What's on This Site

Purpose: to function as a clearinghouse of useful information, as well as an incubator of provocative and innovative ideas. I have done this by trying to break down some of the complexities associated with the overlapping issues of energy, culture, politics, and economics. I cover a range of political, social, and scientific perspectives here. Although global in focus, there is a slight regional slant toward the western American state of California. The physical layout of this site is basically divided into two vertical halves: the left-hand side, and the right-hand side.

Down the left side (mostly blog posts & links):
- My Blog Posts
- Rationale: Why I designed this site
- Related External Blog and RSS Links: over 50 sources of up-to-the-minute information on politics, economics, and the environment
- My Personal Links
- Selected Global Resource Statistics
- About Me
- The Peak Oil Clock


Down the right side (mostly multimedia & links):
- Revolving Globe
- Videos: Setting the Context on Overall Resource Usage
- Additional Videos/Podcasts: Linking Energy, Politics, and Economics
- Energy-Environment-Finance Links: nearly 100 information sources and tools covering a wide range of approaches and applications
- Yet More Videos: Transition Solutions and Proposed Next Steps


Across the Bottom (information section, mostly reference material on energy consumption):
- Suggested Additional Reading and Viewing
- World Energy Consumption Statistics (year-to-date, updated in near-real-time)
- US Energy Consumption Statistics (year-to-date, updated in near-real-time)
- World Oil Prices (European Brent & American WTI, updated daily)



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Monday, August 5, 2013

WORK IN PROGRESS / DRAFT:

What follows is part of an upcoming analysis by me.  Below is an excerpt from the US Energy Information Agency (EIA).  In short, this handful of international chokepoints (see map) has to be watched very carefully, every single day.  Even one "minor" terrorist incident at any one of these transport bottlenecks could have huge implications, making for an extremely bad month in the global economy.   Be afriad; but not so afraid as to clould clear thinking. This is but one example of doing analysis at the nexus politics and economics, in an era of increased social and environmental turbulence.  Details to follow. -- BDP

Background

World oil chokepoints for maritime transit of oil are a critical part of global energy security. About half of the world's oil production moves on maritime routes.
Chokepoints are narrow channels along widely used global sea routes, some so narrow that restrictions are placed on the size of the vessel that can navigate through them. They are a critical part of global energy security due to the high volume of oil traded through their narrow straits.
In 2011, total world oil production amounted to approximately 87 million barrels per day (bbl/d), and over one-half was moved by tankers on fixed maritime routes. By volume of oil transit, the Strait of Hormuz, leading out of the Persian Gulf, and the Strait of Malacca, linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans, are two of the world's most strategic chokepoints.
The international energy market is dependent upon reliable transport. The blockage of a chokepoint, even temporarily, can lead to substantial increases in total energy costs. In addition, chokepoints leave oil tankers vulnerable to theft from pirates, terrorist attacks, and political unrest in the form of wars or hostilities as well as shipping accidents that can lead to disastrous oil spills. The seven straits highlighted in this brief serve as major trade routes for global oil transportation, and disruptions to shipments would affect oil prices and add thousands of miles of transit in an alternative direction, if even available.

Map of World Chokepoints


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Why design a site on "Culture and the Political-Economy of Energy Resources?"

Overview: A New Way for a New Era

The overall purpose of this site is to function as a clearinghouse of useful information, as well as an incubator of provocative and innovative ideas. Emphasis will be on the social implications of our heavy reliance on petroleum and related products. All of this is being discussed—either implicitly or explicitly—in the overarching / overlapping context(s) of Peak Oil and Climate Change.

The site contains a collection of useful links, original articles, re-posts from other distinguished organizations, individual writers and bloggers.

I hope that you will find this site both useful and enjoyable (and I welcome your feedback). It’s not easy to make something so serious so fun. This comes about as a result of reviewing a lot of material in the past which, although very informative, could also be quite depressing and downright discouraging at times. So, I’ve decided to take a slightly different path, in bringing you information that you will possibly find important or helpful.

Finally, know that you are not alone in all of this—far from it. These are issues we are all facing, in one way or another. So let’s find our courage and face them together.


Aerial View of Downtown Los Angeles. This city typifies the triumph of the petroleum-based industrial system of the 20th century.

External Blog and RSS Links

Research Gate

Blaine Pope

"In the beginning is energy, all else flows therefrom." -- Cheikh Anta Diop (1974)

"In the beginning is energy, all else flows therefrom." -- Cheikh Anta Diop (1974)

About Me

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A college professor and independent management consultant, focusing on general program design and administration, sustainable development, and the political-economy of energy and the environment. Faculty member at Goddard College (Plainfield, VT). Previously worked at the following academic institutions: Sociology and Anthropology Department, University of Redlands (Redlands, CA); Media and Social Change Program, jointly taught between the School of Psychology at Fielding Graduate University (Santa Barbara, CA) and the University of California at Los Angeles Extension (UCLAx) Program; Research Assistant Professor, Center for Sustainable Cities at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA); Global Studies Program, University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB); MPA Program in Environmental Science and Policy, The Earth Institute and the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University (New York, NY); and, Swahili Language Program, Council on African Studies, Yale University (New Haven, CT). -- Additional working experience in emergency relief and development in 10 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

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