Saturday, December 9, 2006

Ukraine VS America Peak oil



Ukraine VS America Peak oil

With the Peak Oil Coming true Believe it or not there is no debate on fuel increases we all see. American life as we Know it will cease to exist, I talked with friend tonight he said between all his bills he was just getting by last year. Now with Fuel cost rising he falling behind in bills he makes upwards of $30 an hour as Heavy Equipment Operators
Call it the Canary but there will be fall of Consumer driven World of USA there is no Denying it . Our Stores will be empty property bubble will burst, American have no Back up. Ukraine most have Country Relatives that plant Gardens & Pad Voles.
If the US Government can't handle a few 10.000 of Displaced by Hurricane with food & water. American will die off with no stores to buy food in. Ukraine has lived for Centuries close to Land & villages of Ukraine are Example of Sustainable living. They Existed before the Industrial Revolutions that fueled the growth in World. The Village I bought Home in is where grandfather came from in 1901. The big Improvements to outside world came in 1963 they got electricity. Even though hardly no one has pump for well they still use a trusty bucket on crank or pole. Now Gas line is coming to village has been underway for 2 years they say they should have Gas Flowing by end of November. I know Zaftra Zaftra that is Ukraine very well, will be surprised if it is working this year. The gas may cease to flow with Energy shortage.
I found a Blog that explains much of what will happen with Peak Oil
http://jameshowardkunstler.typepad.com/clusterfuck_nation/
The link below is to Culture change it also deal with Peak Oil the Article written by American that Moved to Ukraine
http://culturechange.org/oldcountry.html
Bystiv my Ancestral Village there is no place like this I have seen in USA or
other parts of world I have visited like it. The Fertile Black Top Soil 3'+ 4' of it
the Water Close to Surface with in 6'-18' . That why thru out History every
one wanted Ukraine & fought wars over it. Ukraine is where all the Wheat
seed stock Originated we have in USA before they Genetically altered it.
The Growing season where there are T- storm in about every week - 10 days in summer & no need to water Garden it produces. It just started raining a couple weeks ago
her in Oregon since I got home till then it was dry & brown. But when I
left Bystiv in August it was green & Lush full of life Gardens where about ready to Harvest many Crops
Where I live in USA the wells are 150'-300; to get water so a bucket will not work

