Author warns of oil catastrophe
An award-winning investigative journalist who was born in Sudbury is warning that the world faces a terrifying energy crisis as its oil supplies run out.
David Strahan quit his job with the BBC to spend two years researching and writing his new book, The Last Oil Shock.
The book, which has just been published, is described as a wake-up call to a world sleepwalking towards catastrophe.
Mr Strahan, whose headmaster father Alec taught thousands of local children, was born at Sudbury Grammar School House in 1962.
He attended Boxford primary, Stoke-by-Nayland middle and Great Cornard upper schools before going on to read politics at Sussex University.
His distinguished career as a business correspondent, investigative journalist and documentary film-maker includes ten years on the BBC's flagship Money Programme.
He has also produced films for the renowned series Horizon, on topics including the Enron scandal and the Moscow theatre siege.
In The Last Oil Shock he argues that global oil production is set to go into terminal decline within a decade, triggering a huge energy crisis.
He predicts effects including soaring fuel prices, financial collapse, economic depression and wars over dwindling resources.
But he warns so-called climate change solutions, including biofuels and hydrogen are completely inadequate.
His analysis shows that to produce enough hydrogen to run Britain's road transport would mean building 67 nuclear power stations, a solar array the size of two counties, or a wind farm bigger than the South West of England.
Mr Strahan still has strong connections with Suffolk. His father – the last head of Sudbury Grammar School, then head of Sudbury Upper School after the education system was reorganised in the 1970s – lives in Boxford.
Later this month he will be speaking about his book to raise money for Boxford Church Building Trust. The talk, at Boxford Fleece on April 21, begins at 8pm.
The Last Oil Shock is available at The Kestrel Bookshop, Sudbury priced at 12.99.
barbara.eeles@sudbury today.co.uk
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Friday 25 May 2012
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