Comments on: Will environmentalists scupper Brazil’s success?

By: Ellee

Ellee — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:55:01 +0000

BH, Yes, it’s interesting how boundaries are changing, I’m not sure how far reaching they are yet. What I do wonder is whether this means we are going to have to rely increasingly on GM produced crops to provide biofuels, to grow them more quickly and productively, to “save on the space”, in a manner of speaking. And that includes Brazil’s rainforests.

By: Bishop Hill

Bishop Hill — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:35:42 +0000

Both Friends of the Earth and the Green Party have recently changed tack on biofuels. Environmentalism is having a dreadful effect on the environment.

By: Welshcakes Limoncello

Welshcakes Limoncello — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:51:44 +0000

This is always a difficult one: the ethical issue versus people’s need to make a living. Sadly, I think a lot of environmentalists just do not understand the latter need.

By: The Curmudgeon

The Curmudgeon — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:27:15 +0000

I wrote some months ago about a book called 1491 in which the author made claims as to how the rain forest was able to support a much larger population than is there now and how, without tending, the rain forest is a very green desert (meaning not fertile — very poor soil for growing and so forth).

Trees should be replaceable, don’t you think? But clearing forests for farms, even for “biofuel” farms seems not replaceable. So: Environmentalists, which is better — harvesting trees which can be replaced? Or forbidding their import so they are merely cleared and replaced with farms?

By: Maalie

Maalie — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:56:59 +0000

I fear the global environment may be deteriorating to the point where quality of life will suffer for everybody. Short term prosperity can lead to longer term strife. Witness the North Sea herring industry. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

By: Ellee

Ellee — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:30:24 +0000

Q9 and Wolfie, I’m sure there are ways that industry and the environment can work together and be profitable and beneficial all round. Activists will up their campaign to prevent further destruction of the rainforest.

Q9, I’m afraid I couldn’t open your YouTube link.

By: Wolfie

Wolfie — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:19:59 +0000

This is an issue I’m really in two minds over as I’m a physics graduate of an environmentalist bent but work in Investment Banking. I find it hard to reconcile the dilemma between development and preservation.

I’ll have to let you know who wins …

By: Quasar9

Quasar9 — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:59:37 +0000

Hi Elle, the environment is a difficult and emotional issue.
Just been watching how in Northants because of demands from new build flood defences are going to be built.
Just been watching someone pleading for well paid jobs for ‘workers’ at Stansted, sod the environment.

And we presume from a distant to ask other people to make sacrifices or stunt development.
No wonder the people in China or Brazil say develop first – we can clean up the mess later – just like Europe did.

I suggest that card carrying environmentalists should do more personally for the environment and moan less about what others should or should not to.

After all if Brazil (and the amazon rain forest) were taught how to manage their forests rather than cut them down to plan GM soya or biofuel crops – whoever came up with the notion that biofuels are green or enviromentally friendly – compared to what?

Try this from YouTube as alternative fuel, there was a myth or conspiracy theory that someone in France developed the water engine decades ago, but the Oil companies bought him out (or even wiped him out).