European Tribune

Display:
From everything I have read about biofuels, they sound like they fall far short of being a panacea. Their manufacture uses a substantial amount of energy, it contributes to environmental pollution and growing the biomass uses land that could be used for other purposes, food production, open space, etc.

Biofules might well have a constructive role to play in a broader and intelligently conceived energy policy. However, that is not the thrust of the WP article and others that are are appearing in the US mainstream media. Biofules are being touted as the SOLUTION to the energy crisis. All that's lacking is large amounts of venture capital and good old American know how. The American public will not have to trade in their SUVs for bicycles. Salvation is at hand.

by Richard Lyon (rllyon@gmail.com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2006 at 09:33:39 AM EST
Which is yet another disfunction of the current climate: we seem to be constantly looking for THE solution to every problem. Patchwork solutions don't seem to be acceptable - too complicated to sum up in a sound-bite I guess.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2006 at 09:36:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I would certainly agree with that comment, but I don't see anything new about that. The real news would be that the public finally realized that there is no quick fix. The snake oil salesmen will do their best to see that that doesn't happen.
by Richard Lyon (rllyon@gmail.com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2006 at 10:06:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]
there are some interesting correlations to make with the fast-fry food culture, whence many people are fueling their old jettas and such in the states.

not having such a plethora of choices in how we can dig our graves with our teeth here in yurp, we also have less used frying oil.

will america's love affair with obesity and plastic surgery have a role to play in transport fuel policy?

is it a metaphor?

if we shifted to a grain/bean diet, would this free up land grown to fodder, shifting to oil plants?

sorry about the garbled syntax, incipient alzheimers or too much italy, jury's still out...

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. Chinese Proverb.

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2006 at 08:01:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]
if we shifted to a grain/bean diet, would this free up land grown to fodder, shifting to oil plants?

The bean eaters would produce lots of methane gas that could be used for fuel.

by Richard Lyon (rllyon@gmail.com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2006 at 08:22:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

actually, after a couple of years the body produces new enzymes to better digest the extra fibre,

a bit more marsh gas is preferable to a toxic industrial minestrone, imo, and think about how much less cowfarts!

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it. Chinese Proverb.

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Mon Aug 21st, 2006 at 08:32:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Recent Diaries
Debates
Campaigns
Occasional Series