Transition Towns: Peak oil scenario will bring about change By Will Vorobioff 
In the past few weeks, the rocketing price of fuels has been dominating our media. Even the Rudd Government has been “hoist on its own petard” on the price issue but the reality is: the era of cheap fuel is over. This government has no more control over cost than the Howard government. The price of oil has risen way beyond expectations from the predicted ceiling of $100 to over $135 per barrel in a matter of months. The resulting impact on our communities will be far reaching both economically and socially. The cost of food, transport and essential commodities will increase dramatically altering our lifestyles. Yet this is not the worst of it. As prices rise, people with the capacity to pay will continue to do so; others will struggle to manage their lifestyles and will have to find ways to do with less (of everything). This will be replicated on the international stage, where the vulnerable will suffer most. It’s not the rising price of oil but the looming oil scarcity that will have the greatest impact, as demand outstrips production. This peak oil scenario, where production has reached a maximum and supply begins to decline, heralds a new era: the end of unlimited cheap fuel.
