Al Gore vs. the Environment
Yesterday, I noted Al Gore bragging that he played a critical role in passing current biofuel mandates, making him the father of ethanol, not just the Internet. The great goddess of irony is having a field day:
Environmentalists are warning against expanding the production of
biofuels, noting the proposed solution to global warming is actually
causing more harm than it is designed to alleviate. Experts report
biodiesel production, in particular, is causing the destruction of
virgin rainforests and their rich biodiversity, as well as a sharp rise
in greenhouse gas emissions.Opponents of biofuels read like a Who's Who of environmental
activist groups. The Worldwatch Institute, World Conservation Union,
and the global charity Oxfam warn that by directing food staples to the
production of transport fuels, biofuels policy is leading to the
starvation and further impoverishment of the world's poor.On November 15, Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior unfurled a large banner
reading "Palm Oil Kills Forests and Climate" and blockaded a tanker
attempting to leave Indonesia with a cargo full of palm oil.
Greenpeace, which warns of an imminent "climate bomb" due to the
destruction of rich forests and peat bogs that currently serve as a
massive carbon sink, reports groups such as the World Wildlife Fund,
Conservation International, and Flora and Fauna International have
joined them in calling for an end to the conversion of forests to
croplands for the production of biofuels"The rush to address speculative global warming concerns is once
again proving the law of unintended consequences," said James M.
Taylor, senior fellow for environment policy at The Heartland
Institute. "Biofuels mandates and subsidies are causing the destruction
of forests and the development of previously pristine lands in a
counterproductive attempt to improve the environment."Some of the world's most effective carbon sinks are being destroyed
and long-stored carbon is now being released into the atmosphere in
massive quantities, merely to make wealthy Westerners feel like they
are 'doing something' to address global warming. The reality is, they
are making things worse," Taylor noted.
Reformed Republican:
Really? Government subsides result in unintended consequences? Perhaps even exacerbating the very problem they are trying to fix? Well, I never!!
December 4, 2007, 7:07 amBearster:
Warren, I think you undermine your case with posts like this. Allow me to explain.
If it is indeed true that there is zero evidence for man-made warming (aside from urban heat islands), then this is the best and strongest argument one can make. The so-called "science" of the enviromentalists is all junk and flawed to its core.
When you argue that biofuels actually increase CO2, this may be true, but it undermines the key argument. Either man-made CO2 is not causing warming, or else it is and biofuels are a disaster because they increase CO2 output.
It isn't that I can't appreciate a little irony! The problem is that arguing against biofuels on grounds that they increase CO2 lends implicit support to the assertion that CO2 matters.
On the other hand, I think an good argument against biofuels is that they are economically destructive. Biofuels depend on subsidies looted by force from those who had other intentions for their money.
December 4, 2007, 7:53 ambob:
Sequester some carbon - bury a greenie in an airtight coffin...
December 4, 2007, 3:07 pmSteve:
Great site you have here!
Would you like a Link Exchange with THE INTERNET RADIO NETWORK? At the IRN you can listen to over 50 of America's top Radio Shows via Free Streaming Audio!
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December 5, 2007, 9:39 amIain:
Just thought you might be curious... On BBC radio there's a VERY long running radio soap called the archers - and tonights 15mins had two farmers arguing about the merits of growing crops to make power. Sadly, the first thing I thought of was... "Coyote!"
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/archers/archers_20071129-1920.mp3
Iain.
December 5, 2007, 12:39 pmJohn Smith:
Hello webmaster,
I was wondering if we can have a link on your site ?
With the following information:
Title: Global Warming Effects and Cause
URL: http://globalwarming-awareness2007-arshad.com
Description: Global warming Awareness Resources: Global Warming Effects, Global warming
facts, Causes of global warming, Stop Global Warming, about global warming, global warming
articles, global warming facts, Global Warming News and many more.
We are happy to reciprocate your link in our directory database at the relevant category
here:
http://globalwarming-awareness2007-arshad.com/link-to-us.shtml
If you agree we will add your site as soon as possible.
Best regards!
John Smith
john@globalwarming-awareness2007-arshad.com
July 23, 2008, 1:16 pm