[Trusties] FW: Beyond Oil SA news - 4rd July 2008

Fri Jul 4 07:44:27 EST 2008

Below is Michael Lardelli's great peak oil resource.

Tim

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Lardelli [mailto:michael.lardelli at adelaide.edu.au] 
Sent: Friday, 4 July 2008 12:58 AM
To: michael.lardelli at adelaide.edu.au
Subject: Beyond Oil SA news - 4rd July 2008

Beyond Oil SA news - 4rd July 2008

If you wish to be removed (or added to) this mailing list please send a
message to Michael Lardelli. Feel free to forward these messages to
whomever but remember not to spam. Commentary herein reflects the
opinion of Michael Lardelli only. Visit our website at www.beyondoilsa.org

Dear BOSA listmembers,

There are a number of interesting events coming up next week and over the
next month, discussing ways of responding to Peak Oil. From urban planning,
to public transport, electric vehicles and carbon sequestration, there is a
broad spectrum of issues to be addressed. The important thing is to remember
the big picture, and make sure all our efforts can be integrated into a
smooth transition to a lower-energy future. Meanwhile, any exchange of ideas
on any of the issues is a good thing.
I have included a few diverse news items regarding food, fertilizers,
politics and transport, plus a couple of essays, and a story about
Australia's latest transition town in Newcastle. If Newcastle, a coal town,
is ready to join the transition town movement, then Adelaide can too!

Regards,

Sophia

_______________

SUMMARY

EVENT NOTIFICATIONS

1. Carbon Capture and Storage.
    Presented by the History of Science, Ideas & Technology Group.
    Date/Time: Monday 7 July 2008, 7:00pm
    Venue: Ira Raymond Exhibition Room, Barr Smith Library

2. Garnaut Climate Change Review - Draft Report Forum
     Date: Tuesday 8 July 2008
     Time: 10.00am - 11.30am
     Venue:  Adelaide Town Hall

3. At the Crossroads: Adelaide's Transport Future
    Presented by Professor Michael Taylor, Tuesday 8 July, 6:00 - 7:00 pm,
City East Campus, room C4-16.

4. Australian Electric Vehicles Association SA / Alternative Technology
Association
    Tuesday 8 July, 7.30pm, Tower Hotel, St Bernard's Rd Magill

   Electric cars got a plug on Channel Seven News on Wednesday night, with
Dickson Beatie and other South Australian EV owner/drivers being
interviewed. 

5. Research Tuesdays Public Seminars
    This Tuesday Prof Graham Nathan - Some Pathways Toward a more
Sustainable Energy Future
   Research Tuesdays will be held in G04, Napier Building at 5.30pm, and
will run for approximately one hour. Admission is free.

6. Select Committee on the Impact of Peak Oil on SA
    Public Hearings
    Tuesday 15 July, 10am, Parliament House

7. CCSA SUMMIT
   Planning & Urban Development
   Thursday 24th July 2008, 10.00am - 4.00pm
   Enterprise House, 136 Greenhill Rd, Unley

______________

NEWS

1. Gas Crisis Prompts Food Fears
http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/political/ga
s-crisis-prompts-food-fears/796907.aspx
This story from WA shows the link between our energy and food supplies

2. Rail, sea urged to replace road freight
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/25/2285486.htm
BOSA member Scott Elaurant speaks to the International Cargo Handling
Coordination Association

3. Rudd may overhaul public transport
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23953380-5005961,00.html

4. Nick Xenophon questions FuelWatch's value
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23903477-5013406,00.html
The new senator for SA is peakoil aware.

5. Peak Phosphorus
http://www.energybulletin.net/node/45534
The Energy Bulletin links to the audio interview on ABC Radio's Bush
Telegraph, June 20. 

6. What can I do about Peak Oil?
    http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/4182
Essay by BOSA and ASPO-Australia member James Ward

7. From Oil Drum ANZ- Australia's Oil Based Energy Security
http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/4187
 A detailed essay by regular Oil Drum ANZ contributor aeldric, with an
action plan based on transport, targets, pulic awareness, supply and demand.

