The End of Energy

The End of Energy

               Technology is constantly advancing and new breakthroughs are being made almost daily. This tends to give people an optimistic view on life as the future seems like a fantasy where we reach a utopia. What does all this technology really leave us? As we have advanced as a species are we truly better off with the science we have today or are we only a few decades from self-destruction. So far we have seen wars over territory, power, and wealth. Humans tend to turn to fighting when in dire consequences, well what can we expect.

               Motor Vehicles, they are convenient, revolutionized society and continue to advance, recently we are still making breakthroughs as far as green energy and self-driving cars. What does this all mean for us? There are still hurdles preventing changing energy as fossil fuels are depleting. Our fossil fuels are expected to run out between 2060’s and 2090’s.

               Vehicles and fuel is not the only issue with the depleting energy, how reliant society is on fossil fuels is the true issue. Green energy is undoubtedly a solution, but the development is being halted and slowed down by political figures who like to believe our energy will last much longer. Such locations like Virginia increases tax and a bonus fee for hybrid and electric cars. This is due to the state being so dependent on the oil industry and lashing back at the green energy movement. Once oil starts hitting its breaking point then prices will sky rocket and places like Pakistan may follow a similar pattern of declaring war, fly or fight.

               Already we see violent conflicts out breaking. Such areas as Iraq, Syria, and South Sudan are fighting for the control of depleting gas and fuel assets. It is not the need for energy that triggers these outbreaks it’s that oil and gas serve as a major source of their national income. These locations have broken into war because they are neighboring regions. The conflicts that they initially had were only fueled by the loss of profit and income.

               This is only oil though, other resources running out are water, phosphorus, and rare earth elements. Our survival is hindered by water and phosphorus, dehydration and a decreasing food supply will certainly put everyone on edge. Puts everyone on a do or die moment as the world experiences a drought and lack of a food supply. The interesting point of rare earth elements is that it means phones, computers, and circuit boards. With the rapid rise of technology we forget the resource boundary we have placed on ourselves. What does that mean when we cannot develop, create, or survive anymore? Will we take over the world for the remaining resources, will we turn to other planets to look for a larger pool of resources?

               Should we really be pushing at the advancement of technology so quick if it means creating landfills of components and yesterday’s phone as if they amazing today and meaningless tomorrow?