environmentally friendly like nuclear power? what "alternatives". You are talking fantasy. There are no magic energy sources. solar-wind-etc are always minor players. Making energy makes waste. period. There will not be a revolution in energy source.
it isnt about just oil. China is already a manufacturing giant that is stealing manufacturing work from every country. They have an almost endless supply of ccheap labor, and highly educated workforce as well. Damn near everything you buy is made or partly made in asia, that aint gonna change. Japan works at an efficiency level the rest of the world cant match. They have almost no unemployment, and there is only middle class and up, there is almost no such thing as poor. Those who believe that japan is only good for cars and tv's have blinders on.
I work in a global function and I deal with these issues daily.
better teach your kids to bow....end of my lecture