8. Farmers vulnerability to fertilizer prices and Goldman-Sachs'
investigation into listed company oil price exposure:
http://www.news.com.au/business/money/story/0,25479,23896133-5013953,00.html
Read a BOSA member's comments related to this story

9. Now if only we could afford to drive on EastLink
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23939235-2862,00.html
Victorian Coucils making adjustments

10. From the Newcastle Herald -  Peak oil scenario will bring about change
http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?ectsup=&docID=NCH080626
OU95J7LAU90&kw=peak+oil&backTo=/apps/alert/archive.ac%3Fi=39978&ectfup=
(Article is not free.)

Newcastle has become an official Transition Town.

For more information on Transition Towns, start with www.transitiontown.org/

_____________
______________

EVENT NOTIFICATIONS

1. Carbon Capture and Storage:
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions to the Atmosphere

Presented by the History of Science, Ideas & Technology Group.
Date/Time: Monday 7 July 2008, 7:00pm
Venue: Ira Raymond Exhibition Room, Barr Smith Library
Speaker: Professor John Kaldi, Australian School of Petroleum, University of
Adelaide
Supper: Gold coin donation.
Visitors welcome.

Fossil fuels supply around 85% of the world's energy needs, but their
burning is a major source of CO2, the gas most blamed for the increased
concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and for global warming.
There is no 'silver bullet' to deal with the massive challenge faced; rather
a range of solutions is needed. The talk will describe one of the options:
carbon capture and storage (CCS), which involves the longer term storage of
CO2 emissions in deep geologic formations. CO2 has to be captured at the
source (e.g. power plant or gas production facility), then transported,
typically via a pipeline, to a suitable site.

The talk will be followed by discussion. For further details contact Bob
Major, Secretary on 8352 8949 or Peter Adamson on 8344 3709.

_______________

2.  The Garnaut Climate Change Review will release its Draft Report on
Friday 4 July 2008. The Draft Report will outline the impacts of climate
change and preliminary policy options for Australia to minimise its
environmental and economic impacts.

You are invited to attend a public forum being held in Adelaide on Tuesday 8
July, to hear about and discuss the findings of the Draft Report.
Professor Ross Garnaut  will host the forums, providing a half hour
presentation, followed by question time.
The forum will provide an opportunity for individuals and organisations to
discuss the Draft Report with Professor Garnaut ahead of the completion of
the Final Report by 30 September 2008.

Date: Tuesday 8 July 2008
Time: 10.00am - 11.30am
Venue:  Adelaide Town Hall

Attendance is free of charge but registration is required.
To register, visit www.garnautreview.org.au.
For further information visit www.garnautreview.org.au

________________

3. At the Crossroads: Adelaide's Transport Future
Free Lecture for Students.
The lecture will discuss how social, economic and environmental factors will
affect Adelaide's transport future and speculates on a number of questions.
Will cars still rule the roads? Can buses meet the new demands? Is rail
based transport the saviour? 
In a fascinating visit to the near-future, Michael Taylor looks at how this
will effect Adelaide. Can we afford the new technology and infrastructure?
And what if we can't?

Presented by Professor Michael Taylor, Tuesday 8 July, 6:00 - 7:00 pm, City
East Campus, room C4-16

______________

4. Australian Electric Vehicles Association SA
    Tuesday 8 July, 7.30pm, Tower Hotel, St Bernard's Rd Magill
    Dickson Beattie will be giving a presentation about electric cars as
part of the reforming of the
Australian Electric Vehicles Association SA branch. The meeting will be held
in conjunction with the ATA (Alternative Technology Association) 

contact Dickson Beattie for further information. ph.0412 959 847.
______________

5. Research Tuesdays Public Seminars
    This Tuesday 8th July Prof Graham Nathan - Some Pathways Toward a more
Sustainable Energy Future
Synopsis: There is growing consensus of the need to reduce our carbon
dioxide emissions, both in South Australia and the rest of the world.
However there are many perspectives as to which technology options to pursue
toward this goal, given our present heavy reliance on fossil fuels and
substantial investment in capital intensive plant to utilise them.
The talk will assess some of the challenges and opportunities emerging to
this end, both locally and internationally, as we seek to manage the
transition to a more sustainable future. 

