In tackling problems arising out of acute shortage of fossil fuels, we would need to focus on urban areas because; they consume bulk of the energy derived from fossil fuels. Urban areas are energy intensive on account of being centers of economic, political, administrative power, and often, centers of learning and culture. Demands in rural areas are influenced by trends in urban areas. Also, within urban agglomerates, demands in smaller cities are influenced by bigger cities. Consequently reduced demands in urban areas will have a spillover effect into the other areas.
Urban India
The Urban mindset
Before we take up concrete programmes, we should first understand the urban mindset. This is crucial in working out the details of the programmes. In urban areas, individualism or alienation is very significant. People are used to being on their own; not relating with their neighbours. Any solution to urban problems will have to tackle this issue first.
Capitalism breeds capitalist individualism and breaks down communities. What is capitalist individualism? It is the belief that one is free if one has money in one’s pocket to spend as one likes. The more the money, the more the freedom! However, this very money is obtained through jobs; which implies, wage slavery. So, at one level, this freedom is mythical. At another level, historically, it meant getting out of the oppressive bondage of a caste system or a patriarchal family. So, it did mean freedom. Thus the growth of capitalist individualism and the breaking down of communities are one and the same processes. The democratic state also aids the process of breaking down communities through promises of a welfare state and through killing traditions of self-management of local issues.
The real freedom is to get out of wage slavery and feudal bondage. On the other hand, the human species is a social species. How do we combine the urge for freedom with the need to be part of a community? It cannot be done by going to the past and building the community on the basis of caste, as Gandhi tried to do. We propose that this be done by disengaging with capital and the state and rebuilding the community on the basis of a free association of free people. What does it mean in practice; and where and how does one begin?
The basis of one’s freedom is in respecting the other person’s freedom. Respecting, loving and caring for the other is the basic principle on which a free association can be built. So, we should get to know each other directly, be they poor or rich, of our caste/class or of another. But our history; our views; inhibits us. Learning to accommodate diversity will be the basis for building community. We start from where we are and move in the direction. We should credit ourselves on how much diversity we can relate to, particularly with the poorest families; people living in bastes; servants; so-called untouchables; and so on.
In urban areas, there is a horrifyingly stupendous waste of food because things come easily to the well-off sections. People in urban areas do not produce food. Otherwise, they would have known better. We should reduce both consumption and waste systematically and incrementally.
So when we are discussing concrete projects they are not just technological fixes of public transport versus private; separating solid waste at source; urban gardening; changing incandescent bulbs to CFL bulbs etc. It will require rebuilding the community and that can be done mainly through local associations and trade unions. In most of these initiatives, the size of the community should be on human scale, say a population of 10,000 or so.
Children
In urban areas, children have lost their childhood, particularly in metropolitan situations. They are engulfed in the vicious circle of school, tuition and consumerism promoted by TV channels and peer-group pressures. Organising children’s groups play and library at a local level is a very important activity. As far as possible, encourage children to go to local schools so as to cut precious travel time and save transport costs and fossil fuels. We have to pose the question, ‘Why can’t we make the local school as good as the distant one?’ We should actively participate in the management of local schools, be they private; government; or those run by local associations.
Organising children’s eco-clubs, either at the school or in the locality can be very rewarding. Children are receptive to new ideas and some of the local initiatives described below can be started at these clubs.
Solid waste disposal and urban gardens
The urban situation implies separation of people from the land. Nutrients are transported away from the crops and farms where they originate; accumulate, in part, as waste in the cities; deprive farm land the nutrient that would have otherwise been recycled at site; progressively deplete farm land soil quality; and are a reason for urban filth. Urban waste disposal methods thus, cut at the very root of the nitrogen cycle by not allowing the biodegradable waste (the nutrients of the soil) to go back to the soil. Hence, separation of biodegradable waste at the source and composting at an individual or community level is an absolute must. Related issues are rainwater harvesting and urban vegetable gardens. These will reduce transport costs - both in transporting waste to dumps outside the city and bringing vegetable to town; provide fresh food; and make for consumption of the compost produced locally. This takes care of nearly 70 per cent of the waste. The remaining waste such as metal, glass, plastics, etc. can be recycled more easily and in greater quantities since it is already separated.
Fuel
Almost all domestic fuel consumed in cities today is of fossil fuel origin. With the cost of cooking gas and kerosene slowly going up, people will be forced to move to wood-based fuels. Where is the wood for this? Our forests are already under great stress. The only solution is to grow fuel wood within the city. Unless we start right now, we will not be ready when the crisis deepens, as trees take time to grow. Also, solar box cookers/ovens can save at-least half the total cooking fuel.
