“The End of Suburbia” Follow-Up Discussions and Meetings

In November, 250 people attended the Attraction Retreat/Eco Bell-sponsored community event and screening of the alarmingly provocative documentary called “The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream.” Through interviews with numerous experts in the fields of energy and economics, this film reveals that world oil peak and the inevitable decline of fossil fuels are upon us now—and the consequences of inaction in the face of this global crisis are enormous. The film’s ultimate message is that the energy-consumptive American way of life is on the verge of collapse. Food, transportation, all products made from oil, electricity generation, etc., will quickly become increasingly expensive or simply unavailable, and our fossil-fuel based economic system will also soon come tumbling down. (For review, see January Whatcom Watch, p. 8.)

The bottom line is that the continued growth of the economy (the holy grail of industrialism and the foundation of capitalism as it is practiced today) depends on the growth of cheap energy, and cheap energy is dependent on the continued availability of cheap (because they are highly subsidized) fossil fuels. Therefore, as global demand for non-renewable fossil fuels begins to outstrip the supply, life as we know will become history. This party is over.

But, all is not doom and gloom. The movie also suggests a solution: local economies, local organic food production, locally produced alternative energy sources—in other words, strong, mutually supportive communities. The purpose of this screening and the panel discussion that followed was to educate the public about the changes on the horizon, to increase participation in elements of ‘the solution’ that already exist in the region, to catalyze greater bonding/cooperation among these elements (networking!), and to mobilize the ingenuity of us all as we face the coming change together.

As a result of the huge community interest in the issues raised by the film, an ongoing group has been meeting to mount a campaign that will educate the public about the issue of peak oil and work to establish affinity groups that will be in position to deal with necessary solutions. Stay tuned for public forums and events that will be addressing these issues.

Ongoing information will be available at these Web sites:

•http://www.attractionretreat.org;

Contact: Allison and Dave Ewoldt, allison@reststop.net.

•http://www.thesolutionsproject.org;

Contact: Dudley Evenson, dudley@thesolutionsproject.org.

Saturday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

“Exploring the Impacts of Peak Oil and How to Prepare For It”

How can we prepare ourselves for the transition to a post-carbon life? How can we live well with less fossil fuels? This will be a self-education process to explore the implications of “peak oil” and how it will affect all aspects of our lives. Learn how to create positive options of living with diminished fossil fuels—in the areas of energy, transportation, food, and the overall health of our community.

Call Eco Bell to register (360) 756-7998; space is limited.

More info will be posted at http://www.attractionretreat.org and http://www.thesolutionsproject.org.