Research Tuesdays will be held in G04, Napier Building at 5.30pm, and will
run for approximately one hour. Admission is free.
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/lifeimpactresearch/researchtuesday/

_____________

6. Select Committee on the Impact of Peak Oil on SA
    Public Hearings
    Tuesday 15 July, 10am, Parliament House
    contact Guy Dickson, Secretary to the Committee,
   ph 8237 9498 or email guy.dickson at parliament.sa.gov.au
____________

7. CCSA ( Conservation Council of SA) SUMMIT
Planning & Urban Development
We can prepare for the challenges of climate change and peak oil - with
appropriate planning. Come and contribute to a vital discussion between the
environment movement and other key sectors.
Thursday 24th July 2008, 10.00am - 4.00pm
Enterprise House, 136 Greenhill Rd, Unley
[100m west of Bus Stop 1, Unley Rd]
Featuring Keynote Speaker: Professor Peter Newman from the Curtin University
Sustainability Policy Institute
and a panel of representatives from the local government, business, and
social sectors.
Bookings Essential
To book online visit http://www.ccsa.asn.au/summits ; telephone 8223 5155
for a registration form or email policyreview at ccsa.asn.au

Cost: CCSA member/supporter $50; Non-member $200.
 ____________________
____________________

NEWS

1. Gas Crisis Prompts Food Fears
http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/political/ga
s-crisis-prompts-food-fears/796907.aspx

THE Food Industry Association (FIA) has called on the Government to increase
its support to WA's food industry after this week's announcement that WA's
gas supply could still be affected in December.
Apache Energy said its Vara-nus Island gas production plant would return to
part production in August but would not be back up until full production
until the end of the year.
FIA chief executive Andrea Berteit said the Government had underestimated
the full extent of the impact of the gas shortage on WA's food industry.
Ms Berteit said the gas crisis was having a huge impact on all sectors of
the food supply chain...
..more...
_________________

2. Rail, sea urged to replace road freight
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/25/2285486.htm

The freight industry is being urged to move away from road transport because
of spiralling fuel prices.
An International Cargo Handling Coordination Association meeting in Adelaide
has been told the use of trucks for freight movement cannot be sustained.
Civil engineer and economist Scott Elaurant says, unless the world cuts its
oil consumption by six per cent by 2012, demand will exceed supply.
He says it could be possible to reduce demand for oil by focusing on sea and
rail as freight options.
"With reasonable reliability that the supply isn't going to go up, we need
to do things to bring the demand down," he said.
"If we succeed in that then there's no reason the price to rise necessarily
in real terms very much further than it has."
Adelaide-Darwin rail operator FreightLink says demand for its service is
rising and it will start running a sixth weekly rail service across
Australia from this week.
________________

3. Rudd may overhaul public transport
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23953380-5005961,00.html

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has hinted at a new frontier for tackling climate
change: a national overhaul of public transport.
The introduction of emissions trading is dominating the climate change
debate, with a major report to be handed down by government adviser Ross
Garnaut on Friday.
But Mr Rudd said he also had other fish to fry on global warming policy.
He said it was "time to act" on public transport, and signalled the federal
government would get involved.
"Ask yourself this question, how much do people waste each week sitting in
unnecessary traffic queues?" he said.
"And how much ... do they put into the environment in terms of greenhouse
gas emissions because we have yet to evolve a large, long-term investment
into urban public transport systems, with the national government playing
its role as well?
"I think it is time to act."
Mr Rudd also said he would take action on energy efficiency and alternative
fuels.
A leading economist sought to clear up some of the confusion over an ETS,
saying it must hurt or it won't cut carbon emissions.
There have been calls for consumers to be shielded from price rises caused
by emissions trading, possibly by mass compensation.
But Chris Richardson, director of Access Economics, said the point was that
prices would rise to force consumption down.
"The whole idea of carbon pricing is that if it doesn't hurt it won't work,"
he told ABC Radio.

