Winter’s Coming

Winter is a harsh season for nature. The cold stops the growth of nearly all plant life. Animals that don’t migrate will forage on dried up leaves and branches. Hibernation can be their key to success; both beavers and bears do it. That is, they accumulate enough energy stores to survive through the long winter months. Beavers store plant life underwater, in and around their dens. Bears eat as much as they can, to fatten up. With winter’s onset, they head to sleep so as to minimize their energy consumption. When the warmth of the Sun returns, the foliage captures sunshine through photosynthesis. And, the hibernators leave the winter barrens behind and start another year by gorging on the plenties of Spring.

Cycles of feast and famine occur throughout nature. Typically when energy sources are plentiful, then consumers such as beavers and bears take great advantage, perhaps in preparation of future famines. What do humans do? One region seems to be doing the exact opposite. That is, they are enlarging their debt to artificially maintain low electricity costs. In effect, they are expending energy today at an unaffordable rate. And they plan to pay it off later; when there is less energy available. Imagine a bear who runs a marathon just before crawling into its den to hibernate. This bear will be fit. But will this bear survive winter? In corollary, will societies that cheaply burn off all their non-renewable energy resources today then survive an energy shortage in the future? Remember, once non-renewable sources are gone, an energy famine will be next.

How do you want to face the coming winter of energy shortage? Do you want the best chances of survival? Contact me and I can work with you for a better future for all.

winter's coming
Autumn glory