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This is a great practice, but we also need to keep in mind what it costs in terms of fuel usage to recycle. In most cases, recycling is a very good thing, but if the energy expended on recycling outweighs the energy saved, we might want to take a close look at some other options.
Aluminum is a good choice for recycling, because it is very energy draining and expensive to mine, and produce from bauxite. Rubber tires, require quite a bit of energy and a substantial quantity of chemicals to reform, but can be ground into bits and used to help preserve the very roads they once traveled on. Keep in mind, that the people producing these products are also interested in carbon reduction, perhaps not for the same reasons though. For manufacturers, reduction in emissions usually means that production has slowed, or that some more efficient means of production is employed. The first means a downturn in profits, the second means an increase in profits.
One of the most earth friendly tactics which advocates of a cleaner environment should use, is creativity. Putting creative environmentally concerned minds to work on more energy efficient, and earth friendly methods of manufacturing the goods that we use, would go a long way in greening the planet.
Biofuels.
These are wonderful. The thought of growing our fuels on a sustainable level, and having fewer carbon emissions in the process is a superb goal. I believe it to be attainable, but there are pitfalls in this area, that we need to stop ignoring.
The potential for damage to the environment in this process is very real. If very large numbers of farmers, ranchers and dairymen migrate into fuel production (as is happening now) we could have a problem with rising costs and declining availability of some products. Considering that only about two percent of America's population provide the food for the rest, the large scale movement from food to fuel could have enormous repercussions.
The other obvious effect would be that larger numbers of people migrate into the farming for fuel or for food, we could very easily double the number of acres needed for farming, and this would potentially double the erosion problems from both wind and water. The potential for another dust bowl is a real possibility, if the farming isn't done carefully and properly.
We need also to address the potential problems of becoming dependant on this one source of fuel as well. This would put us in a vulnerable position if after weening ourselves from fossil fuels, we became dependent solely upon alcohol fuels, and a severe drought, or severe flooding or other natural or man made disaster occurred. The movement away from fossil fuels, and into a sustainable fuel production model is a good idea, but we need to do more.
We need to increase the efficiency of our appliances and machines so that less fuel of any type is needed. We need to be certain that we continue to develop other methods to propel our vehicles and industry, such as solar, hydrogen, and electric energy, further lowering our consumable energy needs. We should maintain reserves of petroleum as a backup.
The worst case scenario is that the world would become almost exclusively dependant on a product that could not be grown in sufficient quantity to meet our energy needs, and the defoliation of the planet occurred as a result of our ecological concerns!
Biodiversity.
This should be paramount in our efforts to grow our own fuels, as it should be in other environmental areas. Crops that are genetically altered, should not all be pulled from the same gene pool nationwide. In the event that a fungus or a pathogen destructive to this strain were to develop, we could see total crop failure, and that would lead to other disastrous results. This brings me to the next environmental concern.
Biodiversity is being threatened by our biodiversity. I know that sounds like a contradiction but it is not. One of the biggest problems in our environment today is the proliferation of non native, exotics. These are plants, animals, and insects which have been introduced into our environment, and are becoming a threat to the native population of flora and fauna.
There are many examples, one of the easiest to explain is the kudzu vine. Kudzu is a native of Asia, which has been brought to our country for foraging purposes. It has now gotten out of hand and threatens the native flora throughout the South. If we do not take decisive action on this and many other non natives soon, the resultant environmental problems could devastate a large chunk of our native woodlands, grasslands, lakes and rivers and farms. Our state and federal governments have been far too passive about this issue, but active response is needed and needed soon!
One issue here is the use of biological controls to stem the tide of the invasion. Biological controls most often involve introduction of one of the invaders natural enemies to help with control. The contradictions here are obvious. If extreme caution is not exercised, or if mistakes are made in this process, we will be developing a new and bigger problem.
We should be careful not to jump on any bandwagon which comes clattering down the street, just because it claims to be “green.” New ideas need to be well thought out before implemented. I can imagine, a movement to use something of the nature of kudzu, because it is so prolific, as a food and fuel source, and in the process destroying the biodiversity of an area.
A Better Way
The green movement has need of engaging the attention of a larger part of the society as a whole, and helping in the efforts to find suitable alternatives to the practices which it sees as being destructive. Let's get some of that immense amount of creativity working toward creating alternative manufacture methods that are more energy efficient, which will actually save manufacturer's money this would make being green far more palatable for business. Business is getting the idea that it pays to be green. Once that proliferates, it is only a matter of time before this model takes over. There is no reason that we can't all work together.
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