__________________

4. Nick Xenophon questions FuelWatch's value

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23903477-5013406,00.html

....Senator Xenophon said a bigger debate was needed to tackle the global
oil
price crisis.
"The writing's on the wall. We're headed towards peak oil, we need to tackle
all those issues," he told Sky News....
...more...
__________________

5. Peak Phosphorus
http://www.energybulletin.net/node/45534

You probably heard of peak oil - the idea that global petroleum supplies are
about to, or have, passed their peak. But have you ever heard of peak
phosphorus?
Probably not, but it's something you'll hear alot more about in years to
come because when the earth's phosphorus supplies run out, so too will food.
It sounds like a doomsday scenario, but my guest today believes deposits of
phosphorus could be depleted this century.
And while oil can at least be partly replaced with alternative energies,
nothing that can replace phosphorus in food production.
But there's a glimmer of hope if phosphorus can be reclaimed from human
waste.
In this report: Dana Cordell, an Australian PhD scholar studying in Sweden;
Nick Drew, executive mananger of Fertiliser Industry Federation of Australia

... audio report at Enery Bulletin link above
_______________

6. What can I do about Peak Oil?
     http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/4182

First and foremost, cut car use.
Why? It's simple. Cars use the most oil. The 1 litre of fuel needed to move
you and your shopping just 10km by car could get 100kg of freight almost
200km by truck, or 3000km by train...

...more...
______________

7. From Oil Drum ANZ- Australia's Oil Based Energy Security
http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/4187

This is the first in a series of posts co-authored with Phoenix and Matt
Mushalik. In my previous post I took a high-level look at solutions for
Australia. This post starts the process of iterating down from the
high-level view. It assumes that we will not be able to instantly convert to
sustainable solutions - we need to get there in steps. This article is
co-authored with Phoenix, a qualified mechanical engineer who has been
working in the infrastructure construction industry for over 28 years. He
has held senior manangement positions with a number of organisations
delivering projects to key energy providers. These projects have included
oil refineries, power stations, LNG plants and gas processing facilities. He
currently works as the National Manager - Power Generation for a major
Australian construction group.

....more...
______________

8. Farmers vulnerability to fertilizer prices and Goldman-Sachs'
investigation into listed company oil price exposure:
http://www.news.com.au/business/money/story/0,25479,23896133-5013953,00.
html

>From a BOSA member
I was chatting to a good friend last week. He is a "conventional" wheat
& sheep farmer about 80km east of Adelaide, and is my Dad's neighbour.
He said they had a fertiliser company rep visit them recently asking to
lock in a superphosphate contract at $2500/tonne (that's about double
the current price, and is therefore about six times the price a year or
two ago).   His superphosphate bill would exceed his farm fuel bill
several times over. With that sort of movement in fertiliser prices, he
is far more vulnerable to fertiliser than he is to oil.

Frightening though it is, this seems a good example of how the
vulnerability (to resource scarcity) of an activity is dependent on the
intensity of use of the scarce resource within that activity. So,
farming is more exposed to phosphate prices than it is to oil prices.
Meanwhile, for
example, trucking is not greatly affected by phosphate prices (or coal,
or gas) but is greatly affected by oil prices because of the intensive
oil use in trucking activity.

I think it's important to look at how different industries are "exposed"
to oil and other resources by the intensity of resource use. Peak Oil
doesn't spell doom for every single aspect of civilisation - but for
certain elements it really is the beginning of the end. This seems to be
the thinking behind Goldman-Sachs' investigation into oil price exposure
in various companies.
___________________

9. Now if only we could afford to drive on EastLink
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23939235-2862,00.html

GARBOS are drafting new collection routes, road crews are digging more
carefully, parks could soon be less manicured - welcome to fuel-conscious
Victoria.
Agencies ranging from councils and Meals on Wheels to ambulances and the
fire brigade are seeking ways to shave soaring petrol bills.
A Sunday Herald Sun survey of key service providers found responses to
petrol bill blow-outs include:
WASTE companies examining routes to avoid doubling back and considering
changes to collection frequency.
ROAD maintenance crews urged to dig up smaller expanses when doing repairs
because bitumen is so expensive.
PARKS and garden staff mapping out new mowing schedules.
MEALS on Wheels drivers asking for extra fuel vouchers or an increased
mileage allowance as mainly low-income volunteers struggle to continue
feeding the elderly.
RURAL Ambulance Victoria staff using videos links rather than driving to
non-urgent meetings.
EXECUTIVES selling their V8 or 6-cylinder cars in favour of smaller
4-cylinder models or hybrids. 

