Post by Stefan Pasti on Sept 17, 2011 15:22:34 GMT -5
This writer (founder and outreach coordinator for The IPCR Initiative, and an administrator of this IPCR Discussion Forum) has for some time felt that there are many more critical challenges than are easily accessible through the many lines of public discourse—and much more potential for high quality of life, and compassion for our fellow human beings, than is visible in the everyday circumstances of community life. His further explorations into the areas of critical challenges and high quality of life have led to the development of The IPCR Initiative.
As the most active IPCR project (“IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment 2011”) moves forward (see bottom of IPCR homepage at www.ipcri.net and accessible drafts of different sections at www.ipcri.net/Critical-Challenges-Assessment.html ), this writer is increasingly aware of “many danger signs flashing”. More and more people are coming to the realization that overcoming the challenges of our times will require problem solving on a scale most of us have never known before.
From this writer’s point of view, there seems to be an urgent need for initiatives which take into account the full range of unprecedented challenges ahead. The IPCR Initiative is one effort to fill that need. The efforts that this writer has made, as founder and outreach coordinator of The IPCR Initiative (in the past 6 years, especially) have convinced him to give a high value to the topics listed in this Discussion Forum. And this Discussion Forum provides a way to both share information about his explorations and discoveries, and learn about others explorations and discoveries. So while there are many topics which relate to a specific IPCR project, concept, etc—there is in this Discussion Forum much opportunity to create an active and dynamic learning environment relevant to supporting the efforts of many different organizations and initiatives. Newcomers and participants alike should therefore be assured that as information is shared and discoveries are made, new fields of activity and collaboration will gain prominence in the everyday circumstances of community life, and new categories of discussion will arise in this Discussion Forum.
In this writer’s research on the subject of “Peak Oil”, for Section #3 of the “Critical Challenges Assessment” project (Section #3 “The End of ‘Cheap Energy’ (particularly with reference to Peak Oil)”, he discovered an article by “Professor Goose”, one of the founders and editors of The Oil Drum (at www.theoildrum.com ). The article is titled “Was That Really Five Years?”, and it is a look back at the first five years of the Oil Drum website. To provide some context, here are some excerpts about the Oil Drum from the IPCR “Section #3” draft:
“The Oil Drum seeks to facilitate civil, evidence-based discussions about energy and its impacts on the future of humanity, as well as serve as a leading online knowledge-base for energy related topics.”
“Most people are not aware of society’s profound dependency on energy and the magnitude of the problems we may face if energy becomes either too expensive or scarce. Politicians and the traditional media have tended to overlook these issues, out of ignorance or due to conflicts of interest. We seek to fill this information gap, disseminating under-reported facts and analysis and providing an educational forum for those interested and engaged in energy’s role in society.”
The article “Was That Really Five Years?” by “Professor Goose” (Kyle Saunders) is included in this section as a introductory post. The Oil Drum has set the bar very high as an example of a discussion forum and a leading online knowledge base for energy related topics. The IPCR Discussion Forum is hoping to provide a similar service along the lines of Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization, in response to an unprecedented convergence of critical challenges.
For a Peaceful and Sustainable Future,
Stefan Pasti, Founder and Outreach Coordinator
The IPCR Initiative
As the most active IPCR project (“IPCR Critical Challenges Assessment 2011”) moves forward (see bottom of IPCR homepage at www.ipcri.net and accessible drafts of different sections at www.ipcri.net/Critical-Challenges-Assessment.html ), this writer is increasingly aware of “many danger signs flashing”. More and more people are coming to the realization that overcoming the challenges of our times will require problem solving on a scale most of us have never known before.
From this writer’s point of view, there seems to be an urgent need for initiatives which take into account the full range of unprecedented challenges ahead. The IPCR Initiative is one effort to fill that need. The efforts that this writer has made, as founder and outreach coordinator of The IPCR Initiative (in the past 6 years, especially) have convinced him to give a high value to the topics listed in this Discussion Forum. And this Discussion Forum provides a way to both share information about his explorations and discoveries, and learn about others explorations and discoveries. So while there are many topics which relate to a specific IPCR project, concept, etc—there is in this Discussion Forum much opportunity to create an active and dynamic learning environment relevant to supporting the efforts of many different organizations and initiatives. Newcomers and participants alike should therefore be assured that as information is shared and discoveries are made, new fields of activity and collaboration will gain prominence in the everyday circumstances of community life, and new categories of discussion will arise in this Discussion Forum.
In this writer’s research on the subject of “Peak Oil”, for Section #3 of the “Critical Challenges Assessment” project (Section #3 “The End of ‘Cheap Energy’ (particularly with reference to Peak Oil)”, he discovered an article by “Professor Goose”, one of the founders and editors of The Oil Drum (at www.theoildrum.com ). The article is titled “Was That Really Five Years?”, and it is a look back at the first five years of the Oil Drum website. To provide some context, here are some excerpts about the Oil Drum from the IPCR “Section #3” draft:
“The Oil Drum seeks to facilitate civil, evidence-based discussions about energy and its impacts on the future of humanity, as well as serve as a leading online knowledge-base for energy related topics.”
“Most people are not aware of society’s profound dependency on energy and the magnitude of the problems we may face if energy becomes either too expensive or scarce. Politicians and the traditional media have tended to overlook these issues, out of ignorance or due to conflicts of interest. We seek to fill this information gap, disseminating under-reported facts and analysis and providing an educational forum for those interested and engaged in energy’s role in society.”
The article “Was That Really Five Years?” by “Professor Goose” (Kyle Saunders) is included in this section as a introductory post. The Oil Drum has set the bar very high as an example of a discussion forum and a leading online knowledge base for energy related topics. The IPCR Discussion Forum is hoping to provide a similar service along the lines of Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization, in response to an unprecedented convergence of critical challenges.
For a Peaceful and Sustainable Future,
Stefan Pasti, Founder and Outreach Coordinator
The IPCR Initiative