Similarly to our 1st lecture, Lecture 2 was divided into two sections, 1) Introduction to the lecture/debate and 2) The viewing of a secondary film entitled, 'A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash'. Succeeding Lecture 1 we were provided with 'Task 1' which, in short, required us to identify and expand on 1 issue that we found prominent within the film ('The Age of Stupid'). Within the 1st half of the 2nd lecture we were placed in groups of between 3-6 and assigned the exercise of presenting our findings from Task 1. I found that this process heightened my intrigue towards this module further as it highlighted, not only alternative perspectives but additionally the importance of a greener and increasingly renewable type of design. I specifically focused my interpretation of the film around mankind's obsessive behaviour towards aesthetic luxuries and novelty items as I believe that it is a prominent factor preventing the majority of the worlds populous from making larger adaptions in their lifestyle to experience a more greener way of living.
'A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash'
('A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash' Trailer)
Within the Earth's crust, oil is a finite non-renewable resource that is often described as the bloodstream of the world and its global economy, however, is this precious substance running out? There has been considerable debate between economists, scientists and the oil community over the oil reserves that currently exist. The calculation of these oil reserves are proven and supported by 3 primary factors...
1) Any known remaining reserves.
2) Any undiscovered resources and reserves,
3) Any increases in the technological advances that will enable a larger amount of oil being extracted.
To determine the depletion rate of oil, it is essential that we understand the levels of oil that are currently available, 'The Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash' explores this ideology, highlighting the potentially corrupt companies at the front-line of this issue. There is concern that The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have been misleading over the amount of oil reserves that are still in existence - oil quotas, or allowable production, is based on the proven reserves that they withhold, the greater level of reserve, the greater amount that can be produced. In 1985 Kuwait increased their level of known reserves by 50%, followed by Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, these figures, despite the increased levels of production, has not changed, the reported amount of reserves remain unchanged despite producing billions of barrels of oil yearly.
At present, there are 58 countries that are currently producing less oil, despite the continuing rise in global consumption. Two thirds of the world's oil reserves are in the Middle East, however, countries such as Iran, despite advanced techniques and technologies, are now struggling to produce 3 million barrels daily, Kuwait is struggling to produce 2 and a half million barrels daily, there are increasing concerns that Saudi Arabia has now exceeded their sustainable peak supply. The film conveys countries in desperation as they attempt to produce oil from oil shale and tar sands, areas which you would commonly avoid, this is additionally supported by attorney Matthew David Savinor who comments within the film that...
"You don't go to those areas unless you have used up all the good stuff".
(Matthew David Savinor in 'A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash)
Unfortunately, the use of mining to extract the pure grade oil from the oil shale and tar sands uses more natural gas to produce the oil that will be obtained from these sources. This highlights Mr M.K. Hubbert predictions of peak oil where demand for oil both would not and could not be met by existing production, this situation is exasperated by countries such as China and India which are becoming increasingly developed as they experience fast economic growth.
The majority of war is associated with oil, the ever increasing demands for it combined with the gradually deteriorating amount automatically leads to tensions in an already corrupt system. This situation thus results in additional conflict between developed countries (i.e. America) and unstable regimes (i.e. Iraq), this consistently generates war. Below is my opinion on the somewhat counter-productive cycle of oil conflict...
1) Increase in Global Demand.
2) Unsuccessful Debate Between Different Countries.
3) Tensions Increase.
4) Destabilisation of Regimes.
5) Declaration of War.
6) More Oil is Used for Increased Military Production (Counter-productive = A Waste of Oil)
7) Damage Done.
8) Bankruptcy.
9) Increase in Unemployment.
10) Poverty.
11) Increase in Oil Demand for Physical and Economic Repairs
(The cycle then starts again).
I feel that this lecture has been extremely helpful in highlighting the importance of focusing more towards renewable green design and manufacturing, this is due to the fact that the film has illustrated an uncertainty as to the exact amount of crude oil left to extract. Green design and environmentally friendly material would act as the initial stepping stone to becoming less reliant on oil in the production industries. From comments within the film it is evident that other forms of renewable energy require considerable investment to produce sufficient capability to power the global economies. Additional research has highlighted that this film however is a little outdated as there are been a recent oil field discovery in the deep waters off of the coast of Newfoundland, this can be seen on the following website link, http://www.albertaoilmagazine.com/2014/01/light-crude-discovery-newfoundland/.
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