On Saturday and Sunday of the February 11-12 weekend, many key Post Carbon Institute folks, including board members Celine Rich, Julian Darley, Dick Bell, and Tony Buggleby, together with PCI staff Dave Room, Aaron Lehmer, Madeline van Roechoudt and Post Carbon Fellows Richard Heinberg and Richard Register, gathered in San Francisco for a Post Carbon Summit and strategy meeting. Richard noted afterward that he was impressed with the level of the discussion, and the commitment, knowledge and understanding among all of those present. The Post Carbon organization seems poised for a year of growth and even more effective action and accomplishment.

Sunday, next day, 150 denizens of tiny Northern California’s Stinson Beach turned out for the all-day Solar Stinson education bash. It was festive event, on a beautiful day, with good food and great live rock music. The festive atmosphere turned thoughtful and serious as Richard described in detail how we are indeed (as Mr. Bush recently said) “addicted to oil,” and how rates of global oil supply are poised to begin their inevitable decline quite soon, with implications for the economy, global geopolitics, and life in general.

This week (February 20-26) Richard is finishing the manuscript of his next book, THE OIL DEPLETION PROTOCOL: A PLAN TO AVERT OIL WARS, TERRORISM, AND ECONOMIC COLLAPSE, which will be published by New Society Publishers in June. Jennifer Bresee has been assisting with research, editing, and some writing. The manuscript is due March 1; then comes the task of hiring a small staff to begin promoting the Protocol internationally.