Introduction
The 21st century will probably be unlike any other century
before or since. It will be a century of peaking and
then declining natural resources: first oil, then natural gas,
water, food, coal and uranium. At the same time, we will
have to deal with a record number of human beings on the
planet.
Our political, economic and media leaders have prepared us
poorly for what is likely to come. The overwhelming
message from mainstream sources is in effect that we
have infinite resources and can enjoy continuous
improvement and infinite growth without consequences, and
that technology will find a way to overcome any
obstacle. When these things fail to happen (which
is almost inevitable) there is likely to be much confusion and
anger and a lack of consensus about what to do next.
This book can't solve all of these problems, but maybe it
can help in a small way. It is intended mainly as a
guide by and for healthcare professionals, to help ease our
transition into a post-peak healthcare system.
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