Geodestinies : The Inevitable Control of Earth Resources over Nations and Individuals

by Walter Lewellyn Youngquist

This book is a "must read". After a slow start reviewing some basics of minerals, the book's heart consists of chapters covering:

• petroleum/fossil fuels
• alternatives - non-renewable
• alternatives -renewable
• water
• topsoil

These chapters are the books core value. Youngquist tries to be as balanced and un-excitable as possible. But the messages comes through loud and clear: there's no substitute for oil. His understated writing style just makes the message all the more chilling.

Some points he makes and documents ('run out' below means no longer economically recoverable):

• petro going to run out long before end of 21st century
• will become very expensive (in effect rationed) before it runs out
• agriculture depends on oil
• nuclear and coal are the most likely general alteratives for electricity generating
• electricity is far from the only "substituion" problem
• electric car is basically a myth
• it will be extremely hard to find ANY substitute for gas used in very heavy machines such as airplanes, construction equipment, farm machines
• all alteratives have heavy ecological price tag
• public is too sanguine about 'alternatives' magically appearing

A must-read !!

-- scott (lynx5_5@hotmail.com), March 02, 2000

Answers

One more thing (actually there are many more things in the book): Youngquist also delivers a fascinating analysis of why so- called "oil shale" is a non-promising future source of petro.

-- scott (lynx5_5@hotmail.com), March 02, 2000.