Locals raise awareness of looming peak oil

MERANIA KARAURIA | 2nd April 2008

"WE are the peak generation and we cannot ignore the signs."

We must also prepare for a post-carbon future, said educator Lisa Talbot and Green Party spokesman John Milnes, who were at Wanganui's Majestic Square yesterday to coincide with the global Fossil Fools (Fuels) Day.

Ms Talbot said about 50 percent of the people they spoke to were aware the world community had used about half of the available supply of fossil fuels on the planet, and that rising (fuel) costs were pumping up the prices of basic commodities.

But, she said, 10 percent of the people they spoke to were dismissive of peak oil.

"It's still obvious that a lot of people in our community are in denial, and it's actions like these that are important for their awareness."

Ms Talbot said we must look our addiction to fossil fuels squarely in the eye and start redesigning our homes, our lifestyles and our communities.

"The very fibre of society as we know it is based on the finite supply of fossil fuels, but have people thought about what they'd do when the cost of fuel is prohibitive and the supermarket's supply chain has broken down?"

There were more questions that Ms Talbot posed about how people would power their homes, cook their dinner, heat their homes and water, where would we get our water from, and the transport would we use.

"We need to relocalise our essential goods and services right now and as a community we can make a difference."

Meanwhile, AA general manager of motoring affairs, Mike Noon, said he thought the increase in raised prices at the pumps yesterday was an April Fools Day joke.

They were surprised, he said, that BP, Caltex and Mobil raised prices at the pumps by two cents to 179.9c for 91 octane. Prices for BP 95 octane premium rose 2c to 185.9 while Caltex 95 rose 2c to 184.9.

At nearly 180c per litre, petrol has become more expensive than ever before.

Shell's prices remained steady at 177.9c and 182.9c.

Mr Noon said prices were driven by international issues and New Zealand was at the end of a very long supply chain.

Prices could fluctuate depending on the cost of crude oil, refined oil, the value of the New Zealand dollar and speculation about uneasy world markets, he said.

"You can't really control that all the international issues," he said.

The possible implementation of a regional fuel tax could add up to 10c plus GST and the use of biofuels and a carbon trading scheme could each add an estimated seven cents per litre.

"Those are some fairly significant internal increases. Its not getting easier for motorists any time soon," he said.