The View From the Peak  The world stands today on the precipice
of an unprecedented crisis.  These are bold words, ones that
have been uttered many times before by both apocalyptic prophets
and secular observers of humanity’s trajectory. Such predictions
have in the past always been proven wrong, certainly in
substance if not in spirit.  Why might things be different now? 
For a hint of the answer, consider the present convergence of
the following global problems:  •    Climate change; •  
 Deforestation and desertification; •    Depletion of ocean fish
stocks; •    Depletion of soil fertility and fresh water; •  
 Extinctions and biodiversity loss; •    Social and economic
instability;  And above all: •    Oil and natural gas depletion.
Modern industrial civilization is built on a foundation of
cheap, abundant oil.  It plays a role either directly or
indirectly in everything we do.  Used for everything from
transportation (which consumes 70% of the oil) to fertilizers,
plastics, paint, pharmaceuticals and a