...more...
___________________

10. From the Newcastle Herald -  Peak oil scenario will bring about change

The end of cheap fuel is no disaster, but a chance for a better future,
writes William Vorobioff.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd sent Resources Minister Martin Ferguson to Saudi
Arabia with instructions to deliver a "blowtorch" to OPEC to raise
production rates.  The reality is the era of cheap fuel is over. This
Government has no more control over cost than the Howard government. The
price of oil has risen way beyond expectations from the predicted ceiling of
$100 to more than $135 a barrel in a matter of months.

The resulting impact on our communities will be far-reaching both
economically and socially. The cost of food, transport and essential
commodities will increase, dramatically altering our lifestyles. This will
be replicated on the international stage, where the vulnerable will suffer
most.

The affluence of the developed world had been underpinned by cheap oil. As
the economic balance shifts and countries such as China and India expand,
their appetite for fossil fuels will continue to increase, but oil is a
finite resource. Price increases are inevitable, and we will have to do with
less.

The good news is that our lives may actually be better off in regard to the
things that matter. Despite our abundance of goods and services (and our
enormous debt), we do not seem to be happier. We have bigger houses and
smaller families, more cars but less people in them, more degrees but less
sense, and more conveniences but less time.

The things that matter: our happiness, security, quality of work, access to
healthy food, strength of connections to others and feelings of belonging
are dependent on a sustainable, integrated community. For the first time
these issues are being addressed in relation to both peak oil and climate
change in a new movement Transition Town.

The movement began in 2005 in the medieval Irish town of Kinsale on the west
Cork coast and has grown into an international phenomenon. Newcastle has
just been accepted as an official Transition Town.

The movement is a bottom-up, community-driven response to the problems we
face. It will form a vision for Newcastle, based around a more connected
less car-dependent community. Transition aims to re-localise all of
Newcastle's needs to help us to not only survive, but thrive, in a
post-carbon future.

In the Transition Town vision of times to come, our focus will not be on
mindless consumption, we'll be producer/consumers. Our energy, our work and
food production will be more localised. We will be fitter and healthier,
because the energy we use will be our own.

It's a positive picture, but one relegated to fantasy unless we look at the
world very differently. It is not just about adapting. The Transition Town
initiative educates the community about how peak oil converges with climate
change issues, and how they must be addressed simultaneously.

Fuel prices signal the inevitability of moving towards a post-fossil fuel
world, and we need to find ways of using our collective genius and resources
to create the world we would like to see.

The Transition Town initiative is intent on preparing our communities to
face the coming challenges of low energy use by building its resilience. As
we become more self-reliant and more connected, we also strengthen the local
economy. There is an airtight case for acting now.

Transition Town Newcastle is on its way.
William Vorobioff is a convener of the Newcastle Transition Town steering
group.

_____________
_____________
____________

Regards from Sophia

 _______________________
Newsletter distributed by:

  Michael Lardelli
  Zebrafish Genetics Laboratory
  Discipline of Genetics
  School of Molecular and Biomedical Science
  The University of Adelaide
  5005
  AUSTRALIA

  Tel.    (Aust. = 61) (0)8 8303 3212  direct
          (Aust. = 61) (0)8 8303 5633  departmental secretary
  Fax.    (Aust. = 61) (0)8 8303 4362
  e-mail. michael.lardelli at adelaide.edu.au

 CRICOS Provider Number 00123M

 And now, a word from our legal department....

 This email message is intended only for the addressee(s)
 and contains information that may be confidential and/or
 copyright.  If you are not the intended recipient please
 notify the sender by reply email and immediately delete
 this email. Use, disclosure or reproduction of this email
 by anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is strictly
 prohibited. No representation is made that this email or
 any attachments are free of viruses. Virus scanning is
 recommended and is the responsibility of the recipient.
  ____________

-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG. 
Version: 7.5.526 / Virus Database: 270.4.4/1531 - Release Date: 2/07/2008
7:02 PM