chamberscrudeawakening

//A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash// (2006) Director: Basil Gelpke and Ray McCormack
 * 1. Title, director and release year?**

//A Crude Awakening// makes it a well-known fact that we are going to run out of oil eventually. All of our infrastructure, everything we own, and our quality of life is dependent on a non-renewable and finite resource-- fossil fuel. This is a very cheap form of energy, but the film explains what the real costs will be in the future if we don't change our main source of energy now. About 98% of all transportation energy comes from oil. Our agriculture is dependent on petrochemicals used as fertilizer. For every calorie consumed, it takes ten calories of hydrocarbon energy. We use petrochemicals in plastics and cosmetics, and a variety of other products. We are essentially a culture of "oil worshippers".
 * 2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film?**

The film talks about peak oil. This is a bell-shaped curve that shows the production of oil over time. The Hubbert Peak explains that peak production of oil has already occurred, and what is left once the peak starts sloping down? It took at least 2 million years for this oil be produced from organic material at 2000m depth in the earth's crust, yet it is all going to be extracted within a few decades.

Oil is also notorious for fueling and intensifying wars. The Bush administration has had its hands in energy security, and oil is heavily tied with foreign policy and national security measures. The administration has also tried to establish democracy in the Middle East in order to soften the country so Americans can continue to use their supplies to fuel their lavish consumption habits. The fight for energy security is a political mess, since lobbyists are tied to these politicians' wallets. Therefore, we cannot rely on politicians to make changes for us.

The main sustainability problem that this film draws out is that we cannot continue to use fossil fuels at the consumptive rate that we do. Huge reserves of oil were discovered in Venezuela in 1914, but the Alaskan North Slope and Siberian oil were the last great oil discoveries.
 * 3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out?**

Not only does it release climate-altering greenhouse gases, but when we run out of oil, there will simply not be enough to support the dense population problem on earth. Today, there are 58 countries that are producing less oil than they have in the past. Because oil is such a cheap source of energy, what will happen when we switch to another form of renewable energy? Will it be more expensive? The film predicts that driving cars in the future, (once cheap oil is gone) only the rich will be able to afford to drive and fly. Air travel will essentially come to a halt. Also, if we wait until peak oil to make changes, there will be incomprehensible economic and social consequences.

America is also a role model for other developing countries. They see the luxury that we have from using fossil fuels. Our extremely convenient way of life, from driving SUVs to frequent air travel, is what many struggling countries are looking to achieve.

I was compelled by the fact that the film mentioned that greed that is tied to oil, and that is what is holding us back from making progress in regards to renewable energy. The fact that the love of profit replaces the compassion for the earth and future generations, it angers me to the point where I have become activist on the issue.
 * 4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?**

I felt an impending sense of doom the entire time I viewed this film. The negativity was very overwhelming. Even though I know that it is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed, the film didn't give a sense of hope for humanity. It didn't even include any activist movements that are promoting change. There are movements that exist, such as the Energy Action Coalition and 1sky, which are trying to promote lobbying for alternative energy and climate legislation.
 * 5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? Why?**

This film addresses a borad audience, but perhaps an audience that is interested in energy issues. It is very easy to follow, but also a little dark. The title is very appropriate for the tone of the movie, so those who have the will to endure the truth will be able to handle this film.
 * 6. What audiences does the film best address? Why?**


 * 7. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?**
 * 8. What kinds of action and points of intervention are suggested by the film? If the film itself does not suggest corrective action, describe actions that you can imagine being effective.**

The film suggests different means of alternative energy that currently exist to replace fossil fuels, yet existing ones have serious negative drawbacks. For example, hydrogen fuel is a good idea conceptually, but there is no demand yet for hydrogen on the market. Nuclear would also only be a bridge solution, as it would require 10,000 nuclear plants to replace fossil fuels. It will also be expensive and the earth doesn't have enough uranium supplies to sustain nuclear for that long.

Wind energy is a great renewable source of energy, yet it only contributes a small fraction to our energy supply.

We can't expect government to lead us to a safer energy economy, it must be a compilation of citizen activism to change the way things operate.


 * 9. What additional information has this film compelled you to seek out? (Provide at least two supporting references.)**

Hubbert's Peak describes the depletion of oil as a finite resource. The rules were first described by Dr. Hubbert in the 1950s. The simple rules of his laws are: 1. production starts at zero 2. production then rises to a peak which can never be surpassed 3. Once the peak has been passed, production declines until the resource has been depleted.

This graph shows the rate of oil production through time. It is statistically useful for predictions of how much oil is left for production. This is composed of the oil production of individual nations. Different countries are in varying stages of production. Some peaked long ago, like the U.S. in the 1970s, and some are a long way from peaking. These countries, mainly the middle East (largest is Saudi Arabia) will soon find themselves supplying oil for the rest of the world's oil demands.

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The relationship between increasing oil demand and increasing food prices is a major sustainability problem. This film led me seek more statistics about this correlation. Rocketing food prices have sparked conflicts in many countries recently. Some protests have turned into violent riots. The reason for this increase is that people are buying greater quantities of food and increasing their meat consumption, which requires a greater demand for grain, and therefore, price.

Spike in oil prices has also driven up oil prices, as well fertilizer prices. Climate change is also a factor in food production, such droughts in Austrailia and southern Africa and deep frost in China and record-breaking warmth in Europe. Biofuels are also not the solution, as it is making farmers grow more crops for fuel and less for food. Rice prices have soared in price in the last twenty years, according to the U.S. department of Agriculture. The global supply of wheat is lower than it has been in fifty years.

The fear of global food shortages is also leading speculators to "pour billions into commodities," which increases the prices further.

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