[SeaGypsy]

Shaved Monkey/ the Chinese can eat rats, we can't

Can't or won't more like it. Ever read the stories about Cambodia or North Korea & forced starvation? It was the kids who had the survival instinct minus the lifetime of programming about what is and isn't edible who worked out how to trap & eat rats, frogs, lizards, spiders, moths, grasshoppers, grass. The older folks who adapted to what their kids were able to teach them survived, the ones waiting for fish & rice, died.

[DesuMaiden]

There are already tens of millions of Chinese on the brink, wandering, looking for work, not finding it. But, Chinese have some advantages. Being used to working collectively. Having had serious deprivation in the not too distant past. Having survived famines many times throughout history. Having a one party system capable of implementing harsh political/ economic reform without having to worry about being kicked out at the next election.

So will China be able survive peak oil effectively?

[dolanbaker]

There are already tens of millions of Chinese on the brink, wandering, looking for work, not finding it. But, Chinese have some advantages. Being used to working collectively. Having had serious deprivation in the not too distant past. Having survived famines many times throughout history. Having a one party system capable of implementing harsh political/ economic reform without having to worry about being kicked out at the next election.

So will China be able survive peak oil effectively?

If they undo a lot of the reforms of the past two decades and cut back on construction (a major consumer of oil) then yes. Petrol/diesel rationing would very quickly solve any shortage issues.

[Shaved Monkey]

They will survive better than a rich first world democracy.
The people have lower expectations, more compliant and faster moving government with no need to be popular.
They can introduce rationing, outlaw private cars,build more public transport infrastructure,build more renewable energy infrastructure and slow down manufacturing at a stroke of the pen and control the media and therefore the masses.

[Shaved Monkey]

First train delivers cargo from China to Spain
It took 3 weeks for the 8,111-mile rail trip, by ship it takes 6 weeks.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/201 ... nto-madrid

[DesuMaiden]

Wouldn't you agree that Japan is one of the worst places to live in a post peak oil world because the country imports most of its energy and food? Without sufficient quantities of petroleum, Japan will no longer be able to import most of its energy and food. And without this imported food and energy, Japan is out of luck.

[Shaved Monkey]

Although many countries choose to import food right now, the model showed that there are surprisingly few that could not maintain the same diet and still be food self-sufficient.
"Today, 66 countries are not able to be self-sufficient due to water and/or land constraints," said Fader.
This equates to 16% of the world's population depending on food imported from other countries.

The countries with the most reliance on imports were found in North Africa, the Middle East and Central America, with over half the population depending on imported food in many of these locations.
Outside those locations many countries could become food self-sufficient if they chose to.

But roll the clock forward to 2050 and population pressure paints a very different picture.
The figures suggest that over half the world's population could depend on imported food by 2050.
equivalent to about 55–123 million people

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... ports-2050
Food importers
Top map red is the worst food importers
Grey are self sufficient
Bottom map dark green has the potential to be self sufficient if they arent already,reds and blue dont have much hope neither does brown

[Tanada]

Notice it isn't wealth that makes countries into importers of food, it is population in excess of local carrying capacity. Sweden is wealthy but only imports a little food Sudan is poor but imports about the same. Saudi Arabia is very wealthy and imports almost all food, Canada is very wealthy and exports food.

[DesuMaiden]

Although many countries choose to import food right now, the model showed that there are surprisingly few that could not maintain the same diet and still be food self-sufficient.
"Today, 66 countries are not able to be self-sufficient due to water and/or land constraints," said Fader.
This equates to 16% of the world's population depending on food imported from other countries.

The countries with the most reliance on imports were found in North Africa, the Middle East and Central America, with over half the population depending on imported food in many of these locations.
Outside those locations many countries could become food self-sufficient if they chose to.

But roll the clock forward to 2050 and population pressure paints a very different picture.
The figures suggest that over half the world's population could depend on imported food by 2050.
equivalent to about 55–123 million people

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... ports-2050
Food importers
Top map red is the worst food importers
Grey are self sufficient
Bottom map dark green has the potential to be self sufficient if they arent already,reds and blue dont have much hope neither does brown

So I guess Japan would be a bad place to live in a post peak oil world since they import over 70% of their food.