So can we have a realistic “anti-fossil fuel” discussion that actually discusses realistic alternatives – especially in the short term? I know the truisms – solar power, geothermal, wind, tidal; ethanol fuel for cars; hydroelectric projects (though I’m often against them, too); electric cars. But none of these, even collectively, seem like truly plausible alternatives to the massive global power generated by fossil fuels, especially if we admit that the infrastructure for these non-fossil projects still comes from fossil-fuel mined and manufactured materials.

It’s fine to be against pipelines and oil sands and so on – but is there any way we can begin to build alternatives to the truly hypocritical lives we are all (at a guess, every one of us) still living in our oil-fueled economies? If we were having this discussion, I wouldn’t feel like our protests in the name of the environment were only NIMBY-inspired window-dressing for our own “progressive” egos.