Economic collapse will come before peak oil or climate disruption, says investment guru Chris Martenson, author of "Crash Course". Matthew Stein, author of "When Technology Fails" - how a solar flare could cripple society & set off 400 Chernobyls, and to fix it. Alex rants against 2012 mythology.
All interviews by Alex Smith of Radio Ecoshock.
Brief music clip "Its The End of the World As We Know It" by REM.
Also available as 2 29 minute segments, for station ID, posted below.
Both our guests think we are in trouble, and explain why, with some suggestions of how we can prepare ourselves for both energy descent and a lower standard of living.
It's hard to beat Chris Martenson for the big picture, where Peak Oil, climate and the crumbling economy all meet. A thought-provoking interview.
The problems should unwind over the next decade UNLESS a big solar flare hits us.
We could protect the electricity grid needed to keep nuclear power plants cooled (instead of melting down like Fukushima) - for less than 2 billion dollars in the U.S. Why don't we do it?
A big solar flare will come some day, as it did in 1921 and 1859, but we don't know when.
Our fragile civilization, in a fragile ecosystem, is in trouble for rational reasons (more or less). We know what the problems are, and some of the solutions.
I challenge all those who threaten us with the Mayan calendar ending, or alien plots to destroy us. Sony Motion Pictures is promoting those fears for profit.
Why do so many people long to see "the end times"? Those of us with kids and grandkids are in less of a rush to see money wiped out, or species go extinct.
Let's end the crazy distractions and deal with real problems - while we still can.