If you look at why a Village Like Bystiv formed some 755 years ago in 1251 AD it is far from any major city easy water access fertile soil that yields crops with no Irrigation.
First off I am not a tree hugging hippy earth first guy, Vegetarian , Old world living methods are what will make Ukraine a Paradise while most of Industrialized world will fail both Fiscally as well as starve to death & die. Money will have little meaning & barter for goods will be back in fashion. Dried & preserved food will be the currency.
The Wallmart Super centers will be empty of Food & Junk from China. How much do you need for life after basic living some luxuries, American life it is never enough. We work 50+ hours a week have stranger raise our children to buy more junk we don't need bigger house SUV ………Mass Consumerism will die along with all who worship at the altar of it.
American life is not sustainable the cheap oil Is an Artificial bounty that we built a way of life around. Suburbia squandered the farm land that will be needed to feed the people. The Mom & pop stores where wiped out by Wal-Mart. Will need to be reestablished for small communities. In USA food travels an Average of 1500 Miles before it reaches your grocery store in Canada it is 5000 Miles. It will need to be produced locally with little or no fuel for transport. Even then most all Modern Agricultures rely on Petrol Chemicals from Nitrogen Fertilizer made fro Natural gas to sprays.
The old Methods are almost forgotten by American Farmers of cover crops ect. green manure. Ukraine has a wealth of Knowledge in small villages passed down thru generations on growing foods with Natural methods
Living will be more localized & with out cars the community Infrastructure will need to be rewoven in America. Firs there will be the ones with guns fighting & killing for resources. The Survivors will have to join together as community or small village to survive. In Ukraine Village neighbors help Neighbors it is fascinating to see. In USA we are raised as Individuals most don’t know our neighbors very well & rarely will lend hand. I know most people in Ukraine Village mostly the young want to escape to City & embrace consumerism.( Look at all those cell Phones ) All the City People want Dachas in Country.. I am not Romanticizing village life. Simply analyzing the obvious Ukraine will do well in a world with limited Oil
There is no real point to American life but make more money to buy stuff trying to find fulfillment from material wealth as if it will nourish there soul. In the end the People you love & relationship you have with them are the most Important things in life. Not that Big House SUV. As a rule the Richer the Family is in USA the further are apart from Children. The one thing I have seen in Ukraine the Closeness of families. My dad said it was like that here in 1920 in the USA. They all rely on each other for survival. In General European families are closer then American ones.
We all believe in thing in life, I believe in god but not the End Time Predictions. That none of mans business to try to guess this. I did not believe in Y2K, to let you know I am not a survival nut.
Peak Oil is Tangible & you can see it every day in life. We don’t have to run out to loose the American Economy I read just a long term 4% shortage will break the economy. My Impression is also formed from Ukraine friend that lived here 16 years. He says America going down reference in fuel prices & Hurricanes
I can go on if you read this far & have interest in Ukraine as a place to Visit. Don't laugh at the villager getting water from well with Bucket they are the Survivors of Tomorrow.
When the world I grew up in USA falls apart the Economy collapses from weight of Debt & Fuel Prices. It is teetering on the edge of tomorrow now. When President tells you to conserve oil when he is an Oil Man there is something very wrong. When he is spending billions on War Hurricane Relief with no concern of Tomorrow. Then having Dick Cheney say American way of life is not negotiable. They will do all they can to secure there comfort like the leaders in USSR during break up. American People will be left as Soviet Citizens when USSR broke up. With Current American Generation dumb as dirt raising gardens preserving foods. Those are Skills that every Ukraine has in their Family
I absorb a lot of info to come to my own conclusion on Peak Oil & Ukraine life. I always say time has no meaning living in village only Sunday is Important & of course holidays on old calendar.
World of Tomorrow:
I could see 5-8 years from now sitting around a small table in winter time with the peachka or Cookneya in background burning coal since it fuel resource that is native to Ukraine now gas is not available. We share 1 shot of Doma Vodka , made from a mash of Corn, I grow a couple hectares for pig food & fuel. I have a reflux still that will Distill 180 Proof fuel Alcohol then Feed the used Mash to pigs. I only use a little fuel now & then for planed trips on a scooter when I want to nearby town 15 km to barter goods.
Since gas Benzin is no longer Available & there is no mashutka service to Village. The Train is a 40 Minute walk from Village thankful it is electric Powered of the Nuclear plants in Ukraine & Hydro dam. The cities are void of cars now only Trolley busses running on Overhead electric lines. The tram where rebuilt in Kiev. They took them out wanting to be like America. They had to rebuild all the infrastructure they paved over & tore down
The table has Kleb Bread that of course is made form local wheat crop & pickled Tomatoes & Cucumbers. Now news moves very slowly from USA I can remember CNN. Now news is in form of a letter from relative of villager that moved to America in 2003 & had the American Dream of Consumer life. Big House with 40 Year Mortgage Big Suv all on credit. The letter is a quite a change from life they led in mid 2005. Bragging in at all the Martial Procession they have. They never said they don't see there kids at all now. Since all they do is work & pay payments while kids are in day care. In 2010 we lost everything the Energy crisis hit we could not heat home with high fuel prices. There jobs at the WalMart super center disappeared overnight since there is no economics with $8 a Gallon Diesel fuel for ships to bring in junk from China now to fill Walmart shelves. The grocery store shelves are bare what few items there are over priced by 25 x what they once where since goods do not travel as they once did by truck. They use some trains to move goods but it is so poor of infrastructure compared to Europe.
They say thy have been camping out in woods ad edge o housing Development. It Is a Power line right away owned by government. No EMF from Power lines to worry about since the Power Plants in this area are shut down since the Natural gas imports from Canada stopped. They said screw Nafta Agreement we need or own Natural gas to Survive. At first there had been some bungled relief efforts by government now there supply has been hoarded by Government big wigs in secret Bunkers that where built for Nuclear war with Russians.
We wasted out life here in USA we have nothing at all except plastic tarp to sleep under. I dig roots in forest to make soup & get water from Polluted storm drain collect rain water there is no water since it all ran on Gas Powered steam Turbines to make Electricity. There Is no way to get water from wells her since water is 200' deep here not 10'-20' where you can hand dig well as in village. There is 5" of top soil & cant grow anything in it with out water & chemical fertilizer. Once they had lush green lawns & pumped this on them. With no Natural Gas it can't be made now. Outhouse are in style again & there is some fertilizer.
Some times we get lucky & find bird fallen from Sky the Avian Bird Flu H5N1 avian influenza. It had mutated & now is in Humans. There are very few birds now the Poultry industry was wiped out before the Oil crash, beef Industry went down with Mad Cow
At Least in Ukraine we had the family Home that had been with us for Generations a garden to grow food in & love of our Relatives that would take care of each other. A full Pad Vole ( Cellar? We are Homeless & Hungary, we do at time sleep in vacant home in Suburbia the Property bubble burst & these homes have no value with out cheap oil to run a life style of yesterday. Or we sleep in abandoned cars they are everywhere. Only trouble is the Lexus Model have electric seats & you cant recline with no Battery power. The older ones are best to sleep in. Since there is no heat we have Sleeping bags rated for -20 can sleep anywhere. America food is the problem. what I have done by coming here for riches now look at me I am not sure we will make it much longer. If I stayed home in Rodina my mother land there would be another Generation raised off the land as it had for Centuries now I fear there will be no more of my line. There times I want to call it a day & just eat a
I came to the world OF USA that is built off artificial bounty of fossil fuels now that has ended…………………..Money has no meaning now. Only items you can trade are food & that is scarce. It is so much misery here all the none whites are like dogs it chaos. They burn houses & whole Neighborhoods for what reason I don't know. Rather then using Pieces of them for fuel to cook with. Just need food to cook
They gather up Big screen TV like a prize ? what for there is no food no power It reminds me back in 2005 Hurricane Katrina they where looting Big Screen TV's the white people where looking for food blacks liquor & big screens
Now there is only steam ship service between Europe & USA takes 5 days. It is a Converted Cruise ship. The Nuclear reactor came out of scraped soviet sub from cold war. It was a Joint venture with Defunct Carnival Cruise Lines & Russian Mafia & Russian Nuclear Engineers they have on payroll. It is amazing when you think about it US Cruise ships used for transportation not leisure.
The Russian still have some oil for there elites that drive around like kings in there Imported ford SUV Excursion the biggest most powerful SUV on Planet it was advertise as when Introduced in 2001……………
Since there is no Conventional fuels. & Jet service is a memory to Europe the only option to travel between Continents is ship The ship runs on a steam turbine powered by Nuclear reactors & yes they added a lot of led shielding so you don’t glow in Dark when you get there.
The conversation moves ahead still disbelieving we all share how sad it is for the Americans there starving over there like the Soviet imposed Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine that killed millions……………………………………….
Mykoli pass the Salo & Onions any one want another shot of Vodka………………………………Dva Misha……..Dva Misha!

