Oil is a non-renewable natural resource, which, if we were to behave as responsible "Homo sapiens" (Latin for "knowing man"), we would be using as "economically" as possible, making sure that long before it runs out - as it surely will - our children and grandchildren will be in a position to manage without it.

 Instead, we are behaving like bandits, literally plundering the planet of its natural resources.

 What started out on a small, harmless scale, has developed exponentially over the past few generations and taken on gigantic proportions. Having grown up with it, it seems quite normal to us, so we fail to recognise it for the monstrous crime that it has now become; a crime against our own children and future generations; a crime in which we are all participating, and on which we all depend: oil and gas (two examples of the booty) are the life blood of our economy.

 Americans, who represent less than five per cent of the world's total population are currently responsible for 25 per cent of natural resource consumption.

 And we Europeans are not much better; like Americans we firmly believe that we can all drive around in our own cars and jet about the world as it pleases us.

 We think that we are facing up to the issue of sustainability, but we are not. We forget that there are another five billion Earth inhabitants, all keen to do the same as us once they can afford it.

 However, long before they all can, Earth's life-supporting ecosystems will start to buckle and break under the strain. What that will mean does not bear thinking about.

 But if we care two ha'pence for our children and grandchildren, we should start thinking seriously about how we can prevent it.