Arjun Makhijani, Founder and President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in Tacoma Park, Maryland spoke on “Achieving a Carbon-Free Society Without Nuclear Energy” on November 8, 2007.

Makhijani, received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He was the principal author of the first study (1971) ever done on energy conservation potential for the U.S. economy. This study was even more remarkable as it was published two years before the 1973 oil embargo which was pivotal in our understanding of our dependence on fossil fuels. He has also written or edited four books on energy and the environment.

An edited 26-minute version of this talk broadcast on WERU on January 1, 2008. The full version is approximately 72 minutes.

From the executive summary of Dr. Makhijani’s study of the U.S. energy future:

Central Finding

The overarching finding of this study is that a zero-CO2 U.S. economy can be achieved within the next thirty to fifty years without the use of nuclear power and without acquiring carbon credits from other countries. In other words, actual physical emissions of CO2 from the energy sector can be eliminated with technologies that are now available or foreseeable. This can be done at reasonable cost while creating a much more secure energy supply than at present. Net U.S. oil imports can be eliminated in about 25 years. All three insecurities–severe climate disruption, oil supply and price insecurity, and nuclear proliferation via commercial nuclear energy–will thereby be addressed. In addition, there will be large ancillary health benefits from the elimination of most regional and local air pollution, such as high ozone and particulate levels in cities, which is due to fossil fuel combustion.

For more information, please visit Dr. Makhijani’s organization, the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research at ieer.org.

At one point, Faleh Abood Umara calls the US-written and US-backed Iraqi Oil Law “robbery.”

FALEH ABOOD UMARA: [translated] With regards to the situation of the Iraqi oil workers, they’re persevering in their work and preserving the Iraqi oil wells. The reason we went on strike was to make twenty-seven demands, which we submitted to the Iraqi prime minister. He agreed to them, but the minister of oil did not implement the demands that led to the strike.

The most important point or one of the most important points is our demand not to rush through the new Iraqi oil law, because we believe that this oil law does not serve the interests of the Iraqi people. So we ask our friends in the United States, as well, to stand in solidarity with us and publicize the ill effects of this law, so that it never is agreed upon in the parliament….

HASHMEYA MUHSIN HUSSEIN: [translated] As a part of the Iraqi society, they suffer like everybody else, but also there were laws that were issued under the occupation that specifically targeted women, especially Law No. 137, which canceled the old civil law and delegated all issues that have to do with civil law to the local communities and religious communities, religious authorities. We took this very seriously and went out in demonstrations until the new law was canceled, but it was reintroduced through the new constitution, and we now demand the cancellation of this article.

As far as women’s rights are concerned, women are not completely suppressed. As you can see, I am right here in front of you. And we have 25% of the parliament members who are women, and we seek, we hope that it will soon become 40%. And this is a result of our struggle and determination that women in Iraq will have their rightful place.

Energy thinker and solar developer John G. Howe spoke on THE END OF FOSSIL ENERGY at the Good Life Center in Harborside, Maine on June 26, 2006 as part of the Center’s Monday night summer series.

This is a serious program on our very critical energy situation. Even so, it is not without moments of levity. The fossil fuel situation is grim while most in America seem aloof and deluded. John pulls no punches on various alternative fuel schemes.

John meets the energy challenge head on with facts, figures, and rays of hope. He describes a potentially sunny solar future if we can get together on a plan to greatly lower overall energy consumption. It is our last chance for our advanced civilization to survive. But people better start waking up if we are to deal effectively with the colossal energy crisis that surely is just around the corner.

This audience at the former homestead of the late Helen & Scott Nearing surely is awake. The questions are intelligent and that keeps the discussion engaging throughout the program.

“You have to put numbers on these delusions.”

“We are poised right here at this tipping point. We are sailing off into uncharted territory. What will happen, who knows? We can hope for the best. We can’t give up… I wish you all the best. Spread the word!” -–John Howe

56 min; 12 MB; 32 kbps mp3; download link here ->

PEAK OIL: ARE ENERGY CRISES, MORE WARS, AND BREAKDOWN OF CAPITALISM COMING SOON? Speaker: Eric T. Olson, freelance writer and physics instructor at Unity College and Eastern Maine Community College, UMaine graduate (MS Physics 1983) and MPAC student activist during the 1980s. University of Maine philosophy professor Doug Allen introduces the speaker.

The handout accompanying the talk is downloadable in pdf format HERE (311kb). Additional background information and a selection of many helpful links may be found at the Deep Blade Journal weblog HERE.

48 min; 11.5MB; 32kbps mp3; download link here ->