Release 23/8/06
TIMELY VISIT BY TWO WORLD EXPERTS ON PEAK OIL & PERMACULTURE
“More South Australians are waking up to the realities behind escalating fuel prices,” Adelaide Peak Oil Convenor, Dr Jeremy Wilkinson said today.
Mounting evidence points to the ‘peaking’ of world oil production with some industry experts predicting ‘at-the-pump’ petrol prices could triple in the foreseeable future with crude oil prices going well beyond $100 per barrel.
Dr Wilkinson said, “This makes South Australia particularly vulnerable with our extensive road transport system being dependant on affordable petrol and diesel supplies.”
“With the age of cheap oil at an end, new discoveries and alternatives cannot bridge the gap between the decline in existing production and increasing demand.”
“We need courageous leadership by the State Government to provide a climate for change that enables South Australians to make the transition to alternative forms of transport, ways of living and doing business that dramatically cut our reliance on oil and fossil energy sources.”
“At a federal level the government is tied to free-market economics. This is a great get-out, a way of avoiding the responsibility of leading our nation. There are many initiatives small and large that can lead us through the challenges ahead.”
Adelaide Peak Oil, a network of concerned South Australians, in partnership with the Bob Hawke Centre and Permaculture SA, have organised a visit to South Australia by renowned US authority Richard Heinberg, and Australian permaculture pioneer David Holmgren.
They will meet with senior public servants, community and industry leaders and speak at Peak Oil seminars on Monday, August 28.
Rather than doom and gloom scenarios, Richard Heinberg proposes practical solutions which have already had a positive impact in communities around the world which have embraced Peak Oil planning.
Similarly, David Holmgren has applied permaculture principles to inspire urban, agricultural and industrial innovation aimed at limiting the probable impacts of Peak Oil in Australia.
Richard and David believe Peak Oil provides an opportunity for positive local strategies that will help South Australians respond to the upcoming energy challenge.
“They will give us a clear picture of where we
stand now and what can be done, and I invite everyone to attend and find
out for themselves,” said Dr Wilkinson.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Peak oil or Oil shock? Energy security and
pathways to a sustainable future”
A Hawke Centre free public lecture
7pm for 7.30pm start, Monday 28 August
Basil Hetzel Building, Mutual Community
Theatre, UniSA City East campus (off Frome Road)
ADELAIDE TALK FULLY BOOKED, SEE HAWKE
CENTRE WEBSITE FOR LINKED INFORMATION www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au
OR DAVID HOLMGREN'S SITE www.holmgren.com.au
--------------------------------------------------------
Heinberg
& Holmgren: Peak Oil and Permaculture Australian Speaking Tour
Sunshine Coast: Sunday 20th August
7pm Public Talk, Holmgren only,
Regional Sustainability in the Energy Descent
Future University of the Sunshine Coast, Cnr Sippy Downs Drive and Stringybark
Road, Sippy Downs, Lecture Theatre 1,
Info: Chris Carroll (songndance@optusnet.com.au)
Brisbane: Wednesday 23rd August
2-4pm, Seminar
Permaculture and Oil Depletion
Lady Thiess Room, Customs House, 399 Queen Street,
CBD
See: www.brisinst.org.au/calendar/20060823_44.html
and
7-10pm, Public Talk, Exhibitor displays from
6pm,
Peak Oil and Permaculture - Local Solutions to
Oil Decline
Brisbane Table Tennis Centre, 86 Green Terrace,
Windsor
See: www.northeystreetcityfarm.org.au
Perth: Thursday 24th August
7-9.30pm Public Talk
Peak Oil and Permaculture - Local Solutions to
Oil Decline
Social Sciences Lecture Theatre, Uni Western
Aust, 35 Stirling Highway, ?Crawley
Cost: $25/$20 conc incl PAWA or similar members.
Info: Susan Hartley (shartley@starwon.com.au)
or
Nigel Dolan (nigel.dolan@uwa.edu.au)
Friday 25th August
9am-1pm Public Workshop
Peak Oil and Permaculture: Relocalisation in
the Energy Descent Future
Venue: Mulberry Room (Ground Floor), UWA Claremont,
Cnr Princess Rd and Goldsworthy St, Claremont.
Cost: $165.00/$90 conc incl PAWA or similar members
Info: Susan Hartley (shartley@starwon.com.au)
Adelaide Monday 28th August
7pm, Free Public Talk
Peak Oil or Oil Shock? Energy security and pathways
to a sustainable future
Mutual Community Theatre, City East Campus, Uni
South Aust, Frome Rd.
see: www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au, phone 08 8302
0371
Sydney Tuesday 29th August
6.30pm, Public Talk
Peak Oil and Permaculture: Relocalisation in
the Energy Descent Future
Parliament House Theatrette, Macquarie Street,
Sydney
Info: Ian McPherson (ian@sydneypeakoil.com)
Thursday 31st August
6.30pm, Public Talk
Peak Oil and Permaculture: Relocalisation in
the Energy Descent Future
Kuringai Town Hall, 1186 Pacific Highway, Pymble
Info: Ian McPherson (ian@sydneypeakoil.com)
Hobart Friday 1st September
7.30pm, Free Public Talk (Displays, activities
and soup from 6pm).
Peak Oil and Permaculture
Richard Jones Memorial Lecture, Stanley Burbury
Theatre, UTAS,
see www.utas.edu.au/campus/Sandy_Bay_Base_Map.PDF
Info: Margaret Steadman (info@sustainablelivingtasmania.org.au) or Thomas Bell (tomintaz@iprimus.com.au)
Melbourne Monday 4th September
8.30am-5.30pm, Conference
Peak Oil and its effect on Food Security
Northcote Town Hall, 189 High Street, Northcote
Cost: Individuals & Comm. Gps. $60, Bus.
& Gov. $95
Info: Amadis Lacheta (amadis@gardenofedenproject.net.au)
Wednesday 6th September
6 pm, Melbourne Conversations Public Debate (free)
BMW Edge, Federation Square", Cnr Flinders and
Swanston Sts, Melb
Moderator : Peter Mares -– Journalist and Broadcaster
ABC Radio National "The National Interest".
Discussion Panel includes: Philip Sutton founder
and Director-Strategy for Green Innovations, Dr Elizabeth Heij- Facilitator
of "CSIRO Sustainability Network", Kenneth Davidson - Co-Editor of
'Dissent' magazine and Age columnist
Info: Jeff Taylor (jeftay@melbourne.vic.gov.au)
See www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=75&pa=2025&pg=803#think