Peak Oil Bumper Stickers?

Submitted by unsilentminority on July 29, 2006 - 1:32am.

hi, i'm new on here, but been talking to clean coal stephen about peak oil for over a year.

Not sure if this idea's been floated, but seems like a bumper sticker would be a really good way to get people's attention:
They're in a car using oil, maybe just spent $50+ on a fill up, typically alone with relatively few distractions compared to the rest of their day, and probably unhappy about being stuck in traffic - maybe a good time to tell them their driving days are numbered!

I had a couple of ideas trying to use a little humor, a little confusion, and a little shock to get people to think:
Peak Oil Bumper Stickers:

1. Ignorance is bliss. Too bad your car won't run on bliss. Portlandpeakoil.com

2. You're gas guage is lying - we're all on empty. portlandpeakoil.com

3. Checked your oil lately? You're low...very low. portlandpeakoil.com

4. Peak Oil: Like this, only without all the cars.

What do you think?

eric

‹ New video on the local impact of Peak Oil: "After the Peak" Online video promo for "End of Suburbia now available. ›

Peak Oil Bumper Stickers?

Submitted by Robin Canaday on July 29, 2006 - 9:17am.

Peak oil bumper stickers... how ironic.

I could think of many things to put on these bumper stickers, but then I doubt people would apply them to their cars :P.

Now maybe some BIKE bumper stickers... hmmmm....

Robin Canaday

robincanaday@hotmail.com
ICQ 27717216

we will still have and use cars & trucks

Submitted by Jeremy on July 30, 2006 - 10:26am.

even if they make really nice chicken coops ;-) As long as liquid fuels are available we will be using cars and trucks.

peakoil bumper stickers

Submitted by dmd on July 31, 2006 - 6:06am.

nothing new under the sun
my other car is a bicycle, in fact both are :-)

bumper stickers are nice. they are not just for cars anymore.
-m

Peak Oil Bumper Stickers?

Submitted by Chaster on July 31, 2006 - 2:56pm.

I think the bumper sticker idea is great.

For the "bike" commenters, congratulations on your bike-centric lifestyle.

Personally, I would like to get off my "I'm better than you" high horse and get the message out to the people who aren't aware. And that means yeah, a bumper sticker would be a good thing IMHO.

High-horsin' it.

Submitted by Robin Canaday on August 1, 2006 - 7:55am.

Not that I'm trying to alienate people, but I ride proudly upon my high horse with wheels :P.

Changing one's lifestyle to be less car dependent is easier than people think. One just has to be willing to take the time, to live a little slower. I'm a great believer in the power of "social scorn" to change people's habits (I mean, look how social scorn persuades people to focus so much on image to our future detriment!) No doubt I'm not going to get far with people who don't care at all or who are unaware that their lifestyles are killing our economy and ecology. But people who know better should act better.

It won't happen over night. Perhaps I'm just a little impatient. And maybe it's an easier thing for a renter who can move at will to within biking distance of wherever she wants.

Robin Canaday

robincanaday@hotmail.com
ICQ 27717216

High-horsin' it.

Submitted by Chaster on August 1, 2006 - 8:27am.

Well, you're certainly entitled to your opinion. And I won't argue the point that a certain amount of social scorn can be effective.

However, I think different people will react to different approaches. Some may react positively to negative feedback ("social scorn") but I think others will react with "you are a nutcake enviro-nazi and I am going to do exactly the OPPOSITE of what you say because I think you are certifiably cuckoo."

Let's face it - the vast majority of the population can't FATHOM the POSSIBILITY that Peak Oil is a real threat. To most *average* people, Peak Oil advocates are one step away from the Aliens-Control-Our-Government Conspiracists.

I think those people will react better to constructive, positive, perhaps even subtle, feedback (encouragement). Just my 2 cents..

Eric

technically

Submitted by unsilentminority on August 7, 2006 - 7:08pm.

only the first suggested bumper sticker was "scorn", the others were more a message of general awareness.

I'm getting a sense that raising the general public's awareness of this issue isn't a high priority among members of this board. Is that accurate?

important and burnt out

Submitted by Jeremy on August 7, 2006 - 9:07pm.

It has appeared that most of the folks who are active with PPO are more interested in personal preparedness. There have been a few people who have been actively working on outreach but everyone was just getting burnt out trying to get the word out. The taskforce has been tasked with figuring out how to get the word out.

It is important, but there hasn't been may folks who both wanted to and knew how to get the word out.

The public needs to know

Submitted by Chaster on August 8, 2006 - 1:48pm.

Everyone has their own priorities, but for myself, I'd say it's important to raise general public awareness. At least, so I don't have to listen to a chorus of "why didn't anyone warn us?" from the ignorant masses... ;)

it is important and not many folks have focused on it

Submitted by Jeremy on August 8, 2006 - 5:50pm.

I agree that it is important and not many folks have wanted to focus on it. I basically came to the conclusion that the folks that are willing to hear about peak oil.

FYI, portlandpeakoil.org

Submitted by Jeremy on August 7, 2006 - 9:08pm.

We don't have portlandpeakoil.com registered.

nice work!

Submitted by localize it on August 12, 2006 - 4:59pm.

Hi Eric,

I don't want you presume that most people aren't interested in public awareness. If you notice, we're the only group that holds free (donations welcome) public meetings, speakers, or movies every week. I'd say that's better than a lot of public outreach campaigns.
The reality of generating public awareness, as much as anyone is interested in doing so, it that it takes time and money. Currently, I don't have much of either. PPO does not have a funding mechanism per se, however if folks are intersted in applying for funding through other non-profits - there's nothing to stop us. If you want to shop around the bumper sticker idea and look for funding that'd be awesome. I say go for it, if you want help - drop me a line, I'll see what I can do.