Medical Prescription Drug Cost Ukraine & Dental Work

Will tell you in USA no one can afford to go to Doctor. In Ukraine Doctors Make along the lines of Citizens. The two Doctors I spent time with one made $46 a Month the other $86 as Surgeon. On the Salary Scale Doctors make Similar to People they treat. There seems to be many Woman Doctors since there is not the financial incentive as USA. My Sister in USA is Family Practice Doctor & makes $10,000 a month (she even complains about that wage.) in Rural Community. It all about the Money that what drives American Doctors today if the $$ where not there bet 2/3 would not be into medicine There is a Drug I use for Acid reflux called Prevacid in Ukraine they Manufacture the same Drug Called by it Clinical name Lanza. In USA at Costco month supply of 30 Capsules is about $130 In Ukraine same Drug cost me $6.20 for month supply.

Even Western Drugs are such as Flonase made by Glaxosmith in England. In America it is $95 a Bottle in Ukraine same Drug Made in England Same Packaging with Russian label is $15.It is the same Exact Drug both made in England by Glaxosmith. This last trip I found another drug Bekonase an inhaled steroid similar to Flonase made in spain cost me $4 a bottle not $95 of Course the Health Insurance in USA will not cover the only Drugs that will work for me. For my $284 a Month I don't get much at all, I recently raised deductible to lower rate since I am not in US as much now. For what I spend on those bills alone I could live well in rural Ukraine Village. I am spending a lot of $ now when I am in Ukraine Renovating house but after I am finished I will not spend too much too live. & when I am sick will just go to Doctor & pay cash for that & pills.

Dentist in Ukraine a Crown is about if $50 in Mostiska try between $1,500-$2500 USA. Root Canal is $10 in USA I paid $350-$700. The Material & quality is excellent Equal to any work I have done in USA. Having Baby in USA is about $10K in Ukraine Friend Baby cost him around $60 that include Ambulance Medicines…… I Discovered Short Term Major Medical Insurance, so when I visit the USA I can purchase it for my stay on monthly basis. I will be dropping my medical Insurance in USA. When I visit will just order Health Insurance online when I book Airline Ticket.

