Fear and Loathing on the World Community's Efforts for Climate Protection

Have you noticed that anything designed by a committee is seldom aesthetically and functionally pleasing? I hope that this fate doesn’t befall the well-intentioned actions of the Global Community / Powers-That-Be to limit the impact of our industrial processes on our climate. Believe me, I’m all for establishing resolutions to limit the generation of greenhouse gasses that’s causing global warming that would eventually cause a catastrophic climate change and sea level rise. But chances are, the United States will have the loudest voice on formulating policies to solve this somewhat intransigent dilemma because herein lies the true extent of the complexity of the task at hand. But first, lets take a look back on the United States Government’s track record on how might they deal with this problem.

During the end of the 1960’s, the gravest threat to the Global Community was the all-out nuclear exchange between the U.S. and the then Soviet Union. The Nixon administration at that time was in a unique position to declare a détente or and end to the “Cold War” and the ability to enforce it. Sadly, the U.S.

Administration at that time was extremely reluctant to reformulate the “canon” of their “interests” and foreign policies. This was immortalized in that famous Richard M. Nixon quote; “Peace in our time with honor.” A lot of people will argue that it was a good thing because the almost imminent all-out nuclear exchange was postponed indefinitely. But as time went on, this flawed foreign policy has created Al-Qaeda and despotic Persian Gulf Heads-of-State.

If the U.S. Administration’s involvement in formulating laws that are of benefit to the Global Community in tackling catastrophic climate change is still based on a 40-year-old “canon” that protects U.S. interests in maintaining their Military-Industrial-Complex above all else would probably result in two scenarios. One, it would be doomed to fail; two, it would create more problems that it intends to solve.

Maybe, we should take solace on what Abraham Lincoln said about slavery more than a hundred years ago. He said that the institution of slavery was “formulated on both injustice and bad policy.” This is much like our present “agricultural subsidies” that only benefit the rich and powerful. Policymakers really should think carefully on how they should formulate solutions to protect our climate that not only benefits the poor but also rich industrialists can live with.

Most “common folks” that I know have been doing their part in protecting our planet. Some of them for more than thirty years by reducing energy consumption and recycling in order to conserve our dwindling natural resources. Let us just hope that when run-of-the-mill politicians use their heavy handedness on environmentalism, Russian Literature buffs won’t be saying: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

Ringo Bonsubre is a Computer Engineering Graduate with Degree in Education.His works includes Blogs on Environmental Issues and All About Hybrid Cars

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Environmentally Friendly Biofuels

There has never been a better time to seriously consider natural fuel alternatives with the cost of gas escalating and our dependency on fossil fuels deepening. Biofuels are natural fuel alternatives. Environmentally friendly biofuels are liquid, gas or solid derivatives from biomasses, ie recently living organism and organism byproducts. Soybeans’, sugar cane, flaxseed and palm oil are the most common crops producing environmentally friendly biofuels.

Most surprisingly common grass is an environmentally friendly biofuel being used in Europe for some decades now. Perhaps grass pellets are in fact the answer to your concerning fuel troubles. Each crop has its own advantages as per use.

Certainly fuel consumers have made a dedicated attempt to re-evaluate the way they heat our homes in consideration of today’s huge energy costs.
Environmentally friendly biofuels and alternative heating methods have become a very attractive option. The burning of grass pellets for example emits up to an incredible 90% less greenhouse gasses than natural gas or fuel coal. Grass pellets are easily grown and produced by farmers and are safe to use on a new modified wood burning stove which may also burn corn. Not only is this an exceptionally affordable environmentally friendly biofuel this may also have a significant positive impact for rural and farming communities.

Corn as an environmentally friendly biofuel has received a lot of media attention lately. With the availability of corn pellets for home heating excitement grows as consumers realize the savings they will achieve in their home budgets. The original investment of a modified stove to burn fuel may appear a little expensive to some home owners, but certainly the end costs are far more appealing. Conversion kits are also available today for transferring your traditional wood fireplace into a corn pellet stove. The future will see more progress and support for environmentally friendly biofuels with the expectation to the introduction of alfalfa stems.

The use of environmentally friendly biofuels is not limited to home heating. Our lifeline, the automobile may also be run on environmentally friendly biofuels.

Biodiesel is created from a mixture of soybean oil, vegetable oil and palm oil!

This is not only an environmentally friendly biofuel but has also proven to give great gas mileage compared to petroleum based fuels. It is hoped that environmentally fuels may even replace petroleum fuels in the future. This hope may not be just a dream with the growing popularity of ethanol; a corn created biofuel, the future may be nearer than we think. Ethanol is now available at many gas stations and is regularly used as a petroleum fuel extender giving far better mileage than many other alternatives.

Creating your own biodiesel is also possible, (although this has yet to be approved by the government for wide-scale usage). This is not a complicated process and there are some easy to find internet sites that will share the directions with you for no cost.

There is no question that the world needs environmentally friendly biofuels. Certainly we have seen a lot of forward progress in the production of fossil fuel alternatives. The future shall bring us even more exciting progress with wider use of environmentally friendly biofuels.

Global warming is a threat that will affect generations to come. The atmosphere surrounding us that supports life is a God-given gift. It must be protected. We should be leaders in efforts to curb global warming, not resistant followers. Erin Hunt is an avid writer and activist. She discovered that many are still unaware of the dangers of global warming and thus created a website to educate others on how they can play a role in the fight against global warming. Find out more about the cause and effects of global warming and how you can make a difference at http://www.fightagainstglobalwarming.com

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