The Good Old Days...

Who would've thought that?! I took this picture only a week before the first 'shock.' And people were complaining about $3.30 gas and traffic jams. Try $8 and rising. We've been scrambling on all fronts here in Hawaii to deal with the oil shortage, the food shortages, and energy shortages. It has so far been a surprisingly cooperative and controlled effort. Carpooling, bike riding, walking, telecommunting have all helped, but cracks are appearing and tensions rising. It reminds me of the 40 days of constant rain last year, the resulting sewage spill into Waikiki, and the gruesome flesh-eating virus death. If that unprecedented monsoon didn't break when it did, I was beginning to think we all would. Things are reaching a similar tipping point, although we see no end in sight. The sense of vulnerability and distance from the rest of the world is more palpable than ever. The placating mainstream news is of no comfort. Tourists have left and aren't coming in, and wealthier residents are starting to leave on the frighteningly few number of planes still coming and going. To think that we were talking about "Governing at the End of the World" only a few days before this hit. Being "right" never felt so wrong. We are trying to work with leaders and officials on next steps, always trying to think of the next event on the horizon. But day-to-day living has become a consuming effort and the rolling blackouts are lengthening in time and range.

We won't have much time to report, but we'll do our best to get the word out--hopefully with images. Stay tuned...

www.worldwithoutoil.org

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