Friday, June 17, 2011


Solar Roadways that don't use petroleum in asphalt and actually generate power!

World Without Oil Week 22

Issues for the week (community+personal):
Education and school systems in the area
Civil violence- Ann Arbor, Michigan has been greatly affected by rioting in the streets due to this crisis.
Economies in the local area- bloominghours
Very high unemployment rates in all areas
 
National solutions and local solutions:
Children are being home schooled as well as taken out of school to work and learn trades, like in the past, this is happening in the UK as well as parts of America and other areas
Areas are coming up with new local currencies to stimulate the local economies and transition off of the barter system. Such as BloomingHours- roughly translate to 10 dollars cash. This allows families and communities stay connected to each other.
National relief teams are being sent to certain areas to aid the people there.
Some towns are setting up solar panels and the like on buildings to have a supply of new renewable energy available.
Buildings all across the affected areas have been converted into new shelters for those who do not even have make-shift houses.
In Bloomington farmers are required to have a space in the farmer’s market so everyone can have access to food there.
Houses and buildings are now designed to be smaller so more can be built for those who do not have homes. 

Gas Price: $6.69/gallon

World Without Oil Week 21

Transportation:
Many people are riding on public mass transit systems daily but the price to commute is expensive
More people using bicycles as a way of transportation or just walking
Metro areas with good public transit are green zones, the opposite are red zones
 
Food:
To find fresh food local farmer’s markets are full of people
Fresh food like meat or fruit are scarce and expensive
Food markets have to contact local growers and organizations for food
Major supermarket chains in trouble because of shipping
Many have taken to home gardening
Subsidies for local farms
 
Business:
Many job layoffs
Most business closed down
Bartering systems being employed unofficially in small communities
 
Violence:
Raids of homes
Looters of oil from cars, bikes, food
People increasing security around home
Carrying around weapons common
Red zones have worst transit systems  
Small communities are usually green zones
Job layoffs a source of violence
 
Gas Price: $6.38/gallon

Week 20 Without Oil

Security: All over there are bombings of refineries, riots, militias, gangs stealing bikes and gas, criminals being released from prison, looting, and other forms of terrorism. A solution may be a possible war with the Middle East over the remaining stockpiles of oil. A war could force the world to adapt all out technologies.
 
Government: However, our government is nearly broke, and the value of currency is declining further War may mean some suspension of rights and nationalization of industries to get us back on our feet.

Schools: Schools will start in October so that less air-conditioning will be needed, and no school buses.
 
Food: There are few shipments to groceries, government buying up huge amounts so many are turning to local food and farmer's markets.
 
Shelter: Huge homes in red zones are too far from jobs and stores to walk, so many are moving to "green zones" which are new green communities built around farms.
 
Transportation: There are potholes in roads, because asphalt is made with oil and no long-distance trucking. Some solutions are steam barges that burn coal, and to nationalize all the railroads to electrify them for passengers and freight, and to recycle unneeded super-highways for repair of local roads.
 
Consumer Goods: There are shortages of everything, and very little electricity in most homes to charge gadgets, and no new oil-based plastics. People are fueling their generators with human power, cutting down on possessions, and requiring more sustainable manufacturing.
 
Power: There are very high prices for oil because there is very little left stored, so the government is enacting a blackout after dark to conserve power
 
Gas Price: $6.33/gallon