Transport
Transport is the biggest fossil fuel guzzler today. We have discussed children’s school transport, transport of solid waste and bringing in vegetables and fruits from rural areas. There still remains general within-the-city transport. In big cities two wheelers, cars and auto rickshaws create terrible problems of road accidents and air pollution. Recent rise in fuel prices are putting great pressures on two and three wheelers because they are used by relatively lower income groups. Many auto drivers feel that the days of autos are numbered and that cycle rickshaw will come back. Most probably, there will be a phase of sharing autos before they get phased out. Similarly, for two wheelers they probably will go through a phase of battery operated Luna style minis or bicycles. It will all happen first in smaller towns and then in bigger cities. Small towns with distances of 5 km or so don’t need any fossil fuel vehicles. It is just aping the big cities and expression of power. They can easily launch on the path of becoming fossil fuel free straight away. So, as stated before, it will be easier to take the initiative in smaller towns.
Improved cycle rickshaws - lighter and with gears - have been around for some time. In Delhi , Chandigarh , Agra , Mathura Maharashtra there is a design where in the rickshaw puller can rearrange the seat and convert it into a bed!
For the bigger cities, there will have to be a more comfortable and rational urban public transport system. It is a political battle which many civil society groups are waging. Meanwhile local groups can take initiatives in the use of cycles and in bringing back the cycle rickshaws, particularly in the outlaying areas.
Water
The size of any human settlement is determined by the amount of water available. Today almost all the million plus cities and many smaller cities are dependent on water being brought from a distant river or lake. In many cases this was required not only because of increase in population, but also due to pollution of the existing source. There will definitely be conflict over the issues in the future. The aim should be that every human settlement is self-sufficient in water resources. Two initiatives are possible: 1) Water harvesting from roofs of individual buildings, 2) Cleaning up the existing water sources to make water potable. This will require, mandatory cleaning and treatment at the polluting source.
Health Care
Urban lifestyles, pollution, and chemical addiction (narcotics, tobacco, and alcohol) have created severe health problems. Privatization of health care, particularly corporatisation, has made it the biggest direct exploiter of the people. Pediatric and geriatric health care are particularly prone to exploitation as they involve the emotions of people. There is an urgent need to initiate community-based people’s health care groups whose aims can be:
1. To move towards informed self-care.
2. To promote healthy lifestyles and preventive health care.
3. To provide professional care service through a trained family physician.
Consumer Co-operatives
Urban life is dominated by irrational consumerism and choices in the market that are not easy to discern. So the basis for the local shop should be a limited choice of reliable products in terms of quality and price. This will reduce inventories and save money both for the shopkeeper and the consumer. The shop can be kept by any one in the community or can be run by a society. A committed membership helps in bulk purchases. The community can also work with one village for bulk purchase of organic products.
Unto the last
In rebuilding the community the needs of the poorest come first. While charity may be needed initially to overcome hunger and starvation, the long-term solution is to create new jobs within the community, such as those of gardeners and compost makers, cycle rickshaw drivers and repair persons, jobs associated with local crèches, local bakeries, community service centers, plumbers, carpenters, masons, tailors, general repair and maintenance workers etc. The goal should be that basic securities of shelter, food, fuel, education of children and health care should be available to all irrespective of income within the community, and with the community’s resources.
Get started
One should begin with oneself and start implementing some of the ideas within one’s own control. For example, one can start using bicycles, segregating waste at source, buying a solar cooker, planting a tree etc. Then one should start forming a group. The first thing is to educate the group about Peak Oil. Then one can start planning activities given the resources of the group. The aim should be to work within the resources of the micro community one is a part of. Federal links and mutual support with similar neighbourhood groups will come later. As soon as possible, members of the group should join associations and trade unions within the community as well as become members of the existing city groups such as bird society, snake club, horticultural society, environmental groups and so on. This will give access to vital resources within the city.
Talking about Peak Oil can be very frustrating in the beginning. We are all so used to our life style, particularly if we belong to the middle and upper-middle class that it is difficult to conceive life without oil. As Bush said, we are addicted to oil. And like in all addiction cases the first stage is to deny that there is a problem. Then to hope that some magic technology solution will come and so on. Of course events of rising prices do help but it is still very difficult to overcome inertia coupled with the problem of alienation as has been discussed above.
It may, therefore, be easier to work in smaller towns. So if we are living in big cities, it may be worthwhile to develop links with the nearest small town and either move there or develop initiatives there. Finally, it may be worthwhile to look at Cuba
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