This was sent to the editor of the “New York Press” weekly that printed a review article written by Mr. Causwell of the Petrocollapse Conference, then the following week had several follow up letters.
Dear Editor, the New York Press, Dear Mr. Causwell
Regarding your Halloween issue cover reporting on the petrocollapse, and the following week’s “Soapboxing”, I would like to contribute notes regarding what Mr.Causwell missed (New York Press, October 26 - November 1, and November 2-8, 2005).
The Conference was not a monolith, while recognizing something that your reporter also recognized — fossil fuels are finite and that this dooms our suburban life-styles — there were differences in the views of speakers regarding further implications.
I am writing for www.SustainabiliTank.info and I have there three pieces relating to the October 5, 2005, Petrocollapse Conference:

• September 29, 2005 - I announced “The Petrocollapse Conference”
• October 4, 2005 - My own presentation at the Conference titled - “Sustainability Implies The Use Of Renewables”
• October 11, 2005 - My evaluation/reporting after the Conference - “Will Petrocollapse Incur Because of Peak-Oil?”

I approached the subject from its environmental side - something your reporter missed altogether (please see the October 4 piece). I argue that THE REAL COST OF FUEL IS CLIMATE CHANGE. I was speaking of the Katrita effect - our understanding that the Katrina and Rita Hurricanes tell us we must start decreasing CO2 emissions. My argument is thus that eventually we will understand that we must start using less oil even before we are forced to do so because of decreased supply. I spoke of changes of life-style and our learning to live less energy demanding existences. I mentioned my recent trip to Bhutan in order to learn what the King of Bhutan means by “Gross National Happiness”. I advocated that a major part of the reduced energy needs should come from renewable sources of energy.
My reporting from the meeting includes my disagreement of 25 years with Professor David Pimentel, who also spoke at this Conference. He does not believe in biofuels and in renewables while I, and most scientists who try to soften our addiction to oil, see in them the way to provide the residual energy needs after we have brought ourselves to our senses and reduced our needs for energy. There are no sound technological answers that will allow us to continue to waste energy - we are speaking about ways to keep us “happy” by answering for the reasonable needs. By doing the right things we can avoid the predicted effects of petrocollapse and the fate of being a Katritastan, but we can not avoid change.
Again, please look at www.SustainabiliTank.info and let us avoid empty exchanges in favor of practical positive new ways. The above web-site was established in order to provide for a media think tank on Sustainable Development - the concept that was officially placed on the international negotiation table in 1992 at the UN Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Jan Lundberg, after leaving the oil industry, also joined the advocates of Sustainable Development and was with me in Kyoto in 1997 - we even shared a room - present at the birth of the Kyoto Protocol. If his actions now may seem extreme to Causwell, this may simply be a result of the slowness of our leadership in grasping the seriousness of the problem. This is no laughing matter; I would say it deserves further serious analysis and coverage in the Press. People must understand that drilling for oil in Alaska is a fake answer, believing that this is not so will indeed bring us to petrocollapse.
Sincerely yours, Pincas Jawetz New York City www.SustainabiliTank.info