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Biofuels are not perfect but they are a tremendous improvement over oil Oil has serious drawbacks that are not associated with climate change. See Iraq and the entire middle east for examples.
Most of the starvation in the world today is caused by strife, not lack of food or resources. See the entire continent of Africa for examples (sadly, they are overly abundant).
That said, i continue to hope and lobby for solar power. It is truly carbon free and as Germany has demonstrated, it is feasible. Barring that, nuclear seems to be the only other viable alternative (and we all know the problems associated with that).
Posted by wolf on Nov 8, 2007 at 2:33 PM
1. Grow industrial cannabis for seed. The oil can be used in properly configured diesel engines. For those who get their panties in a twist over the dreaded demon weed, remember that industrial hemp is entirely low in THC, as are the seeds. Any smokers will only get “high” off the carbon monoxide. Hemp also grows on marginal land much better than most food plants.
2. Use bikes for short trips in town, or walk if it’s within a mile and you’re not carrying a heavy load. Hard to beat by almost any measure of practicality. If you can’t walk a mile right now, build up to it by steps, it won’t take too long.
3. Reinforce investment in R&D for nanotech improvements in solar arrays, via tax breaks. DON’T punish them by way of seizing profits, for God’s sake!
4. Unfortunately we took the “car” evolutionary route and it will require some backtracking to re-tool in favor of light rail and other forms of relatively efficient transport.
Gotta give up two ideas: a) I have the right to use up whatever I want, and b) who gives a damn about the future generations, let them figure it out.
Posted by Kuya on Nov 8, 2007 at 10:23 PM
You have to love special interests. The planet is burning, people are starving, capitalists are sucking the life out of everything, and the special (capitalist) interests just shrug and continue on with business. In this case, agrobusiness.
Posted by Arby on Nov 10, 2007 at 4:28 PM
Whenever I get to feeling too optimistic, I check out ITT where every silver lining is at least tarnished if not counterfeit.
If we give aid to anyone it must be:
A. going to the wrong people
B. for our own profit or other benefit
If we don’t get involved:
A. we should have, or…
B. it’s due to racism or some other prejudice
If the climate is changing:
A. it is a crisis and…
B. primarily our fault
Whatever is bad must be due to a conspiracy planned and carried on across generations for decades.
What could be more profoundly arrogant than to believe there is some solution we can, could have or will be able to institute?
If not for previous climate changes we’d be chasing huge reptiles out of the yard. If not for over zealous and greedy businessmen we’d be mowing around buffalo chips.
Hey, how many previously “endangered” creartures have become extinct over the eons? How many have we really missed?
Posted by whattheheck on Nov 12, 2007 at 10:23 AM
The ignorance of the above comment (by whattheheck) is astoundingly sad, and unfortunately common. Arrogance, when it comes to climate change debates, is not to think that the actions of modern industrial civilization are profoundly affecting global climate, or that we should or even can begin to combat the results of our actions. The actual, true arrogance is the flippant,” whetever, things have changed before,” attitude that many have when faced with the atrocious things that we are doing to the world. That we think more human inventiveness and clever doodads will solve a fundamental problem of an economy and society based on waste and consumption is obscenely conceited.
Deluding ourselves into thinking that the business models that lead us into this mess are going to get us out are only going to lead us to more plans that are benign at best (inane ideas like carbon offsets or a plethora of new “green” products) and seriously dangerous at worst (the idea of a biofuels economy). Face it: the only “green” (what an awful buzzword) ideas that will work are less and local.
Posted by Nickolas on Nov 12, 2007 at 12:51 PM
The Drive 55 Conservation Project seeks to reduce consumption by 20%-50% when drivers voluntarily observe all posted speed limits and never exceed 55 MPH. No new technology, no new taxes, no real sacrifice at all, just slow down, observe posted speed limits, and never exceed 55 MPH. Visit www.Drive55.org for details and download a FREE Real World Vehicle Efficiency Report to prove it yourself. http://www.Drive55.org
Posted by Drive55 on Nov 14, 2007 at 6:46 AM
Drive55,
The first truly sensible thing I’ve read here in a long time.
