describes the choices society faces with the decline of world oil production, and recommends “powerdown” as the best alternative: voluntary simplicity, population reduction, and lowering of resource consumption.



Richard Heinberg is a faculty member at New College of California in Santa Rosa. Heinberg’s thesis in “Powerdown” is that oil production decline will cause a sharp reduction in the complexity of our technical civilization, and there will likely be severe social, economic, and political disruption, even to the point of social collapse. He anticipates that government’s typical reaction will be the Last One Standing option: war and competition for control of the dwindling fossil fuel supplies.



Convinced that this option will be disastrous for the world, Heinberg’s rational alternative is Powerdown, world societies’ voluntary simplification. Heinberg is not optimistic that voluntary powerdown is politically feasible, so he recommends the Building Lifeboats option: the creation of preservationist communities that could keep alive important skills, such as food growing and storage, tool and clothing making, house building, and renewable energy technology. Self-limitation, cooperation, and sharing would be important aspects of these communities, which would strive to help neighboring communities rather than simply operate with the mentality of survivalists.



There will be a follow-up meeting for those interested in discussing local and personal actions to achieve a more-sustainable society Wednesday, March 9, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Sacramento Area Peace Action office, 909 Twelfth Street, Sacramento. Call 448-7157 for information.