$250 Oil and Austerity: Fewer big box stores and less mango in my Jello

Oil at 200 bucks per barrel, 210, 220, 230, 240 and 250 will change our lives in significant ways - in many cases for the better.

Though I’ll miss my mango. (Yeh, I’ve been spoiled.)

In a recent article (by Tamsyn Burgmann, The Canadian Press) entitled ‘$250 a barrel would change life’ I read the following quote by David Foot, co-author of Boom, Bust and Echo:

“Outrageous oil prices would finally push Canadians into truly more sustainable practices [e.g. “we’d value our agricultural lands and not pave them over”], as the gains from global trade are reversed and society turns back to local production.”

I think it’s a good thing we stop burying prime land under Wal-Mart Superstores (etc.) the size of 18 football fields and driving across town to buy a huge assortment of cheaply produced goods from faraway lands.

It’s also a good thing we stop covering acres of highly valuable land under poisonous, petroleum-based pavement.

Though it’s regrettable Canadians need to be pushed to practice sustainable land-use habits (and I may never see mango in my Jello again) I think I’ll be able to survive with locally grown cherries, strawberries, raspberries and apples.

Heck, if we can find a way to remove toxic petroleum residue from millions of acres of arable land now used as parking pads maybe the hardy elderberry - my personal favourite - will make a comeback.


Click here to read - The New Age of Austerity will have a bright side

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