Powerdown

Options and Actions for a Post-Carbon World

“Peak oil” is becoming a familiar term, but its full implications are only just beginning to be considered. Richard Heinberg’s book “Powerdown” (New Society Publisher 2004) documents the journey that has brought our culture to this point and the enormity of the changes that lie ahead. If he is even half-way correct, as many analysts confirm, we are in for a wild and tumultous ride. Information, communication, and community will be our most important tools.

An unprecedented convergence of factors — the collapse of cheap energy sources coupled with escalating climate change, population pressures, and environmental degradation — over the next five to 25 years will call for exceptional resilience, creativity, non-partisan political will, and spiritual grounding if we are to find our way to the end of this century with any semblance of balance.

Process, listen and connect

Coming together to discuss our reactions to this material is a step in shifting our responses to these emerging changes. For many of us, our first impulse is to avoid the subject due to fear, outrage, denial, depression, or overwhelm. This book group will provide a chance to process, hear from others, and connect in community as we explore this information and what it means for us individually, as a community, and as a culture.

We'll read "Powerdown" in four sections. Please read the Introduction and Chapter 1 prior to the first discussion.

• Sept. 20: Introduction and Chapter 1; Pages 1-54
• Sept. 27: Chapters 2 and 3; Pages 55-116
• Oct. 4: Chapters 4 and 5; Pages 117-162
• Oct. 11: Chapter 6; Pages 163-186

Further opportunities:

On January 20-21, Richard Heinberg will be in Portland for a public presentation and daylong workshop with Living Earth on this subject. More details will be available in November.