Human infants are evolved to feed on mother’s milk for the first crucial months of life. Once they cut their teeth, they largely leave liquids behind, moving on to something a bit more solid. This transition is known as weaning. It is a huge physical and psychological shock for the growing child. Everything up to that point had been easy. After the break, things will never be the same again. Our modern, industrial societies are pretty much in an analogous position. Their early and spactacular growth has been driven by a liquid resource, very high in energy content. Oil production is about at its peak right now. Mother Earth cannot furnish more. The future will witness an ineluctable decline. This coming transition I call The Great Weaning.
The shock will be terrible. We know we have to go down this road. But we are about as prepared to manage it as the startled rabbit in the lane at night, dazzled by the oncoming headlights.
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