Release: 2006
Directors/Producers: Basil Gelpke, Raymond McCormack,
Reto Caduff
Music: Daniel Schnyder
Editing: Georgia Wyss
Running time:
94 minutes
As a person
who considers himself left-leaning, environmentally friendly and right on (in
theory), this writer has become used to a certain formula when watching
documentaries. The well-meaning,
well-informed socially conscious individual, imploring one and all to join up
and fight for the worthy cause. And, for
the most part it’s impressive. Watching
earnest, erudite people make an intelligent case for the freedom of killer
whales or the re-evaluation of how we operate economically as a society, is as
about engaging as it gets. That is,
until you come across a documentary where the rest of the talking heads are
hardline capitalists (or functionaries of said capitlaism), who have gorged on
and promoted the use of our oil resources for decades, and they agree with
those other guys!
When
experts in the field of science, such as oil geologists (Colin J. Campbell), tell
you that the world’s oil supply is depleting and cannot be sustained, and that
in a very short space of time we need to find alternatives, you take notice. In a documentary film of this kind the
director usually follows this with short clips of a bunch of self-interested,
right-wing capitalist blowhards telling
the cry-babies to calm down, and that all is under control, thereby creating
antagonists. Not this time. Not even a little. Directors Gelpke, McCormack and Caduff line
up an illustrious group of oil industry experts such as GOP Representative Roscoe
Bartlett, George W. Bush’s energy advisor Matthew Simmons and Fadhil al-Chalabi
the former OPEC Executive Secretary General.
And what is their standpoint in this debate? Shut up you whimpering tree huggers? Nope. Simply put, we are running out of
oil. To a man, each one of them
factually, and without quibble states that oil production has peaked and we
need to change strategy. All row in
behind M. King Hubbert’s theory of ‘Peak Oil’, which outlines the point at which
we will see oil supply only decrease. He
estimated this to be around the year 2020.
The film
moves swiftly on to the consequences of this projected oil shortfall. Horrifying scenarios include an inability to
sustain the current level of population on the planet. It’s suggested that the downward population adjustment
may happen through famine and extreme poverty.
Given the current levels of economic inequality in this world, this a
truly sobering thought. A vague
reference is made to humankind rolling back it’s use of technologies and
transport. The talking heads suggest a
world where flight, and possibly even road travel will be a luxury that only the
richest of the rich may permit themselves due to exhorbitant price increases
for oil. Only Alfred M. Spormann, a Professor
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, of Chemical Engineering and, by
courtesy, of Biology at Stanford, optimistically supports the idea of the constant
forward movement of evolution and technology.
As for new energy
technologies such as wind and solar nobody seems to be painting a pretty
picture. All agree, that yes, the
technologies do indeed exist, but are nowhere near polished enough to replace
the behemoth that is oil. Estimates
range from 30 to 40 years, if not more, before a suitable, renewable energy
will be perfected as a substitute to oil, capable of fulfilling our current and
future energy needs. However, given that
this film was made in 2006, this may no longer be the case. In fact films such as ‘Catching the sun’,
insist that solar technology is ready to provide the energy needed, and all
that is lacking in countries like the United States is the political will to
upset the old petroleum order. They
quote Germany and China as two world powers hellbent on, and in fact
implementing renewable energy policies on a grand scale.
Whatever
the case, ‘A crude awakening’ makes it’s point extremely well. Scientists outlining a cataclysmic event in
the near future, makes for slightly uncomfortable viewing for the distanced
viewer. But add industry heavyweights backing
them up and an a compelling race against time and you’ve got a documentary
worth it’s weight in oil.