Posted by whattheheck on Nov 14, 2007 at 7:20 AM
I might think about reducing my already relatively small “carbon foot-print”, but I’m sorry—Al Gore is gonna have to “lead”, and give up his glass house first!
Posted by Natalie on Nov 15, 2007 at 2:36 PM
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Reader Comments
Biofuels are not perfect but they are a tremendous improvement over oil Oil has serious drawbacks that are not associated with climate change. See Iraq and the entire middle east for examples.
Most of the starvation in the world today is caused by strife, not lack of food or resources. See the entire continent of Africa for examples (sadly, they are overly abundant).
That said, i continue to hope and lobby for solar power. It is truly carbon free and as Germany has demonstrated, it is feasible. Barring that, nuclear seems to be the only other viable alternative (and we all know the problems associated with that).
1. Grow industrial cannabis for seed. The oil can be used in properly configured diesel engines. For those who get their panties in a twist over the dreaded demon weed, remember that industrial hemp is entirely low in THC, as are the seeds. Any smokers will only get “high” off the carbon monoxide. Hemp also grows on marginal land much better than most food plants.
2. Use bikes for short trips in town, or walk if it’s within a mile and you’re not carrying a heavy load. Hard to beat by almost any measure of practicality. If you can’t walk a mile right now, build up to it by steps, it won’t take too long.
3. Reinforce investment in R&D for nanotech improvements in solar arrays, via tax breaks. DON’T punish them by way of seizing profits, for God’s sake!
4. Unfortunately we took the “car” evolutionary route and it will require some backtracking to re-tool in favor of light rail and other forms of relatively efficient transport.
Gotta give up two ideas: a) I have the right to use up whatever I want, and b) who gives a damn about the future generations, let them figure it out.
You have to love special interests. The planet is burning, people are starving, capitalists are sucking the life out of everything, and the special (capitalist) interests just shrug and continue on with business. In this case, agrobusiness.
Whenever I get to feeling too optimistic, I check out ITT where every silver lining is at least tarnished if not counterfeit.
If we give aid to anyone it must be:
A. going to the wrong people
B. for our own profit or other benefit
If we don’t get involved:
A. we should have, or…
B. it’s due to racism or some other prejudice
If the climate is changing:
A. it is a crisis and…
B. primarily our fault
Whatever is bad must be due to a conspiracy planned and carried on across generations for decades.
What could be more profoundly arrogant than to believe there is some solution we can, could have or will be able to institute?
If not for previous climate changes we’d be chasing huge reptiles out of the yard. If not for over zealous and greedy businessmen we’d be mowing around buffalo chips.
Hey, how many previously “endangered” creartures have become extinct over the eons? How many have we really missed?
The ignorance of the above comment (by whattheheck) is astoundingly sad, and unfortunately common. Arrogance, when it comes to climate change debates, is not to think that the actions of modern industrial civilization are profoundly affecting global climate, or that we should or even can begin to combat the results of our actions. The actual, true arrogance is the flippant,” whetever, things have changed before,” attitude that many have when faced with the atrocious things that we are doing to the world. That we think more human inventiveness and clever doodads will solve a fundamental problem of an economy and society based on waste and consumption is obscenely conceited.
Deluding ourselves into thinking that the business models that lead us into this mess are going to get us out are only going to lead us to more plans that are benign at best (inane ideas like carbon offsets or a plethora of new “green” products) and seriously dangerous at worst (the idea of a biofuels economy). Face it: the only “green” (what an awful buzzword) ideas that will work are less and local.
The Drive 55 Conservation Project seeks to reduce consumption by 20%-50% when drivers voluntarily observe all posted speed limits and never exceed 55 MPH. No new technology, no new taxes, no real sacrifice at all, just slow down, observe posted speed limits, and never exceed 55 MPH. Visit www.Drive55.org for details and download a FREE Real World Vehicle Efficiency Report to prove it yourself. http://www.Drive55.org
Drive55,
The first truly sensible thing I’ve read here in a long time.
I might think about reducing my already relatively small “carbon foot-print”, but I’m sorry—Al Gore is gonna have to “lead”, and give up his glass house first!
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