PLANET IN PERIL

The case against food-based fuel  by Larry Powell Many of us have met interesting people on airplanes. I'm no exception. In 1997, I was returning from Brazil, where, as a freelance reporter, I had covered an environmental conference. Sitting next to me on the flight was Elizabeth May (above), now leader of the federal Green Party . She had been at the same conference, representing the Sierra Club of Canada. Even then, her environmental credentials were impressive As we chatted, I proudly told her how I always burned ethanol gasoline in my car, because it was better for the planet. I felt rather deflated when she informed me that it takes more energy to produce a liter of ethanol (at least the North American kind) than you save when you burn it! Much of the literature I have since read, supports Ms. May's position. David Pimentel(r.). "The most persistent, articulate and scathing critic of the biofuels industry." (columnist) Pimentel, of Cornell Univer

WINNIPEG. Apr.29th - '08 - The awful consequences of the biofuel craze now sweeping the planet, were starkly brought to light at a public forum at the University of Winnipeg this evening. (Car/Combine rendering courtesy of  the Government of Manitoba।)   Called "Crops, Cars and Climate Crisis," the forum featured four notable experts on the topic. They all referred to the dramatic and disastrous food price increases that are devastating the world's poor and which are being aggravated by the diversion of so much food into vehicles. One of the guest speakers was Javiera Rulli, of "Base Investigaciones" in Paraguay. She told of an assault taking place on the environment, human health and human rights of citizens of that South American country। It is all due to the transformation of the small nation to monoculture crops for the production of "biofuels" or "agrofuels" to power vehicles, rather than to feed people, she sai

AlterNet / By Jill Richardson Feb '11 Given America's enthusiasm for ethanol production, on e might assume ethanol is a miracle fuel, sent from heaven to lead the way to independence from oil. Please also read: "Bursting the Ethanol Bubble" by Larry Powell

by George Monbiot, the Guardian, UK The US Environmental Protection Agency wants to boost the ethanol blend in fuels in a misguided bid to cut emissions. Click headline for more. Also read "Bursting the Ethanol Bubble" here. A field of wheat, a main feedstock for ethanol in Canada.Photo by L.P.

Huffington Post The Obama administration wants to reduce the amount of ethanol in the nation's fuel supply, acknowledging the biofuel law championed by both parties in 2007 is not working as well as expected. Full story here. Related: Bursting the ethanol bubble.

A secret report by the World Bank finds biofuels are contributing way more to the current world food crisis than has ever been suggested before! Read more..... (Also see my article, "Bursting the Ethanol Bubble" by scrolling way down to older posts.) L.P.

(Reuters) - Corn-based ethanol, which for years has been mixed in huge quantities into gasoline sold at U.S. pumps, is likely a much bigger contributor to global warming than straight gasoline, according to a study published Monday.   Story here. An ethanol plant at Minnedosa, MB. A PinP photo   RELATED:                                                              BURSTING THE ETHANOL BUBBLE                                                                                       The case against food-based fuel                                               

Staff- MB Co-Operator - 9/1/2009 A Manitoba ethanol plant. l.p. photo A federal biofuels incentive fund has followed through on its contribution agreement to support a Saskatchewan plant producing wheat- and corn-based ethanol. ======== Ed's. Note: The hemorrhage of millions of our taxpayer dollars continues to flow into this failed technology which only makes world hunger worse. l.p. Please also read "Bursting the Ethanol Bubble" here.

Reviewing biofuel policies and subsidies; Annual report weighs opportunities and risks of biofuels 7 October 2008, Rome - Biofuel policies and subsidies should be urgently reviewed in order to preserve the goal of world food security, protect poor farmers, promote broad-based rural development and ensure environmental sustainability, FAO said today in a new edition of its annual flagship publication The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2008. (also see post directly below and my article "Bursting the Ethanol Bubble" in older posts.) L.P .

MB Co-Operator - N0.11'09 A federal biofuels incentive fund has followed through on... (This will be the largest "wheat-ethanol" plant in North America.) Please also read "Bursting the Ethanol Bubble." Wheatfield photo by l.p.

Manitoba Wildlands.org Please also read; "Bursting the Ethanol Bubble"

Winnipeg Free Press - By: David Akin - 3/10/2009 Feds warned of promoting its use... Please also read "Bursting the Ethanol Bubble" here.

Manitoba Co-Operator - Oct 11 Land-use changes make emissions reductions uncertain:   report. Details here. Wheat on ground; PLT photo Please also read "Bursting the Ethanol Bubble."