I figure on paying for any medical needs out of pocket but learned from friend of mine that officially registered he pays for 1 year Medical insurance in Ukraine is 200UAH that is $40 American. He still needs to buy some drugs when he is ill but that is nothing compared to USA. Hospital system much different in Ukraine your relatives will bring you food stuffs while in Hospital also will purches your drugs at Hospital pharmacy then give them to your Doctor. Hospital are old but have new machines like X-ray equipment……..the dentist are the same all the equipment is new state of the art

Far Western Ukraine is where Ukraine Traditions & way of life still lives.
Most of the Ukraine Speak Russian being influenced by the days of Soviet Union & lost most of the Ancient Traditions.
Western Ukraine is the true Ukraine Experience you will not get in Kyiv take a Step Back in Time a Century or more; enjoy the simple slow pace of life in a Ukraine Village with all the Modern Comforts of American Life. http://www.bystiv.com/Ancient Village of Bystiv. Will let you take a break from your stressed Modern Life, step back in time to when People lived simpler lives. It is a world that is only touched by 21st century, the pace of life is still 18thAncient Village of Bystiv. Will let you take a break from your stressed Modern Life, step back in time to when People lived simpler lives. It is a world that is only touched by 21st century, the pace of life is still 18thCentury. Since 1251 AD. people have called Bystiv home. Remote from the Modern World. Raised Families & have been laid to rest in the earth. The church is Over 500 years old. Has survived many Wars & even Stalin.
Bystiv is a peaceful relaxed atmosphere that is Quiet till daylight when Roosters crow. Or you hear buckets Clank as they hoist water from hand dug wells. Same ritual as they have done for centuries. A morning walk in Village is a treat for those weary of the Modern World
I first Came to this Village in 1999 to Visit Relatives, after seeing my relatives so happily living their lives with only main concern eating & warm House & family. It is a challenging life lifting water from a well with a bucket. Stoking a Coal fire to cook with & wash.
Walking is the form of transportation……..it is a 55 minute walk to catch Morning Train to LVIV then back at night in Dark, LVIV is 85 KM to the east of Bystiv. About a 2.5 hour train ride normaly. There are only 6 Vehicles in Bystiv with Population of 500 People
I have returned since many times & came to realize what we have in America may be wealth but the hectic stressful pace of life is burning up our lives. Making our soul Purpose to Consume Products Acquire Material Wealth.
Instead of living life at a comfortable relaxed pace of life enjoying your family. We are obsessed buying that new Car Bigger House……Boat. keeping up with the Jones. We have children raised by Strangers because we work so hard to pay for all the stuff that we think will buy happiness.
As if it will nourish our soul. Experiences are the one true in life that will nourish a soul. Imagine you are on your death bed…..what will be important to you will be the experiences of your life, Family & love you shared with others that will have most meaning. Not all the Material Possessions you accumulated in life. As a measure of how full ones life on this earth was.………………Ukraine Old World Experience will reaffirm what is truth in your life

