A huge forest fire looks as if it will now miss the tar sands central city of Fort McMurray. A few days ago, Cyclone Gonu narrowly avoided causing petroleum havoc in the Persian Gulf. Either of these events could trigger severe spikes in the price of petroleum. In either case the damage could have been long lived if petroleum processing installations had been hit. Neither of these events was in most analysts' top ten list of trigger events.
For now these events may soon be forgotten, though not by those who have lost family and friends as in Oman. It is often suggested that if an event does prove the trigger for some kind of serious oil supply disruption (including a huge price run-up) then it will be caused by some completely unforeseen events. This is hardly very reassuring for those charged with keeping public services running and keeping the supply chains filled. It is however yet more reason to begin planning for an orderly transition away from oil dependence.
Forest fire edges toward Fort McMurray
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2007/06/08/fire-fortmac.html
Last Updated: Friday, June 8, 2007 | 9:04 AM MT
Firefighters are busy Friday morning trying to stop Alberta's biggest forest fire from advancing toward the northern city of Fort McMurray.
The fire has spread over 150 square kilometres, making it the largest one burning in Alberta and the only blaze deemed out of control.
Wind has been blowing the smoke into Fort McMurray for the past 24 hours.
Fire information officer Rob Harris said the smoke hasn't been enough to cause problems, but firefighters are counting on another wind shift to clear the smoke and help them hold the line on the east side of the fire.
"It's going to be a test over the next day because of the winds, but after that it looks like Mother Nature will start working in our favour and start blowing that fire away from town again."
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Here in Nelson B.C. we have started a Biodiesel Consumers Co-op.
We are diesel engine users who share large purchases of biodiesel to put in our vehicles. One concern that has come up is the threat of GMO crops controlled by companies like Monsanto, being used for Biodiesel production. Currently we are using Biodiesel made in California from virgin soy oil. So to me the move towards Biodiesel to get away from 'dinosaur' diesel is good but if the means of production fall into the wrong hands then Biodiesel becomes merely the lesser of 2 evils. GMO monocultural farming over fossil fuel addiction?
Hopefully biofuels will be produced in a sustainable way.
This is one of our dilemma's at the moment as the biodiesel niche begins to emerge.
Thank you for your excellent website.
Call us if you come to Nelson, BC
Gabriel Keczan
Nelson Biodiesel Co-op
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