I agree Manacles - the flaw is built into the system. We've had 200 years of incredible growth based purely on easy to reach cheap energy (oil and coal) and as with all finite resources, we've found pretty much all we can find cheaply. There is nothing viable to replace it and the governments and corporations are at an absolute loss at what to do.
I'd recommend this book by BBC2 Newsnight reporter Paul Mason for a clear view on recent events;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Its-Kic...8512/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334245069&sr=8-1
And this website re peak oil;
http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/
Magentus
Wow - loads of doom and gloom in the last few posts. All totally misplaced, of course
Fallacies first - continual growth. Why not? Population is increasing - which may actually be a critical factor in growth eventually, but a major spur in the shorter term. More people - particularly in the third-world wanting better living conditions and equipment - a perfect driver for growth. True, there then becomes a potential battle for resources, but nations will have to address birth control either way sooner or later.
Ah- but people say (fallacy no. 2) - PEAK OIL!!!!! For some reason, Peak Oil keeps getting moved forward as additional reserves are found and deemed economically viable. But true - eventually - it will all run out. In a few centurys time. Next option - coal to oil - Germany did it in WW2, and SA have been doing it commercially for decades with their SASOL plants. And lots and lots of coal available still. However, that's only the most obvious solution - there are many more. For example, oil-excreting bugs - already proven in the lab (feed biowaste in, get oil out). Current sticking point is mass production, but that's purely an engineering problem that will be overcome in short order. Oil for all in unlimited quantities. (and lets not forget that greater atmospheric CO2 is a wonderful growth accelerator - literally airborne fertiliser - for plants and trees..................)
Oil is used primarily for two purposes. First, organic chemistry - think plastics industry, and second, fuel oil/petrol etc. Cooking/heating comes in a very poor third place. Plastics industry will continue to need oil for the time being, although I would not be at all surprised if the refined molecules can again can be generated from genetically engineered bugs, rather than starting with oil. Either way, no shortage. As for transport/heating, there is no reason why the existing petrol/diesel engine cannot be replaced with hydrogen cells - technology already there - all it needs to get off the ground is hydrogen pumps at service stations, and all that takes is a few billion investment in the UK. As for generating the hydrogen - well, all you need to do is pass electricity through water and collect the resulting o2 and H. Generation of electricity? Nuclear all the way for me, as alternatives will take decades to come on stream in any effective way. However, that nuclear could be fusion, not fission - we're nearly there after all! And as our existing and any future nuclear plants are/will all be on the coast, there's plenty of water available to electrocute! And of benefit to the greenists, its carbon neutral!
So, lots of end-of-world hype, sure. Lots of solutions - of course, if one has any faith in science and technology.
Put me into the latter category!