Medical Prescription Drug Cost Ukraine & Dental Work

Medical Prescription Drug Cost Ukraine & Dental Work

Will tell you in USA no one can afford to go to Doctor. In Ukraine Doctors Make along the lines of Citizens. The two Doctors I spent time with one made $46 a Month the other $86 as Surgeon. On the Salary Scale Doctors make Similar to People they treat. There seems to be many Woman Doctors since there is not the financial incentive as USA. My Sister in USA is Family Practice Doctor & makes $10,000 a month (she even complains about that wage.) in Rural Community. It all about the Money that what drives American Doctors today if the $$ where not there bet 2/3 would not be into medicine There is a Drug I use for Acid reflux called Prevacid in Ukraine they Manufacture the same Drug Called by it Clinical name Lanza. In USA at Costco month supply of 30 Capsules is about $130 In Ukraine same Drug cost me $6.20 for month supply.
Even Western Drugs are such as Flonase made by Glaxosmith in England. In America it is $95 a Bottle in Ukraine same Drug Made in England Same Packaging with Russian label is $15.It is the same Exact Drug both made in England by Glaxosmith. This last trip I found another drug Bekonase an inhaled steroid similar to Flonase made in spain cost me $4 a bottle not $95 of Course the Health Insurance in USA will not cover the only Drugs that will work for me. For my $284 a Month I don't get much at all, I recently raised deductible to lower rate since I am not in US as much now. For what I spend on those bills alone I could live well in rural Ukraine Village. I am spending a lot of $ now when I am in Ukraine Renovating house but after I am finished I will not spend too much too live. & when I am sick will just go to Doctor & pay cash for that & pills.
Dentist in Ukraine a Crown is about if $50 in Mostiska try between $1,500-$2500 USA. Root Canal is $10 in USA I paid $350-$700. The Material & quality is excellent Equal to any work I have done in USA. Having Baby in USA is about $10K in Ukraine Friend Baby cost him around $60 that include Ambulance Medicines…… I Discovered Short Term Major Medical Insurance, so when I visit the USA I can purchase it for my stay on monthly basis. I will be dropping my medical Insurance in USA. When I visit will just order Health Insurance online when I book Airline Ticket. I figure on paying for any medical needs out of pocket but learned from friend of mine that officially registered he pays for 1 year Medical insurance in Ukraine is 200UAH that is $40 American. He still needs to buy some drugs when he is ill but that is nothing compared to USA. Hospital system much different in Ukraine your relatives will bring you food stuffs while in Hospital also will purches your drugs at Hospital pharmacy then give them to your Doctor. Hospital are old but have new machines like X-ray equipment……..the dentist are the same all the equipment is new state of the art

Ukraine Village Life Greek Catholic Liturgy

Ukraine Village Life Greek Catholic Liturgy An Intimate view into Western Ukraine Village Life. I first came to Bystiv in 1999 & met my relatives it was a life changing experience. I returned many times but never have invited to church Till 2004 I become good friend with Ihor he is the Greek Catholic Priest for Village. He has 3 churches in surrounding Villages. What I filmed is very rarely saw be westerns I thank Ihor for Inviting me into this world. I was brought up Catholic in USA but never seen anything quite like a Mass Liturgy is done. I asked why is his back to the people in church. He explained the priest like a leader / conduit in worship. Unlike the Catholic church where priests face you as if you where giving him the worship. Essentially I am told Greek Catholic & Ukraine Orthodox Liturgy look the same. This simple explanation made sense to me I liked that idea much The Church is central to Village there are two roads coming out form church like spoke Bystiv formed in 1251 AD the church is said to be close to 500 years old During Communism Village worshiped din secret with no priest they held there faith

Ukraine Village Life Making Vodka

How To Make Ukraine Vodka @ Home Ukraine Village Life Baba Making Vodka . In Ukraine Village Vodka is Currency it is traded for work frequently. My Cousin passed away recently at 84 the 6 men that dug hole in Cemetery for grave I paid them with 4 bottles of Vodka. I can
hire a man with scythe to cut a field for a bottle of Vodka.
In Ukraine a bottle of good vodka is about $1.60-$2.40 that
half litter will get three men feeling good. Doma (Home)
Vodka one half liter can get 6 guys feeling good. It can be
very high Alcohol content up near 96% 192 proof it is all in
the distilling process Baba has used her coal stove all her
life & regulate perfectly. 2 shots of this stuff will make
you want to sit down or hang onto something if you did not
have full meal. I am non drinker in USA before first coming to
Ukraine when I was 12 or 13 had a swig of Jack Daniels. My
first Visit with Relatives in Bystiv in 1999. I had my first
shot of Ukraine Doma Vodka it burned all the way down & could
not speak for a minute. It much higher octane then anything
you can buy in USA. Since then I have spent much time in
Ukraine. They always have food to eat on table when they drink
at very least Bread & kielbasa. Over the years I have drank
gallons of Vodka in Ukraine. Never in USA. All you teen &
high school kids that a watching this please do not make
Ukraine Vodka at home. Is so simple 20 liters of water 100-105
Degrees to start. 10 lbs of sugar & a about cup of yeast.
Ukraine yeast is a wet cake yeast. It Old world you can not
buy in USA. You can use regular granule yeast I use this to
make Kvas it an Ancient Ukraine Drink. The recipe called for
? KG of cake yeast. Seal the top put in warm place
like over furnace duct. Baba set above here coal stove. You
let it ferment for 10 days then run it thru your Still. 172
Degrees Alcohol Boils. The hardware is as shown you can use a
old pressure cooker & vent pipe into copper coil. Baba uses a
pot with clamps the made a Gasket form bread dough pretty
impressive old world ways. Again this is purely educational
you are responsible for your own actions.