PEAK OIL & POPULATION

Guest host George Kenny interviews Dr. Albert Bartlett on rising prices, declining reserves, and impact of billions more people.

Dr. Bartlett began his study of oil and gas supplies in the late 1960's, following the lead of M. King Hubbert, who accurately predicted the decline of American oil fields.

Now, with others like oil investment analyst Matthew Simmons, Bartlett explains the global impact of declining oil, and the impact on our lives. As oil and gas get more and more expensive to get, the developing world is using more and more of it. Now North Americans and Europeans must compete with Chinese and Indian motorists. And more oil producing countries, including Mexico and the Middle East producers, are using the oil at home, instead of exporting it.

All this leads to earth-shaking changes ahead for the average consumer, and the economy. It's a toss up whether Peak Oil or climate change will damage the economy first.

Bartlett's second interest has been the impact of uncontrolled population growth. In this interview, he explains why each additional person means a heavier impact on the Earth's resources. Some of the greatest ecological challenges, Bartlett says, come from just our sheer numbers. It simply can't go on.

When I heard this podcast by George Kenny, I was impressed with the professional exchange, between two well-informed speakers. Mr. Kenny has retired from the U.S. State Department, and his knowledge of world affairs shows through. I considered doing my own interview with Albert Bartlett - but frankly, this classic had already been created. I couldn't do better - and my job sometimes is simply to stand aside, and get you the best audio on our world's developing crisis.

Thanks to George Kenny for allowing this rebroadcast of his work. I had to cut the last 12 minutes of that show to fit the hourly format. I thought Bartlett ended at a good point for this program, but if you want the rest, you can find the longer version at electricpolitics.com. In fact, you will find a number of very stimulating shows there, on a wide variety of topics. Recommended.

Courtesy Electric Politics podcast. 1 hr 56 MB

Also available in Lo-Fi mono 14 MB

Production Notes: 30 sec music bed for station ID overlay at 31:11; 2 min end music starts 57:36 for overlay or cut. Actual show length 59:36. No copyright music.