We'll never be rid of them

[ladyapple27]

Once a bad idea becomes economically entrenched, it is virtually impossible to get rid of.

Example #1 : Biodiesel. The rainforest is being destroyed in Brazil to make room for more crops to be converted to biodiesel. It is a myth that biodesiel leaves no carbon footprint; when you factor in the carbon storage capabilities of the lost forest, biodesiel causes a net gain in carbon emissions.

Biodesiel also causes a rise in food prices. The soybeans used to make enough biodesiel to fill one SUV tank would feed a human being for an entire year. Land that will be needed for food production as the population increases is being used to grow materials for use in biodesiel.

Why don't we abandon this foolish idea? Because an industry has grown up around it and many farmers make more money because of it. As long as anyone profits, they'll lobby for more laws encouraging the use of biofuels. To Hell with Mother Earth and hungry human beings.
 

Example#2 : Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining. Mountaintops are razed and nearby valleys are filled in. The environmental damage will never be undone. Recently, residents of this state were polled about a proposal to ban the use of coal produced by mountaintop removal. Some people actually spoke out against this measure, citing that their electricity bills would be higher and , besides, other states would keep on using it, thus gaining an economic advantage. Naturally, Duke Power Company is against the ban and fanning the fears of higher power bills. The coal companies aren't about to stop as long as the profits roll in. 

Aren't there somethings that are beyond price? Lord only knows how much damage mountaintop removal does to the watershed in times when demand for clean water is increasing. Pity the poor flora and fauna displaced by this savage practice. It isn't good for us either; there's only so much room on Earth, and once we've destroyed every square inch of it, we'll be like the doomed plants and animals-we'll have no where to go.     

Comments

[wherrymotor.livejournal.com]

Can't figure out if (1) the two of 'em will self destruct before we can bust 'em, (2) how much they'll take with 'em.
To say that they are hare brained solutions looking for problems is to disrespect rabbits.
Meanwhile, there's some darn good oil producing tropical perenials with higher yield by 2x-5x, I think that I remember. Not sugars, but oils, for less energy hungry processing.

[scoobiedoggie.livejournal.com]

Biodiesel was fine when it was just recycling used cooking oil but now it (just like so many other great ideas) has been corrupted by greedy bastard corporations.
And I still think it is a great idea as long as the production of biodiesel stays local. Like the weird dudes that make their own.

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

I know a weird dude who burns used cooking oil in his converted car. Smells like french fries.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

There's a new trend in biodiesel coming up that might have some promise. They're using bacteria to produce oils that can be turned into biodiesel.
It's also been said that one reason why the price of gas went from $4 back down to below $2 is because the research into biodiesel production was really cranking up.
Brazil really doesn't care about the environment or its poor people. I think they are well on their way to producing another Sahara desert. I think that may be the real reason behind global warming--too much desert formation. They knew over 20 years ago that most of the rainfall over the Brazilian rainforest was self-produced rain and not from clouds coming in from elsewhere. With the trees gone, the rain isn't far behind it.
:(

[eqfe.livejournal.com]

I heard quite often during my days in Sao Paolo, that Brazilia was the nosebleed capital of the world due to the incredibly dry air there.
Its been my experience that Brazil cares as much about the environment and its poor as the United States does, which of course isn't very much. The Brazilian "desert" and the US great plains "desert" are racing neck and neck towards destruction.

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

Desertification is a man-made tragedy.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

I do agree that neither country cares very much about its poor and that the great plains is probably headed toward being a desert but...
when did you ever hear about American street kids being gunned down in the street like feral dogs?
:(

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

What gets my goat is all these countries that critisize the United States while atrocities are being committed within their own borders.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

It's like they say: Your own "barnyard" don't stink nearly as much as everybody else's does.
The sad thing is nobody I know of in the US of A has ever claimed that we are perfect.
:)

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

If anything, we are too quick to admit our faults. Teachers in our scools teach kids to be ashamed of our mistakes, but forget to instill pride in our accomplishments. It's a tragedy.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

You are exactly right.
I'm going to take my wheelbarrow in to get its tire replaced. I can't believe they sold us a wheelbarrow with a blow-up tire on it instead of a solid tire.
There will be other gallivanting done this afternoon as well.
:)

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

I've been sick for about a week and haven't got much done. I'm feeling much better today. I have algebra class at 6 p.m. Did I tell you that I have credit for everything up to calculus, but I forgot it all, so I have to learn all over again? Hey, 20+ years is a long time! Gotta do it 'cause I'm going for a degree that requires 2 semesters of calculus.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

Mind if I ask what degree you're going for?
:)

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

Geology. I'm thinking about going into hydrology.

I have to have chemistry, physics, and 2 calculus course for starters. No wonder there's a shortage of Geologists.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

I have a minor in chemistry but I stopped after college alegebra in math. I wish now I'd gone ahead and gotten a major in chemistry. Oh well, hindsight's 20/20.
:}

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

You have no isea how many things I wish that I'd done differently.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

"You have no idea how many things I wish that I'd done differently."
This is my theme song too.
I made so many false starts at stuff while I was in college. The ironic thing is that everything but the college algebra has made itself extremely handy!
:}

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, humans seem to be trying to turn the whole world into a desert.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

There's simply too many of us and "birthcontrol" is a dirty word is most cultures.
:{

[foxdogfarm.livejournal.com]

Biodiesel sucks, especially using corn for it. Using spent cane from sugar cane processing isn't quite as bad. But with the corn one doesn't even really break even in energy units.

And yet our government is pushing it. When they started doing that, the price of animal food went up. And then the price of hay went up because the land once used for hay is now being planted to corn to satisfy the government. It just makes me want to scream.

When we started in goats, about 7 years ago, hay was 8-9$ a bale. It's 16-17$ now! And I'm not selling the kids for more money than I was then, I'll tell ya.

If you want to get scared, look up HR 875. It'll make even home canning, home gardening, etc, illegal without licensing.

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

Policy is made by people who know nothing and people bribed by lobbyists.

Thanks for warning me about HR 875. I looked it up and was sickened by the very idea.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

"...look up HR 875. It'll make even home canning, home gardening, etc, illegal without licensing."

What???!!!

AND OF COURSE NOT A WORD ABOUT THIS ON THE COMMERCIAL NEWS CHANNELS. OH NO! THEY'RE TOO BUSY TELLING US ABOUT THE LATEST IN SPORTS AND HOLLYWOOD!
D***! This really burns me up!
Growls....
>:(
Thanks for the heads up on this!

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

Don't look behind the screen, Dorothy! The movers and shakers distract people with foolishness while they perform their evil deeds.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

Memo to self:
Always look beyond the smoke and mirrors!
:)

[eqfe.livejournal.com]

Hard to say what's worse, example 1 or 2.

[yesididit.livejournal.com]

ive heard they can make ethanol out of different grasses, which dont drain all the nutrients out of the soil like corn, dont need to be replanted each year like corn, and dont require massive fertilization and pesticides like corn. but then the seed/pesticide/fertilizer companies wouldnt make money, so it isnt as popular as it should be.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=grass-makes-better-ethanol-than-corn

i've never heard of this mountaintop coal mining, thats atrocious!

[ladyapple27.livejournal.com]

You can look it up and the net. You will be shocked that our country allows it to happen. Sometimes this practice is highlighted on TV news journals. The videos are truly heartbreaking. It's hard for people to get new footage because the mining companies have guards and prevent anyone from getting near the land they're destroying.