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Reflex: I like the article you posted, and have kept up on similar reviews. In reality, biofuels are going to be a short-term addition, not anywhere near a total solution, to our growing energy needs. I think it is important to point out that most people do see biofuels are merely a partial addition to our energy needs, and not a total replacement on which we will become dependent. Since we can never be entirely dependent on biofuels (to the extent we are on petroleum), the environmental stress and food-land competition issues will never reach horrible proportions....assuming there ARE other energy sources figured out. When we bring the focus large enough to discuss international policy (China, total farm land), we should really look then at larger issues and timescales to help us dictate policy.
Of course, when we do that, things get scary. A doubling population, doubling its energy needs AND food needs, on a finite amount of resources (irragable land, current fossil energy sources) is the obvious problem. And there is ONLY one long term solution that nature has always used for animals that outstrip their resources: catastrophic populational collapses (for various reasons: competition, starvation, resultant disease). And well before that, the nicities of life get much worse...poor economic growth, more wars for no-aparent reason, nasty tribal genocides like we see in Africa.
The ratio of princes to Kings always tells you how small the next kingdom will be. Try sharing only one cookie with 20 kids at a birthday party and you get the idea.
Basically, the only paradigm shift and technology that will "save the planet" will be birth control and our attitude toward birth control, not choices in fuels. Look at China, see your children's future. One child per family, with storm trooper busting down doors to find "hidden" second babies.
If anybody reading this seriously wants to save the world.... give out a condom to the next mormon/mexican/african/hindu/catholic/horny guy/gal you meet (full disclosure, I'm half mexican. half polish....it was the sixties). Advocate birth control funding in our federal United Nations contributions (held back by religious right for years). Heck, the UN is usless EXCEPT for distributing birth control, it should be their whole budget. Mix it in with the polio shots, I say.
And have your pets spayed or nuetered.
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2005 Liberty Sport CRD w/all the fixings
Elephant Hose, MAF (ORM), Amsoil Airfilter, nice when I get to drive it
1 EGRreplacement, but never again.
99.5 FrankenJetta TDI (R.I.P.): being turned into diesel hybrid!
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