We'll never be rid of them
Mar. 17th, 2009 10:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyapple27Once 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.
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.
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no subject
Date: 2009-03-18 05:00 pm (UTC)when did you ever hear about American street kids being gunned down in the street like feral dogs?
:(
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Date: 2009-03-18 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-18 11:49 pm (UTC)The sad thing is nobody I know of in the US of A has ever claimed that we are perfect.
:)
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Date: 2009-03-19 06:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-19 06:36 pm (UTC)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.
:)
no subject
Date: 2009-03-19 07:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-20 03:25 am (UTC):)
no subject
Date: 2009-03-20 03:29 am (UTC)I have to have chemistry, physics, and 2 calculus course for starters. No wonder there's a shortage of Geologists.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-20 04:16 am (UTC):}
no subject
Date: 2009-03-20 05:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-20 11:13 pm (UTC)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!
:}