Читать книгу The Self-Sufficiency Handbook - Alan Bridgewater - Страница 28

In the 1970s, in the midst of the oil crisis, there was a huge amount of interest in alternative energy. People wrote books and articles, governments set up committees, energy grants were available, and individuals went off and did their own thing. There was a feeling of urgency. The general consensus was that something had to be done fast before the nonrenewables ran out. Some said that gas and oil supplies would run out in fifty years.

The only thing that all parties agreed on was that something had to be done, and that was where it became difficult. Although everyone agreed that we had to search out sustainable and renewable energy sources, and we had to do it fast, governments were hesitant to take responsibility. What actually happened in the end was that new oil reserves were found, oil prices fell, and we forgot about the whole situation (or at least pushed it to the back of our minds).

The strange thing is, while there is no denying that oil and gas are running out, consumption is increasing. The situation is getting even more complicated as the rich and powerful countries rush to get their hands on the remaining oil and gas reserves. That is not the worst of it, either. Not only have we squandered our energy sources, but, in doing so, we have also damaged our environment—some say irreversibly.