With an ongoing fuel crisis, many of Americans have turned their attention to alternative energy sources. While this, in my opinion, is wonderful and a step in the right direction, using bio-fuels is becoming a huge social issue. Despite its promising appeal to the ever present global warming issue, it will soon desperately wage a huge social war–contributing to even more global hunger, as well as the downfall of the American farmer.
Consider our current rate of fuel consumption in America. Then substitute ethanol biofuel. Growing car fuel from the soil, the same place we get our food, is incomprehensible. If ethanol use increases any more substantially, i.e., enough to satisfy Americans’ insatiable need for and overuse of their vehicles to drive EVERYWHERE, global hunger will become even more pervasive, soil will become stripped and depleted of natural nutrients, and land erosion would occur on a large scale–three life altering, environmentally horrifying side effects from the over production of ethanol. The many Americans thoughtlessly jumping on the band wagon should be aware of these crucial draw backs of ethanol consumption, and start to think for themselves. Ideas like these affect EVERYONE–all over the world.
Self-control and Self-preservation:
More Americans should be supporting the idea that we need a more innovative, more efficient and effective solution to this fuel crisis/global warming issue. Sadly, for many lazy and ‘time is money’ driven Americans, driving less, car pooling, walking, or using public transit is simply not an option. Although alternative modes of transportation, such as walking or riding a bike would kill two social issue birds with one mighty, opinionated stone–obesity and our fuel crisis–too many Americans are more concerned about their drive-thru fast food services so they can get home to watch more, and more, and more television. Maybe using our precious food source for vehicle fuel instead of food would do our country some good for a brief period of time!
It seems that many Americans need to change their attitudes, and consider being more to life than how much money they have in their piggy banks, how much food they can consume in one sitting, and which television show they missed because the fast food line was too long. Self worth is something people gain from doing good things for themselves and others, not how much ’stuff’ we have.
How Ethanol is Affecting the Farmer:
For those who do not have the pleasure of a readily available farmer to consult for environmental insight and concerns, they are and have been taking a serious hit from increases in ethanol use. Some media sources have mis-led many in thinking the increase in popularity of biofuels have helped farmers via the increased price of corn, but a vital piece of information not mentioned is that the cost of fertilizers for growing corn has equally gone up in price, creating a wash in cost and profit for farmers. This is starving the farmer!
What Else We Can Do:
Everyone should dig deeper and further research other, more effective alternatives. Countries such as Iceland have done well to research and develop highly effective alternatives. Every home and business in Iceland uses geothermal power as their solitary energy source. (With a large portion of the “Ring of Fire” under U.S. soil, that is a long vein of underground volcanic activity, geothermal power is within our reach, and could easily be tapped into as an effective U.S. alternative. Some states are presently using alternatives, such as geothermals and wind power!) Icelandic scientists have also been in the process of developing vehicles powered by electricity and hydrogen alone–meaning no harmful exhaust released into the air, and little to no depletion of natural resources.
If you want to be a part of this solution, petition your congressman and state representatives, and continue to make the transition into an organic, conscious lifestyle. Your consumer spending and purchasing habits effect corporations–the real men behind the curtain. There are a variety of eco-friendly products available on the market today. From eco-travel and vacations, to biodegradable clothing (including shoes), energy reducing household items, and even recycleable packaging and vehicle parts! The next time you go shopping, think before you buy. What will these products do to my body, and what will they do to the environment in which I live?
“You can’t change the world, but you can make a dent.” -Smoochy