Piffle and Peak Oil.

One way of looking at our current set of predicaments is that we’ve been on an irresponsible binge, consuming energy considerably faster than it can be captured and stored by Earth’s ecosystems. I hope that I’m wrong – but it looks increasingly to me and to many others as though we’re in for a very rough time in the very near future.

Even the most drastic social changes happen over time, and amid the experience of everyday life and events that can seem more important at the time.  Most of today’s news suggest that business as usual is quietly coming to an end around us, launching us into a new world where very few of us  have made any preparations at all.

To survive, we have to maximize local food production. What if the food system benefited local producers, nourished nearby people, and also built a stronger community?

As the economy grinds to a painful halt, a new local currency can and should be issued by and for we the people and backed on some sounder basis… like food.  To take our foot off the accelerator of the fossil-fueled growth economy is to support local economies, stop commuting long distances, establish cooperatives and engage in mutual- aid  bartering and trading with our neighbors. We must love nature far more than again returning to accumulating dollars that will ultimately leave Hawaii via hyper-consumption of more stuff at the big box stores. These changes and a new type of radical self-reliance all have to come…now.  With our wonderful Hawaiian climate and environmental resources, together with an aloha spirit, we can do all this. If we can’t, who can?

We all need to network with Hawaii farmers, growers and others who will serve as the real foundation for a future sustainable economy in a troubled world.  I propose that we begin by networking first with Hawaii farmers of all kinds via www.alohafood.net   and then actively helping in developing and marketing our own local currency named www.alohacash.net with we the people being the bankers and sustainability of the local economy of Hawaii being the goal.  To expect the good old days of unlimited growth to return is pure piffle..I'm just sayin'...

Brian Barber, webmaster